Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-25
MEL|US, IN 'LAKME,'
WINS BIC OVATION
Washington Opera Company
Given Prolonged Applause
for Presentation.

and prolonged applause, greeted the
| Washington Opera Co, Edouard Al
! bion, director. throughout the presen-
| tation of DelibeS' "Lakme." given at
the Washington Auditorium last
! night. The company deserved high
commentator for their work in maxi
ing this opera hold the interest of the
| audience to such a marked extent, for
the work is admittedly lighter and
less replete with catchy melody or gor-
geous orchestration than many other
operate works, thereby leaving more
responsibility to the singers and
dancers. which they assumed with an
ability and spontaneity that captivated
the audience.
Luellia Melius hailed as the great
American coloratula. literally stopped
the show" with her singing of the IA
nous Bell Song" receiving applause
during the number and an ovation at
its conclusion. Miss Melius has the
true cOloratura voice, yet her lower
tones We're full and resonant. She
has a plaintive, haunting quality to
her top notes, which were frequently
called upon in the high register in
which this role Is written. Her duet
with the slave girl in the first act was
well done. This was almost the only
opportunity that Eugene Fonariova.
q very capable young singer, who sang
the part of N1allika, had in this opera.
Miss Melius gave much dramatic
weight to her part in the second act
and was also excellent dramatically
and Vocally in the thiFA act.
IvantzOff Is Effective.
Although the visiting singers were
much appreciated, the dramatic indi-
viduality of Ivan Ivantzoff, a regular
member Of the Washington Opera
Company, stood out prominently.
This Russian baritone can always be
counted upon to give a complete inter
probation Of his role. He never acted
better or sang better than last night,
when his big voice and remarkable
dramatic ability were heard and seen
at their best in the role of the
Brahman priest, Nilakantha. His
makeup, too, was admirable.
Ralph Errolle, the tenor hero, has
sung in Washington frequently. His
voice seemed uneven in tone produc-
ton, perhaps because he had a bad
cold. Some Of his notes were lovely,
others were not at all good, and his
pitch was not at all times free from
suspicion. His acting, however, was
and he looked the part
well. His best singing seemed to be
the second act and again in the trio
with Melius and Ivantzoff in the
finale.
Three Washington girls took part
in "Lakme" and all three did so in
highly creditable fashion. Doris Nor |
row, who has had some dramatic eX
perience, was completely at her ease
In the role Of Ellen, daughter of the |
governor. Mrs. Morrow is very pretty |
and has a voice of the soprano quality |
that suited in type the character she
was portraying. Dorothy Tyler had |
less to do as Ellen, but she did that |
bit well. Charlotte Hartman, con- |
tralto, was a dramatic revelation in |
her playing of the role of Mrs. Bent !
son, governess to the young ladies. |
She assumed the airs Of the part and |
maintained them even
when she was but q part of the big
picture during the ballet numbers
Vocally. she showed some nervousness |
but her role seemed to call for con-
siderable agitation in her biggest pas
sages-during the beginning of the
second act--and she responded accord |
Ingly.
and Adolph Turner were good in the
small parts.
The ballet group, under Elizabeth |
Gardiner and Paul Tchernikoff, gave |
some charming dances to music most |
happily written for dance interpreta |
ton. The pas de deux of the leaders !
had original steps of the Oriental |
type and was delightfully."- executed. |
The ballet episodes, both early in the |
second act and again when the idol |
was brought into the scene, were high |
lights Of the performance, and did |
IN odd m tho ofYanenhnro nF hn |
opera.
The chorus, gayly and variously !
CARRIED in different Oriental modes,
added to the setting both in first and |
second act and sang with particular |
verve and effectiveness in the latter. |
The chOrusmaster is Edward Lee |
begott.
The orchestra, under Alberto Bim-
bonf, was excellent. 1t was in
Guided in the applause the conductor
received at the end of the second act,
and It's feature work was in the
prelude to the third act, which re.
ceived hearty applause from the audi
ence at large. Mr.. Bimboni conducted |
with fine repression, never taxing his |
singers with a heavy accompaniment
The settings &a.d costumes were
and, liz the two later acts,
very unusual and SUGGESTING different |
phases Of Oriental life.
French Gave Opera Here.
This was the first time that "Lakne"
has been heard in Washington since |
the days Of the visit of the French
Opera Co, which came from Paris to
New Orleans, first for a 12-week sea-
son, and then played Cincinnati, Co
lumbuS, Washington and other cities, |
closing the American tour In Quebec |
This company was under Jules Layoll,
and it Is interesting to
note that the business manager was !
Rollin Bond, who was Mr. Albion's
first conductor with the Washington
Opera Co. here, and who is now ee-
tablished in light opera work in this
city.
The members Of the company partic-
ipating in this opera are listed as in
Guiding:
Virginia Amberg, Mary Apple, Nor
ma Bell, Veta Boone, Alice Brennan,
Florence Brady, Myrtle Charley, |
Swanee Crofton, Elizabeth Dickson,
Mary Dowd, Esther Dudley, Lisette
Follmer, Phebe Gates, Alicegene
Graves. Catherine Hines, Ruth Hutch
ison, Dorothy Humphreys, Gertrude
Margaret Lane, Elsie Lang,
Ida Lea, Edith Mack. Louise Met
calf, Emma Monkey, Lucie Murray,
Marie Muse, Eulalie McEachran, Mil
dred O'Neill, Ruth Perry, Leona Riley,
Ethel Roddy, Kathleen Schlup. Jose
othy Wadleigh, Emily Watts, Kate
White and Florence Yocum.
Nelson Anderson, Paul j. Beckert, |
RanchIpr Horny RlaSG ErpaGt