Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11

The Washington Opera Co, Ed
Guard Albion, general director pre-
scented an admirable performance OF
Puccini's LA Boheme" last night al
the Washington Auditorium as the
second opera of their 1851 season,
Washington society was we'll repre-
scented in the boxes and orchestra.
La Boheme" is one OF the most
melodious of scores, and the feature
of the evening was the conducting
of this work by Georges Georgesco,
Rumanian. who is conductor OF the
Royal Opera and the Philharmonic
Orchestra of the capital of his home
country, Bucharest. Rumania. This
was Mr.. GeOrgeSco'S debut in Amer
lea as an operate conductor. and he
won warm applause from the audi
ence. At the end OF the second act
he and Mr.. Albion Joined the princi-
pals in the curtain group, and Mr..
GeOrgesco modestly waved all APP,
plause toward his associates upon the
stage rather than claiming any him
self. They were given an ovation.
In his conducting Mr.. Georgesco
throws himself into his work whole
heartedly. He uses gestures with in
diViduality and extreme. expressive
ness, achieving his effects thoroughly
satisfactorily. He kept alert to every
note in his score and obviously did
his best to, sustain the orchestral
work in such fashion that it would
not dominate the singers. Mr..
Georgesco's handling of the baton
IN this performance is a historical
event in the opera annals of Wash
ington.
Miss Maxwell Makes Hit.
Of the singers Margery Maxwell
stands foremost. both for character
ization and skill in vocal work. She
has the light. childish type of soprano
that SO aptly fits the music written
for the pathetic young consumptive,
heroine of this story by Merger. Her
firm, clear notes We're always a real
joy, and in the ''Addio' she had some
exquisite pianissimo The ungrateful
part about Minis role is the fact that
she really cannot get any applause
after either big aria because after the
obvious climax, if the audience ap-
plauds to show its appreciation, as it
did last night, the applause kills the
lovely. softly sung final phrase that
INKS the aria in each case with the
closely following duet. Miss Maxwell
looked as well as sang the part,
charmingIy. and as one patron was
heard to remark in leaving the Audi
forum, Mimi did beautifully" Mr..
GeorgeSco seemed to constantly re-
mind this young singer of her tempo.
but with this one exception every
phase of her work was excellent and
she should go far in her operate
career
Ulysses Lappas. young Greek tenor,
sang his role of Rudolfo most admir-
ably. He won many admirers in his
singing Of the leading tenor role in
La Tosca a year ago. He seemed
TO lose none of them last night. but
to add more to the number. The fact
that only in the first few notes of his
solo work did he seem indistinct in
his words proves that he is well
trained in the art of the singer, and
his fortissimo notes in the wooing of
Mimi in the first duet rang out clear
and true. He. too, looked the part of
a comelv hero and acted eonvincingly.
Ivan 1vantzoff, now a veteran bari.
tone of the Washington Opera Co
was quite satisfactory in the
role of Marcel. acting with his usual
flourish and ease in stage presence
and singing especially well in the duet
with Mimi in the third act, Mimi,
10 Son.
Rcle of COllinc Sung Well
Another singer not new To local
opera ranks, Sigurd Nilssen formerly
of the de Reszke Quartet, sang the
role of Colline we'll Mr.. Nilsson has
only appeared a few times previously
in opera. He made his operate debut
with the local company in Romeo
and Juliet and sang again in "Lohen-
grin" His diction. like that of
those mentioned above. was admirable,
his Italian easily understandable He
gave the famous. pathetic little song
of Farewell, Old Coat"-excel
lently. his rich bass tones ringing
clearly and with total lack of IMAM
nerisms' in production. seeming com