Evening star., 1928-11-25

/
ccheoule showed series of three
operas by the American Opera Co.
This company makes no preten-
tionS of giving finished grand
opera performances to be COM
pared with the Metropolitan OK
La Scala productions. It does,
however, offer markedly original
and well balanced productions Of
opera done in a style and Ian
guage that should prove enter
t2ining and entirely lucid to the
average American audience. Vlad-
imir RoSing, who has had much
concert experience in this country,
brought vision and practical orig
inality to his plans when he
founded and developed the nu-
clcuS of the American Opera Co.
in Rochester, under the auspices
of Mr.. EaStman'S School of Music.
With the equally energetic and
systematic assistance of Frank ST.
Leger, conductor, Mr. Rosing butt
the company into a practical
| group ready for public appearance
in opera. Now they have had q
year of such appearances, and
show in the latest appearance i'll
Washington marked DEVELOPMENT
since first heard here in their real
debut performance, at which
President and Mrs. Coolidge were
present, almost a year ago.
In the interim, the company has
trained about 60 young singers in
200 individual roles. There have
been additional members of the
company who have spent short
periods, but these go have stuck to
their posts in the intensive train
ing classes and have seen service
in chorus and separate roles alike.
Each of the 60 has averaged sing
ing principal roles 10 times during
that year. They had Summer Of
inspiring preparation a year ago
1T Mr.. Carrington'S beautiful es-
tate, at Magnolia, Mass. Last
Summer thev spent their training
neriod in Chicago, home of that
fine operate organization built on
European plans-the Chicago Civic
Opera Co., generally acknowledged
to rank second only to the Metro
nolitan of New York. Neither of
these large companies seems to
feel that it would be practical TO
have an experimental training
unit in their own group. How
ever, patrons of music in both
cities-Chicago and New York
who appreciate the possibilities, as
we'll as the already established
success of the American Opera Co.
under Mr.. Rosing. are asking that
the permanent headquarters of
this group. so valuable as ma
tional asset. be in their respective
city. The final decision is yet to
be reached.
The rule that only Americans
will be taken to sing in this COM
pany has never been broken since
the group was organized, accord
ing to Mr.. Rosing, although, as in
any pioneer venture, there have
been times when immediate sue
cess has been turned aside to keep
to this ruling. Also the Star-Sys-
tenn is frowned upon. The Ameri-
can Opera Co. aims to offer prac-
tical operate entertainment to
American audiences in style Of
presentation and a language that
should prove enjoyable. The COM
pany also aims to give the neces-
Sary practical experience and op-
portunity to young American
singers, who cannot find such
operatic training combined with
modest salary anywhere else in
the world. The company extends
a welcome to young Americans
who previously have been driven
to Italy and elsewhere in Europe,
as well as to those at home.
Like any other art. the basic
PRINCIPLES of Mr.. Rosing'S train
ing school feature coordination
thought. trained into action. enc
tional, vocal, and. as result, dra-
matte DEVELOPMENT. No set period
of training before actual appear
ance in role can be given for all
singers. Some have the voice we'll
trained when they come to the
company. but the operatic acting
may require months. and even
years. to achieve to the point Of
nublic appearance. In one per-
forrnance last week a singer. who
had taken a year to master thor
ough coordination, appeared in q
leading role, playing opposite an
other singer. who, inside Of few
weeks, showed marvellous adapta-
bility and absorption of the prin-
cinles of coordination.
The ultimate plan that Mr..
Rosjng has before him and is
grs sdually bringing to realization
is to take his firSt-line people III
the companv now end place them
as heads of budding compapies
in communities throughout the
country to carrv on under the
general supervision of the origi-
nal. parent company. Mr.. st.
Teger is working along sinila:
lines with his teaching of orches-
tral conducting for oueratic pro-
Guctions With other students.
In short, Mr.. Rosing and Mr.. g..
Teger ere irving to do for the
thorough fundamentals nf Ameri-
can opera what Mr.. Williamson.
head and organi7er of the DAYTON
Westminster Choir. hos started for
he cauce of better church music
IN America. In each of these two
GROUPS vouno Americans are being
riven accurate, painstalsing train
;ng to develop young directors to
"carrv on" later throuohout the
countrv. IT is a logical way of as-
~uriro real achievement and rich
lv deserves the widespread ad =
rnira tion and interest it. jc nrou7-
'nr th~orohout the United States.
nven ending an echo conning