Evening star., 1927-05-15

terests Of fulsome and varied musi-
cal season by professionals in morn
ing, afternoon and evening perform
ances in Washington are across the
big pond and engaged III late Spring
tours aud preparation for Summer
festivals in England, France. Ger
MANY. Austria and Italy. Others
have participated IN that highly sue
cessful community festival, the Cln-
ciunati. and are announcing plans tor
Summer opera seasons IN the Ra-
viuia Park, San Francisco. ST. LOUIS
and other American companies.
Quite as many twlnkling operate
stars seem to tarrv 10 sparkle in pro-
. ductions in the United States as are
planning 10 sing leading roles III for
eipn festivals. This year, too, Can
ada is putting in telling stroke with
hrr own little oar. The Canadian
Folk Song and Handicraft Festival"
70 he held Friday, Saturday and Sum
dav OF this week at Chateau From
tcnac. IN Quebec. But more anon OF
Summer festivals; also. later, men
tion of local efforts musically, with
the exception OF the Washington
Opera Co, which. engaging proteS-
sionalS Tor the leading roles in pro-
ductionS. puts itself on professional
basis.
THE season 1907 was not quite
i as heavy in general professional
performances as the preceding year.
but in some lines, such as opera and
orchestra. the total is larger than
nveviousIv. Out OF 80 events, outside
of chamber music, there were is
oncras. + orchestra concerts. l. large
choral organizations i'll performances,
| b;e ballet production. 10 pian'sts III
rec;ta's q singers in recitals and
yiolujsts.
The first opera OF the season was
. verv individualized production OF
Rossiri's Barber OF Seville. per
formed by Chaliapin and his com
pauv. The Washington Opera 90.
gave the next production. opening ITS
season with Tschaikowsky's "Pique
Dame giving it first time IN
wa shineton. They followed with
cer{orma1tes OF Puccinis La Bo-
hene" Delibes' "Lakme" and ending
with an exceptionally gala perform
ance OF "Rigoletto, principally nota-
nj. for the marvellous reception &C
corded 1ohn Charles Thomas on his
return in first performance IN opera
IN -tl,;s country since his European
work along those lines. and distinc-
tive, too -as playing with the COM
nane With which he made his oper,,
ssso debut. two years ago in AIDA.
In each of the four local productions
fhe chorus was consistently OF local
singers. and small parts were. given
in maiiv cases to local ambitious
young folks.
Tzcoues Samossoud, who was con-
dgctor with the local company tor
several wears and conducted their
oneniny production this season,
"Pinue Dame" put on benefit per.
forniane for the Greek refugees, OF
puecini's Mime. Butterfly, IN when
Estelle Wentworth's chorus OF local.
singers took part. :.
Another production, a frst tune in
Washington. was the performance
NJ Rschmaninoff's short opera.
"AIpko." This was given with the
entire cast recruited from local peo-
nle. directed by the Russian, Nine.
Zsiipskv, and sung in Russian. i
The Chicago Opera Co. gave but
two performances here. The Mask
I'd Rail-" bv Verdi, was sung as an
evening performance, with principal
honors going to Richard Bonelh as
the: baritone and Rosa Raisa as the
prirl1a donna. Mary Garden, olVa
of the Chicago forces, was featured
in the Alfano musical setting Tor Oh
stoi'. stark tale, Resurrection. a
h;ehlieht in this production was the
singing of an aria in the last act by
the Russian, Eesare Formichi
The grand finale of the operate
season locally was supplied by the
return. after nearly score of years
cf absence, of that incompatible or,
parization, the Metropolitan Grand
0pera Co. To be sure, they returned
in short. crammed season ot the
tritest Italian operas available, yer
thew produced those works IN sucn
remarkable style and correctness OF
detail that the works seemed almost
new in the intenseness with which
thew registered. GalhCurcis own
version Of "Traviata," with Gigli and
De Luca in excellent support and
charming ballet and fine chorus,
onened the season. No more admir-
able team that Lucrezia Bori ana
Edward Johnson could be asked for
III. leading roles of La Boheme,
and the little American singer, Louise
Hunter. was a completely admirable
Musetta. Lawrence Tibbett, another
Young American, made a real indiVid-
,tal Of the fiery Alto in "Cavalleria
Rusticana," and the choral effects on
each occasion they sang during the
opera were really marvellous and IN
spjrin9. In the last performance,
Verdi's al Trovatore" took on new
clories, with Rosa Ponselle superb
a, Leonora and Martinelll an elo-
ouent hero. Julia Claessen also won
special favor with her singing of the
gypsy role.
shingtonians may have grum-
bled that they did not have novelty
in the Nets" repertoire; It is GER
tainIy 10 be hoped that if that COM
panv returns next season 1t VIII
bring a more varied fare, However
several Washingtonians who jour
reved forth to Baltimore TO see the
performance there OF "Turandot,
the one novelty given there, felt
quite satisfied that that work, al
least, was not to be given in Wash
ington. The music is not by the
Puccini of La Boheme." but brings
wis,ful memories of Butterfly" ir
its less inspiring moments, and the
.Alfano finale put TO Puccini's post
humous script is quite separate, and
one might add, unnecessary. Per
haps, unless one caters TO the Ameri
can desire for a happy ending,
,rhich this hesfoMs nnon the opera