The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-02-22
ENGLISH OPERA
SCORES HIT

pany last night introduced to
American music lovers q new
English opera, tuneful, artistic
musically. often rising to real
musical heights, always fascinat-
ing.
1t introduced to Washinytonians
an operate tenor Of considerable
attachments In the person OF
Tudor Davies, robust young
Welshman with magnificent
voice which reflects credit on a
land where village choirs are the
fashion In every community and
good voices are found on every
hand.
It also introduced for her oper-
attic debut, a new soprano; Marie
Montana, who, though appearing
in a role none too well suited to
her talents, displayed q voice OF
good strength and sweetness
which was heard to advantage in
several of the climaxes.
Eugene Goossens, one Of Great
Brftain's foremost orchestral
leaders, welded the baton. Under
his direction the work of the.
orchestra was exceptionally good,
! despite q tendency in some Of the
more contrapuntal passages, to
predominant over the voices and
q rather marked use Of the per-
cussion instruments which, at
times was q trifle overdone.
The opera itself ID unique In
many respects. Musically it is
q work OF considerable interest.
A number of traditional English
folk tunes are woven into the
score. Vaughan Williams wrote
the score.
There are no "set'' pieces in
the work, the work. even in its
i more lyric moments, flowing
along free melodic lines.
There are points OF rare beauty,
especially In the opening Of the
second act, where the hero, Hugh
the Drover, arrested as q spy, sits
through the night In the stocks
in the town square of Cotswold.
Hugh Tudor Davies) has d long
and splendidIy developed mono
logue over wandering and at
times almost vague string &C.
compartment. A an underclIr-
rent there are outbursts Of
drunken melody from q nearby
inn, the chorus being based upon
an old drinking song, which
powerfully accentuates the poig.
nancy OF the solo.
The drinkers then pour into the.
square. to taunt Hugh and the
score, while limiting of real power,
falls q trifIe short Of its dramatic
possibilities.
A love duet Of real beauty, at
times bordering on real greatness,
ensues.
A rough and tumble fight be.
tween Hugh and John the
Butcher Qvan Ivantz6fD in 2
squared ring at the Cotgwold
barred, gives q scene never be-
fore found in grand opera.
Hugh emerges victor but ID
arrested Immediately aftetward
as q French spy. IN the last
act, after much rather pointless
maneuvering, he is freed Of the
charge and the opera ends
The minor roles were weir
taken with Adolph Turner as the
Cheap Jack: Walter Matson and
Edwin Ludwig ~ shell fish
sellers; Rose Polio, as q primrose
seller; George Boucher as the
Snowman; WiIfred Smith. q ballad
seller; Nina Hager, as Aunt Jane;
M. Windheim, the turnkey; Al
fredo Valenti, the constable:
Harry Meyes, a fool, and Paul
John Kvale, a sergeant.
The next event in the two-week
international festival will be the
presentation OF Wagner's Tristan
and Isolde at Polls Theater to-
morrow night. Heinrich Knotes
leading German tenor. win sing
Tristan and Elsa Alden, Isolde.
Ernest Knock, one Of the world s
leading Wagnerian conductors,
will conduct.-Jo Joseph Eogerton.