Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-19
MELOD|0US LAKME'
BRILLIANTLY sung
Washington National Opera
Company Closes First
Week of Festival.

"Lakme.' Leo Delibes' delightful
opera. was sung by the Washington
National Opera Co last night. at Polls
Theater. before distinguished and en-
thusiastic audience. marking the con-
clusion of the first week of the notable
International Grand Opera Festival.
which has comprised to date the pres
cntatiOn of three operas; a prcsoi1ta-
ton Of drama dances by tho Marmcins
with music by American composers: as
we'll as concert Of important artistic
note. by Luella Melius. American COL
oratura soprano.
Lacking the commanding passages
of captivating beauty. 50 inspiring in
grand opera. and almost devoid CT the
grandeur Of crescendo development
"Lakme" possesses to a rare degree the
highly appealing quality OF sustained
melody The themes are left. for the
most part to take care OF themselves
and il their vocal and instrumental
presentation. form composition III
which tedious passages ere missing.
Notable Cast.
For the singing of "Lakme." frs:
of the two operas ot the French group
included III the feStiTal program. a
notable cast was employed comprising
Lucia Meius- famous soprano; Aaur-
ice Capitaine. French tenor from the
Opera Conricuc Of Paris. and IvaE
IrantzoH. Russian baritone favorite Of
! local opera patrons. ant' 81 outs:andir {
member Of the Washi:Von Opera Co.
for number Of seasons.
| Nine. Melius, whose concert hast
| wednesday afternoon delighted large
| audience, made her only appearance Of
| the current festival season in the title
! role OF ''La.srle" One Of PATHS most
| successful roles. the priina donna roe
| OF "Lakme," with its exacting colo-s-
| tura music demanding perfection ce
| technique. is OF such a difficult artistic
nature that few singers have verturec
/ 70 attempt It Therefore. Il has beer.
! observed. the role Is seldom sung badly.
/ To say that Nine. Mei!us met fully -he
! vocal requirements would not j:iS.lv
convey full expression CT the supreme
artistry she displayed. Both in her
! solo ar:as ana IN her numerous duets
she sang tall;lcSslv. With admirable
most difficult Of STacca:o fantasies, in
+ which the voice initiates The tinkle OF a
s3lve! bell. provided the medium,
through which Nine Nellus completed
captlva'cd the audience
Maurice Capitaine, sent over by tin
French government. as an Ambassador
Of good viii through MUSIC. made his
first appearance OF the current season,
in the part Of Gerald. the operas lead
inc tenor role NJ Capltaine gained
many new admirers throueh his superb
characterization las evening
a singer whose name N the cas-; al
ways ar1tiSes an aDp~ecia'ive interest
ivan IvantyolT, was heard 70 particular
j II fine advantage Ill the 'heaTy" role
Of Nilak2nth9. Brahmin priest and
+ father o: Lakme whose vengeful will
/ provides the tragedy element a. ,Nn
/ opera Mr. Ivant-or eInoloved his r3ct;
/ baritone voice III an admirable voca!
/ ard dramatic Interpretation.
/ Washington Singers.
! Predoc!.naat.y American III national
/ lty. the cast included several loca! sing
/ ers, their work being of uniformly high
! order. William Tucker revealed a fine
I baritone voice in the role o! Frederic
/ while Wiltred Smith ana Doris Morrow
were delightfully."- pleasing in voice and
. stage presence as Eadji and Ellen. re-
spec;ively Others among the characters
! who deserve praise for their excellen;
/ work arc Dorothy Tyler. Charlotte Ear-
! rlmau. Nina Hager, George Beuch.sr
! and Adolph Turner
/ Tho. orchestra. with Eugene FilerSt
! conducting. was an OUTSTANDING feature
| q! the performance Mr. FuerSt elected
! from his musicians a fine evenings ccr-
! formancc
I Stage settings were srt,sticauv AZ
. ranged and provided vivid back
! ground. Enrica Clay Dillon. stage d.
, rector. received we'll n,eriyed curtain
call