Evening star., 1927-04-24
AUDIENCE THRILLED
BY I'll TROvATORE"
Metropolitan Opera Co.
Closes Season in Climax
of Success.

The Metropolitan Opera Co. closed
a short but memorably brilliant sea-
son of opera in Washington last night
when the most distinguished and
enthusiastic of the audiences OF
thousands assembled for all three
performances applauded vigorously
after each aria and duet in that ia
vorite work. III Trovatore." by the
dean of Italian opera, Giuseppe Verdi,
as presented by leading artists at
the Washington Auditorium. The
people from Richmond and other
nearby towns as well as leaders in
the Capitals social circles. There
were between 1000 and 5000 in the
audience.
All four operas sung here were of
the Italian school and sung in that
language. No single performance stood
out with the brilliance of the "Trova-
tore" of last night, when Rosa Pom
selle, beautiful dramatic soprano. took
about a dozen curtain calls-so many
that one lost count--and threw Amer.
lean beauties from her huge bouquet
to Maestro Serafin and members of
the orchestra. She was quite the star
of the entire performance, although
Giovanni Martinelli offered perfect
foil vocally and histrionically for her
Leonora In his singing of the hero's
role, Manrico.
They both sang their arias, so
familiar and melodious. exceliently.
Ponselle singing with warmth and
feeling and exquisite prolonged notes
in the legitimate places and Martinelli
showing conviction and Sureness in
the robust beauty of his work. The
grand climax was, of course, in the
famous Miserere, which the two
singers did superbly and won many
recalls.
Martinelli Is Excellent.
Martinelli, too, was excellent in the
two duets with Azucena, the gypsy
mother, the familiar Back to Our
Mountains" being especially enjoyed
by the consistently enthusiastic audi
ence. Julia Claessen as AZucea was
very good and her acting was per.
haps better even than her vocal
power.
Mario Basiola in the role of the
count also won his laurels with fine
singing and Interpretation, and the
other minor roles were adequately
handled. Probably due to the smallness
of the stage and the immenseness of
the scenery. there seemed to be too
which, though mentioned on the pro-
gram, were not given.
The chorus was quite up to the
round, swinging phrases so well
known to every school child as well
as adult, and sang them well, The or
chestra was admirable under Stgnor
Serahn who, though too modest to
appear on the stage with the singers,
received his ovation after each act
from the audience, directed to him at
his place In the orchestral pit.
From the first three ominous rolls
Of the drums that opened the over
ture, always the orchestra was de-
pendable and excellently guided unit.
Not once was singers voice over:
ridden and the colorful phrases OF
Verdi's music rolled out gratifyingly
with due emphasis and value. The
harp in accompaniment to Marti-
nellfs first off-stage air, was particu'
larly lovely.
Unusual Combination.
In the afternoon the double bill In.
ciuded Puccini's LA Boheme" and
Mascagnis "Cavalleri Rusticana."
This was a rather unusual combina.
ton; the Leoncavallo II PagliaccI
generally being tho twin on the double
bill with the Mascagni work. How
ever, the Puccini work offered much
more subtle and complete contrast to
the Mascagni opera and as sung by
Lucrezia Borgia, Edward Johnson.
Louise Hunter and Milo Picco in the
leading roles. the former was beau
tiful performance.
It is difficult to imagine more per-
feet Mimi than Miss Boris character
ization and the charming Spanish act
ress-singer easily carried off both
vocal and dramatic leading honors.
Mr.. Johnson's Rodolpho was feryent
lover and exquisite singer, though he
Is inclined to the lyric rather than ro-
bust style of singing. The narrative
he sang most convincingly, and the
duet with Mimi both in the first act
and the third were especially adnira'
BILE. Marcello was most satisfactorily
portrayed by Signor Picco. even though
he has not Scottis finish in style; his
Interpretation carries conviction.
American Girl Sings.
Louise Hunter. an American girl.
sang and looked the part of Musetta
completely, her waltz song winning
her several curtain calls. The ia.