Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-07-19
AL FRISCO OPERA
SUNG NEAR PARIS
Mrs. Hoppin of Pomfret Hears
Unique Performance At
Sisters Chateau
Tristan" BY Moonlight at Feudal
Freneh Castle


Mrs. Joseph Clark Hoppin Of
"Courtlands," pomfret, was among
those who attended unique perform
ance Of Wagner Tristan und Isol-
de" which was given during the last
week in Jane at the country home Of
her sister, Mrs. Arthur Mouiton az
Chateu La Verriere, near Paris. The
performance was described as fol-
lows in a dispatch from Paris in last
Sundays edition Of The New York
Times:
Interest in al fresco performances,
which was so marked in the days Of
Louis XIV, not 10 mention Shakes
peare and Milton, is being revived
here. None could resist being CRATE
ful to the owner of a magnificent cha
teau. with equally splendid grounds.
for furnishing this perfect framework
for an outdoor attraction.
One Of the most charming of recent
entertainments was given by Mr.. and
Mrs. A. MouIton at their LaVerriere
property, with a sixteenth century
chateau and an ideal park, near the
village Of Mesnil-Saint Denis, not far
from Versailles. They brought out
from Paris the CASTOR Pouiet Orches-
ira, which has acquitted itself admir-
ably this last year and in this setting,
sylvan enough for "As You Like IT,"
gave Tristan and Isolde"
+ A bridge was constructed over the
water Of the moat for the first act,
with a corner of the chateau and the
woods for a natural setting, which, of
course. was perfect for the second act
and the last part Of the third act of
Tristan" From the forest adjoining
the chateau King Mark and Tristan
auneared Just as they are supposed TO
do in the opera.
/ Aremsen Sang Tristan
+ The role of Tristan was taken by
Enrico Aremsen, well-known Wag-
merriam singer, who has been heard in
State operas at Vienna. Berlin, Petro-
grad and La Scala. Mile de Meo OF
the Paris Opera sang Isolde. while
Mile Valentary Of the Opera Comique
took the part Of Brangaenn.
A hundred or more guests formed
an international audience of Ameri-
cans, French and Russians. The affair
was such success that Mrs. Moul-
ton. whose chief interest always is
music, Is planning a number of such
performances at La Verriere at week
end entertainments throughout the
summer.
This chateau, although dating from
the Renaissance. owes something of
It's celebrity TO the fact that II once
was the house Of the Comte de la
Vallette. Every one remembers. per-
haps. that this imperial nobleman
nearly lost his head for rallying TO
Napoleon after his return from Elba.
He was among the culprits destined
10 serve as an example. When
Fouche was commissioned 10 draw up
a list of those who should pay the
penalty. he asked at council whom he
should designate for execution. Tai
leyrand replied:
4 "Pick them at random, Fouche;
they are all your friends"
La ValIette's sensational outwittlng
of his prison guards caused more ex-
element over a century ago than
Mobiles escapade today. His LIES
devotion Is often cited as perfect,
while General Wilson, the English
man who helped him TO escape, was
long a byword and a Kissing among
the ie~ifimists.
Mesnil-Saint Denis is quite an Amer
lean colony. Gussave Baumann, for
merly of New York. and his son,
Clifton. have recently bought the
Chateau du Mesnil, celebrated for hav-
ing housed Moliere. In fact. the great
dramatist wrote some of his PLAYS
there. The Baumanns also entertain
many Americans over the week-ends.
This vicinity on the outskirts Of the
Valley Of Chevreuse Is rich in mag
nificent chateaux. Not far off is
nampierre, one of the most gorgeous
chateux In France. the property OF
the Young Due de Rhymes. Buried
there Is the uncle Of the present pro-
prietor. that Duo de Rhymes whose
widow. now residing In Paris, was
Theodore Shonts of New York.