Evening star., 1927-02-17
CHICAGO OPERA COMPANY WINS
TRIUMPH IN THE MASKED BALI"
Distinguished Audience Hears Raisa, Van
Gordon, Bonelli, Marshall and Shear
in Artistic Performance

The unusually short season" OF
opera to be given in Washington by
the Chicago Civic Grand Opera Co.
only two performances--was inaug-
! urated last night by an excellent per-
! formance of Verdi's opera, 1.-The
Masked Ball." presented before as dis.
tinguished an audience as the Capital
City can achieve and most apprecia-
| tive one.
In spite of tricky changes in the
early Spring weather and the preva-
lence of many colds, there was only
one substitution in the ensemble of
artists listed for last nights perfor-
| nance. Giorgio Polacca, the conduc-
| tor, was Ill and the performance was
conducted by Antonio Sabine, who
proved highly capable and, before the
evening was out, won hearty applause
for his efforts. Mr. Polocca also was
unable to conduct a performance in
| Baltimore. His illness is in the nature
, of a severe case of tonsillitis.
AS for the singers, probably never
has a finer quintet of principals been
heard on local stage, each perfectly
suited to his or her role and giving
praiseworthy dramatic impersonations
as well as singing the frequently
difficult music artistically. The chorus
while not singing very much, did its
part well, vocally, and proved poised
and at ease in the details of stage
presence and bits of action.
Fine Orchestral Work.
The orchestra. too, showed fine en-
semble work and the pianissimo pas.
sages were unusually beautiful and
artistically achieved. Always the
singers were given substantial but
11iY a
The harp was especially fine in the
accompaniment to the famous duet
which Nine. Raisa and Mr. Marshall
sang superbly In the second act, oh,
quail Soave Brivido," a piece of beautl-
ful music writing, intelligently IN
terpreted.
Rosa Raisa, prima donna of the oc-
casion, was gloriously regal in every
aspect of her role. From the mo-
ment she appeared in the second scene
of the first act. her powerful, dra-
matte voice and thorough artistry
showed in every moment of her sing
ing. She won prolonged applause
after this first air and also for her
singing in the second act--her two
biggest scenes. If at times her low
notes had slight huskiness, 1t was
only at times: the majority of both
her low notes and her high ones were
rounded and velvety.
Second in feminine honors, prinei
pally because of the small part she
has in this opera, was Cyrena van
Gordon, the statuesque contraito,
whose singing of the rather migrate
full role OF Ulrica, the negress fortune
teller. was highly appreciated by the
audience. To those who know Miss
van. Gordon as beautiful woman.
her art in makeup for this part was
additional revelation of her sincerity
as an opera singer. Her voice was
in fine condition and each note was
lovely.
Clara Shear Scores.
Another feminine singer had the
spotlight favorahly thrown on her fire.
quently throughout the opera, and.
like Miss van Gordon, another Amer.
can, This was Clara Shear, a
slender, young actress singer with d
clear, beautiful coloratura voice. She
also proved a charming little actress
in the boyish role of Oscar, the page,
and her clever handling of the many
intricate trills and roulades in her
several arias, especially the last,
"Saper VorreSte," won her individual
honors of marked appreciation.
Richard Bonelli walked away with
the honors of the evening; he even
stole top honors from the entire cast
for he had recall after recall, mum
bering at least five solo" curtain
calls after his big aria, Fri tn che
macchiavi," in the third act Mr.
Boneili, who is an American, has a
rich, mellow voice, is remarkably
good-looking. and has unusual acting
ability for an opera singer. He last
sang this aria in Washington last
Spring. when he was soloist at the
concert of the Washington Symphony