Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-10
CHICAGO OPERA CO.
"T0SCA" DELIGHTS
Last-Minute Change Made in
Program-Free Perform
anCe Friday.

The Chicago Civic Opera Company
bigger season of grand opera than
was originally anticipated, under the
local management Of Mrs. WILSON
Greene. at the Washington Auditorium
last night. with heavy handicap,
which was surmounted. "Otello,
the most beautiful of Nerdis operas.
and the finest production unsteady
that was listed for this season, had
to he abandoned at the last moment
because of the illness of Charles
Marshall. the tenor who has won
laurels in the singing of the title
role and whose appearance was 80
eagerly anticipated in joint perform
ance with Rosa Raisa. remarkable
prima donna. Mr.. Marshall Is stu
i'll in Johns Hopkins Hospital with
what is reported To be bad case OF
grip.
and Puccini's La Tosca,' already
heard here in commendable per-
formance once this season, was given
as the only possible substitution In
such an emergency. and was highly
successful. Raisa proved herself
supreme artist in the manner in
which she gracefully arose 10 the oc-
casion and sang Tosca as II has
never been heard sung here before.
II was plea SAINT to see raven haired
TosCa, and have the vocal beauties
Of hte role so eXcellently delineated
along with adequate dramatic charac.
teriza ton. Her arias were bea utifully
sung.
Matinee Performance Pledged.
Frederick II. Toye, publicity man
ager for the company, gave an i'm.
portant and surprising announcement
from the stage before the first act,
repeating it for the benefit of late
Corners during the first intermission.
10 the effect that. in an earnest effort
on the part of the opera company TO
make good for the disappointment To
true music lovers of the substitution
for "0tello," an extra performance
will he given gratis to the audience
holding checks for last nights per
formance. on Friday afternoon. II Mr..
Marshall is suficiently recovered at
that time "Otello,' with the cast origi-
nally announced. will be presented. II
not. F'lotow's Martha" will he given,
with Edith Mason in the leading role.
1t certainly is to he hoped that 1t will
he Desdemona's lovely prayer rather
than Tho Last Rose of Summer" that
will be heard. Ii is underSto God that
only the limitations of the Auditorium
stage prevent the giving of The
Masked Ball. instead of "Otello. ;"
should that opera again prove tenor
less. Surely An opera so little heard
as either Verdi work would prove pref
cradle 10 Martha" AT any rate. the
presentation Of fifth performance Of
grand opera practically gratis is
UNIQUE and an admirable attempt at
restitution, apparently much appreci-
ated hv the large audience which com
fortab|y reorled the huge Auditorium.
Raisa Is Dominant.
To return to last nights "rosca,"
however. Although Raisa quite DOM
mated the entire performance. the
rest of the cast proved capable and
conscientious in their various roles.
Antonio Cortis was fine singer in the
tenor role Of CavaradoSsi. In the final
duet with ToSca, he did nobly. Mr.
Rimini was a fine Scarpia dramatical-
ly, but his voice seemed exceedingly
light and colorless. and Mr. Moranzoni,
the conductor. continually drowned
him out with the brilliant orchestral
accompaniment. Even the chorus.
which sang and looked its part un-
usually we'll. was occasionally sub
merged by the orchestra. In the big
gest climax, however. the entire COM
pany seemed to work with splendid
unison.
Antonio Nicolich was good in the
role of the political prisoner and
Desire Defrere was even better in the
comic relief role of the Sacristan
Lodovico Oliviero was not so good as
Spoletta. He seemed 20 do nothing
but yell. instead of sing. Ernesto
Torti, Anna Correnti and Gildo
Morelato were good in small bits. The
orchestra gave a marvellous perform
ance Of the various musical themes In
the score. The costumes were beau
tiful. In the audience was Walter
Damroscn.
Tonight. starting promptly at 8
o'clock. Mary Garden will sing in
Louise" HF.
SnrUUNVv ny arrUA-n ANJCn