Evening star., 1927-09-18
NJ u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.


columns the tale of musical wares
for sale during the coming months,
Everybody is fiocking back to stu
dos from the shore and mountains,
and many are returning a bit lag
gingly, but full of information, from
Europe. AS the other side of this
page sets forth the local notes, this
column will deal more generally with
the trend of the times and the pros
poets for the season. Never has the
horizon. musically. seemed broader
or more colorful for Washington
than at the present time.
Looming high in the foreground is
the opening Of the new Fox Theater
in the National Press Building, in
which music is to play very pronl-
nent part. Although a special in
vitation" audience will witness the
formal opening tomorrow night, the
first public performance, with box
Office ct al, will be Tuesday The
music at the new theater is entirely
under the direction of S. L. Rothafel,
much more generally known and ad-
mired as Roxy"
In a short interview at his New
York Office last week, Roxy said that
he wasn't going to say a lot ahead
about the plans for the Washington
Gang" but that he expected to be
in the city quite frequently and that
he was certainly going to keep his
eyes and ears open for real talent IN
any musical line-singing, playing or
ballet-and hoped to be able to
utilize a number of Washington ;
younger musical folks as he worked
up programs during the season. The
s0-piece orchestra has the assistant
leader and many members who are
Washingtonians. This is the first
place, quite naturally. where local
ability has opportunity. 1t will be
very interesting to see how this
group is built up into the fine en-
semble work possible with any group
of instrumenta1ists under capable
leadership. The orchestra OF the
Roxy Theater in New York is the
largest permanent symphonic organi-
zation in the world. 1t is an impos-
ing sight to see this huge orchestra
of about 100 men all in position on
the platform which rises gradually
from the pit before the stage into
the sight of the audience and then
hear them launch into such music as
that of Puccinis "Boheme."
During this first week all the mu-
sical embroideries of the program
will be provided by we'll known ia
vorites Of the original Gang" There
is Candy" who will lead the ballet.
Doug" Stanbury will be one of the
chief singers, and Gladys Rice is an
other.
In talking of the new project Roxy
said: "Tell the folks of Washington
that ! feel as though I am coming
home to them when we open this
theater, and that l am going to con-
tinue there what | have always
earnestly striven for elsewhere-giv-
ing the best we can. Where | find
real talent in Washington l shall be
glad to try and use it in our pro-
grams there. It takes time and
much thought from many angles to
build gradually and surely, and we
are going to do the best we can to
keep the friendship of Washington
audiences, which we have. appreci-
ated so much in the past in former
efforts presented for their approval"
In the gorgeous red brocade and
gold rocco of the Roxy Theater in
New York the programs are GER
tainly breath-taking in their elabo-
rate largess. There is the open
ing orchestral prelude. This is fol-
lowed by a choral ballet combined
ensemble, "Voice of the Chimes" sue
ceeded by the scenic-according to
one program-and then come charm
ing advertisements, including one of
the Justly popular "Silhouettes" and,
on this occasion, a Chinese ballet
number, delightfully."- costumed and
danced. The news reel was followed
by a Revue Picturesque" with a
"Persianized" jazz group and various
interpolated songs and dance num-
bers. Of the whole program the bal
let seemed the strongest intrinsically
of all musical features, with the
chorus and orchestra competing for
second place. The solo voices were
the weakest feature of that particu-
lar bill and could have been consid-
erably improved upon. None of the
Gang" favorites sang on this pro-
gram.
OF the local endeavors In the rnu-
~ sical field none has such pro-
portions or possibilities as the Wash
ington Opera Co. This year the AL
bions are planning to put on an en-
tire week of operas early in Decem-
Der just after the normal date for
Congress to convene and with a gala
air generally to herald the innova-
ton. There are those who eye such
a Jumping of operas" for Washing
ton consumption askance. Not be-
cause Washington has not proved
possessed of an opera-attracted pub
lie, but because there are so many
other types of brilliant social and
entertainment features to life in the
season in the National Capital that
its audiences do not have so many
nights in succession free for attend
ance at one form of entertainment.
However. it is an intriguing list that
the Washington Opera Co. has pre-
pared for this week of opera, which
is scheduled to begin December S.
AS the latest news has it, the week
is to open with "Mignon" on a Mon
day night; Tuesday will have Gar
men," with Jeanne Gordon in the
title role; Wednesday is dark" op-
eratically, as another big event al
ready scheduled would conflict with
the performances; Thursday THAI"
is to have Mary Lewis and John
Charles Thomas as featured singers
Friday the Russian Baklanoff is cast
in the Mephistopheles role in
Faust; Saturday a matinee for
school children will present "Hansel
and Gretep and a ballet. and Satur-