Evening star., 1928-05-13

IlGuIGS, dS oCb OCoAdC CiACoS VA SAAN'
season lust closing. are interest
ing. They read:
1897 1878
oHsss. ops6ss,ras ,: -. 1s ls cprosramo
Choral groups -. T. ~
Tlaaists .-....... ~ -
Singers ........-.
N1oElniSts -....s.s
haTpists -..'...''
AelDSts
These figures do not include
chamber music programs or the
events given. by local organiza-
tions or the two unusually sue
cessful programs of pan-Ameri-
can music. featuring many pre-
miere renditions that we're given
and attracted brilliant audiences
this season.
TT is always interesting TO scan
i the sradowy suggestions that
are projected by a seasons per-
formances and note the chang
ing trend In musical affairs.
The predominance of operas n
the list of leading events has,
alone, many angles for thought.
While It was grand opera that
aroused the most attention, one
must not lose sight Of the four
weeks of sfirst-class light opera
productions presented by t'le
President Light Opera Co.. under
the supervision Of T. Arthur
Smith. In its fourth week the
company was attracting satisfy
iurlv large audiences. and. could
II have continued, might have
achieved real distinction with a
r-ore lengthy season. AS 1t was.
the grand opera performances
barred forth with all the panoply
and red and gold of the supreme
circus of musical entertainment,
and so the light opera had TO de-
part for other less overwhelmed
shores,
However. the light onera idea
does not die easily. It is alreadv
being revived, and confirmed
r,lmor announces that De Wolf
Hopper. king Of light opera come
dams, viii bring his own COM
pauy TO a local theater TO open a
season Of light operas, beginning
the week of May 81.
In the grand opera productions
here the reaction Of Washington
audiences to each group OF per-
formances proved quite illuminat-
ing. The subtle delicacies OF
whimsical humor In John Gays
200-year-old opus. THE Beggar's
Opera" found marked apprecia-
ton. The newest American opera,
Deems Taylor's The Kings
Henchman." also was well re-
ceived. Of other guest opera
companies. the American Opera
Co, with its vivid modern treat
nent Of Gounod'g Faust" was a
high light Of the season, and OF
course the Metropolitan Opera
Co. in April found warm welcome
with oyations for Rosa Ponselle
in Norma" Chaliapin in Boris
Godounov" and LucreZia Bori and
Gigli in an exquisite performance
of Romeo and Juliet" Only
"Tannhauser" seemed lukewarnl
both in production and reception
Unusual enthusiasm was shown
over both the seasons" offered by
the Washington Opera Co. Thf
memory finds most vivid the I'M
preston left by the inspiring per-
forrnance Of Gadski and the OTHER
members of the cast Of die
Walkuere" in the second series Oi
operas. An innovation, the Mar.
naein Dancers, listed with the flrsi
performance in Washington Of "A
Light from st. Agnes" Frankt
Hariing's American opera, in oIls
act, proved a welcome attraction
Their best number was noderr-
istic machine dance, mined X
music by Gustav Hoist. Ths
Washington company also pre-
sented an unusually fine perform
ance Of La Tosca," and there
were many wio spoke adniringll
Of the Tristan und Isolde" per
formance.
THE recitals include song pro
l. grams by POnselle, Bori. Mar
Lewis, Anna Case, Lucia Hnlius
Donna Ortengia, JeritZa, IaIley
Geraldine Farrar, Hulda Laeflan'
SKA, Augusta Lengks. MAiie Echin'
SKY, Eigrid Onegin, Mccormack
MartinelIi. Heinrich Scnlusnus
de OogOrza, La agrence Tibbett aft
Chaliapin. Several Of these ar,
lists were coupled with fine In
strumeY1tal artists IN Mrs. Law
renee T6wnsenc's morning musi
Gals. These we're seven In numbeI
this year, more than previously
and also Increasingly brilliant ans
successful, both artisticalIy ant
from an audience point of view.
The pianists appearing in reel
tsIz included Josef Holman
twice.. Rachmaninoff. H0Eowitz
Myra Hess. Richard Euhiig, Irenl
f;chaFFeT Ghura cherksssky. vii
liam Beilar. Yolanda Nero an,
Kurt Hetzcl. The two amazinl
revelations ~ this groDD, both h
debiltg locally under Mrs Town
sends auspices. were Myfa Hes
End Vladimir Hor0WitZ
The professional YiGlinistg her
I'm recitsls included Nine LubO
Fehutz. Paul Koehsngki, Jse1ne
Tl1ibsud, Jasehs Hejfetz. FRI
KrstGier and Sylvia Lent The 0a