Evening star., 1926-04-16
WASHINGTON OPERA
FINALE DELIGHTFUL
Season Brought 10 Close
With Dual Bill Honoring
Jacques SamaSsoud.

The personality and work Of
Jacques Samaspud, sincere and gift.
ed conductor of the Washington
Opera Co., dominated the performance
cf the two short operatic works given
last night as the final bill by the
company this season at the Washing
ton Auditorium. This was a special
performance in honor Of Mr. Samas.
soud and the splendid work of the
orchestra in the entire act music and
az an accompaniment for the voices.
particularly in II Pagliacci," was su,
rren1e acknowledgment of his right
- such honor. Leon Cavallo's music
In this opera Is really lovely and its
heeuty was well stressed.
The other local talent yroup in
the production of the tragic opera
the chorus. also gave a performance
nf which Washington music lovers
could we'll be proud, and the large
and distinguished audience present
did not hesitate to show its apprecia.
lon with enthusiastic applause. Both
the singing and the acting OF the
chorus. especially in the second act,
were admirable. Edouard Albion has
built a fine group Of young singers
into an increa asinSly good ensemble
and In this years productions, quite
the hneSt season TO date. marked
progress in this and other lines has
been shown
New Tenor impresses.
Last night was really RUSSIA night
20 all tntents and purposes. Mr..
SamaSsoud Is Of that nationality:
Mark Markoff. the tenor who showed
a lovely quality Of voice and much
dramatic ability in his debut ap.
pearance in this country in the role
of Canic is Russian; and Ivan Ivant-
zoh, who won the vocal honors Of
the evening in both operas as we'll as
being general director of the stage
matters. is from the land of the
Volga boatman. The basic Significa nee
OF this group OF one nationality lies
In its demonstration OF the excellence
of the Russian training in various
musical lines. None could be better
equipped than q group Of Russia ms 10
help in developing a. worthwhile in
stitution from local talent in the
Washington Opera Company.
hr. Albion has shown much wisdom
la surrounding himself with singers
and q conductor who come from
country where music is developed AS
real art with thorough industry in
the making of this art.
Mr.. IVantZoff. who SANG Tonic in
II Pagliacci," never was in better
voice and showed mature skill in tone
production and shading that made him
the star OF the evening. His ''Prolog'
was remarkably well done bringing
new emphasis to much-sung air
Also his acting was. as always.
excellent.
CheehaDOysky Scores.
Sti'l fourth Russian vino con
trihuted definite share to the sue.
cess of the evening was George Che
chanovsky who esta blished q fine
characterization. vocally and dramat-
ically. as the Herald in 'Lohengrin.
and who was an unusually good Silvio
last night. 4 wayward feather in the
heroine s hat threatened havoc TO the
intensity Of the love scene in which
Silvio pleads with \edda. vet Mr..
Chechanovsky. marked presence Of
mind and dignity, overriding this oh
stacle very well.
ELLEN Dalossy. the one woman In
the Leon Cavallo tragedy. is a singer
from the Metropolitan Opera Go. in
New York. She Is charming in the
character cf Media. although vocally
the role seemed to tax her on her
high notes. Some of her coloratura
work showed fine command Of fiexi-
l-tlity of tone and style. She was
particularly hne in the building Of
the big dramatic climax in The little
play of the last act.
The Secret of Suzanne" quaint
little comic operetta by Wolf-Ferrari.
was a welcome companion piece on
this hill. 1t is not familiar 10 many
In local audience. although il was
given here a few years ago. The
music is naturally light and saucy.
and this mood was excellently car
Wed out by the two singing actors.
Ivan Ivantzoff as the suspicious and
lea lous Count Gil and Dora de Phil |
line as the Countess Suzanne, whose
penchant for the art of smoking, not. |
in the days when this work was
written. nearly so prevelant among |
ladies as 1t Is today. caused the whole |
trouble Of this comedy. Miss De Phil !
lipe. who is of the Chicago Opera Co. |
created This role with that company
and shows complete command over
all the wiies necessary in the equip !
ment of mjd-Victorian wife. She
made q charming picture.
lyantZOR Shows Skill.
Mr. IvantzoT was given opportunity
To demon strate his fine skill in make /
m and Chara cterization in this sec. !
md role. SO contrary in type to that
he played earlier in the evening. Both