The Washington times., 1928-05-17
NJ { TROPOLIT AN
STARS To sing
IN QUEBEC
~ international News service

~ international News Service
! NEW YORK, May 1.-THE Metro
poIitan Opera Company of New
York is providing much talent for
the Canadian F'olksong Festival at
Quebec from May "a to Is. The
high spot of this festival IL the
revival of a medieval play, lie
leu de Robin ct Marion = which
win be directed by the Metropolitan
conductor, Wilfred Pelletier; the
mart OF the Robin will be sung by
Armand Tokatyan. leading tenor OF
the Metropolitan, and the costumes
and settings have been designed by
Armando Agnini stage manager al
the Metropolitan. Leon Rothler.
Metropolitan basso, viii have
leading role In a ballad opera en-.
titled "I.'Ordre du Bon Temps, an
other feature OF the festival. Wnlcn
has been arranged under the as
tinguished patronage OF His Tx.
eelIencv the Governor General and
Lady wilmington.
The Canadian Folksong and
Handicraft Festival. which last year
aronsed wide interest in Canada
ana in the United States. is being
held for the second time ct Tue.
hec un91er the direction of DR.. Mar.
ri,ls Barbeau, of the Victoria Ma
tional Museum and Harold Eustace
Kew. musical director of the Can
adam Pacific Railway.
Famous Folk Songs
At this now famous Festival will
Be heard folksongs from the nps
Of the F'rench-Canadian peasahtIy;
several folk ballad operas, orcnesL .,
suites and choral compositions. Inc
latterg two groups will lnclude tne
winner OF the $4,000 in prizes 90.
mated bv p. w. Beatty and awarded
nv an international jury. In addl-
ton to the folk singers there VIII
appear some OF the best known con-
cert and opera stars Of North
America.
lie Jeu de Robin ct Marion, the
comic onera composed in the 18th
Century by the troubadour Adam
de Ia Halle. Is said to be the
earliest comic opera in musical his.
tory. Besides the Metropolitan
stars. the cast includes Rodolphe
Planondon, late of the Paris Opera;
Camille Bernard, Canadian pupil OF
Yvette Builbert; Cedia Brault, for
merly Of the Boston Opera; Pierre
PeIletier, q Canadian who was the
only lauriat ,of the Naples Opera in
1926; and UIysse Paqnin. noted
singer who was formerly with the
Montreal Opera Company. The
opera will have q more accurate
presentation this time by reason of
the work of Prof Jean Beck, of the
University of Pennsylvania. who
has reconstructed the original har-
monies from the manuscripts, some
of which he himself discovered.
Ancient Theme
'L'Ordre du Bon Temps" the
name of the society Of good cheer
founded. by Champlain at Port
Royal in 1908. is the title and
theme OF the ballad opera with
music by DR.. Healy william, one OF
Canada's foremost composers.
other noted artists to appear at
the evening performances in the
Auditorium. Quebec's new theater,
and at the Tnatinees in the Chateau
Frontenac include Juliette Gaultier
de Ia Verendrye. who specializes
in Canadian folksong. including
that or Ffencn-CaHdulaH, E1shiiAo
and Indian origin: Jeanne Dusseu,
contraIto to the Chicago Opera;
Charles Marchand. noted interpre-
ter OF French-Canad chansons,
with his Bytown Troubadours in
their hon1espun chicks and Cana.
dian gashes: Eric Delamarter, as
sociate director OF the Chicago sym.
phony Orchestra, who will conduct
the nY.ize winning orchestral suite:
Victor Rrault. popular singer of
French Canadian folksongs. and
the Hart House Quartet. the most
famous chamber music group IN
all Canada.