Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-11
4ALEKO" PREMIERE
MARKED SUCCESS
Audience Is Enthusiastic
Over Amateur Studio Pro-
duction for Refugees.

''AIelzo,' the short opera in one act
and two scenes, written by Serge
Rachmaninoff, eminent Russian mu
stefan and composer, when he was
finishing his conservatory days at the
age of IS in 1891, was given its pre-
.miere performance in Washington last
might at the Jewish Community Cen
ter before an extremely enthusiastic
audience. 1t was presented by the
Zalipsky Opera Studio for the beneiit
of Russian refugees. Michael Fever
sky, noted Russian conductor. showed
complete knowledge of and sympathy
with the work in the sSillful manner
in which he brought out the domi'
nant passages in the score even WIN
out the original orchestral accom-
paniment. The work calls for an or
chestra of 100 musicians. Rather
than have it chopped by limited or
chestra, without sufficient opportunity
for rehearsals, the piano was the only
accompaniment used. This decision
was reached after consulting Mr.
Raj hmaninoff when he was in Wash
ington a few weeks ago to give his
annual piano recital Nine. Maria
Zalipsky, head of the studio, played
the piano with a verve and accuracy
that showed easy familiarity with the
score.
Plot From Poet.
The plot of "Aleko" was taken from
d work by Pushkin, great Russian
poet, and dramatized by Nemirovitch-
Dantchenko.
The music. heard for the first time
here, impresses with suggestion Of
French influence. Especially is the
style of Debussy suggested in the pre-
Jude to the second scene.
In the first scene, 1.-The Song of the
Chief" was quite impressive and Ora.
matte. 1t was sung by Nathan Bach
rach, whose bass voice has vibrant
deep quality.
The chorus showed good direction
in grouping. Vocally, the chorus had
a tendency to shrill tones, which prac-
tice probably will eliminate.
Powerful Soprano Voice.
The heroine, Zemfira. was sung by
Katherine Hertzberg, who has a very
powerful dramatic soprano voice
Her most beautiful air is sung at the
beginning of the second scene when
she tells Aleko, her husband, OF her
love for the young Gypsy. Also, she
sang the lullaby, an original melody
very we'll
Jascha Heifetz-not the famous VIC.
Enist, but young Russian baritone
OF promise-sang the title role. which
was originally sung by Chaliapin, most
commercially. He has a fine quality
of voice and dramatic ability.
Salvatore Carta, the young tenor,
was at his best in the air he sang off
stage. Minna Oxenberg,. contralto,
had small part as an old woman.
Remarkably Well Done.
For an amateur studio production,
"Aleko" was remarkably well done
and the sincere earnestness of all par
ticipating in the production was evil
dent. 1t will be interesting to watch
these young singers grow and the
chorus develop through future pro-
auctions.
The members of the studio include:
Katherine Hertzberg, Sarah Regardie,
Pauline Grossberg, Miriam Grossberg
Gertrude Borzi, Stella Arsenea.u, Min
ma Gutenberg, Doris Kagan, Laya
Kagan. Lillian Feldman, Hannah
Stolar, Fannye Waltzmann, and ALTA
Carta, Salvatore Carta, Jean De Mars,
John Burdwise, Nathan Bachrach,
Louis Schunan and Jascha HeifetZ.
Attractive ballet numbers of typical
Russian school as applied to gypsy
themes We're presented under the di.
rection OF Nine. Vassilieva, by Pauline
Pariseau, EStelle Norton, Tania Gnoo-
chef, Onabene Lawrence, Shirley
Rosenburg, Margaret Harnett, cara
Krynitzky, Beverly Marshall. Gloria
Davis, Helen Bradnan, Lilly Zalipsky
and Tania Vassilieya. II. r.