Evening star., 1928-02-19
NJ y SIG
Bv HELEN FETTER.

week. Those so inclined
may hear an opera every night
but Wednesday, and a wide va
riety is offered for choice to those
who are able to give up only one
or two evenings to this colorful
form of musical entertainment.
The second week of the Inter
national Festival of Opera will be
presented through the efforts of
the Washington Opera Co. Ed
Guard Albion, director. with the
encouragement of Ambassadors
from the five nations chiefly rep
resented by productions given
during this festival. and the in
tereSt of an American group Of
sponsors and many others.
The week opens with the Italian
opera, one of the most popular
works produced, Puccini's La
ToSca." Singing the title role is
an American girl with an Italian
name. Elda Vettori. who created a
sensation with her imperSonation
Of this role here opening the
local opera season two years ago.
Since then Miss Vettori has be-
come a member of the Metropol-
itan Opera Co. She is reported
by her manager. Guy Golterman.
as gratefully remembering Wash
tngton as an important stepping
stone to the Metropolitan, with
deep appreciation for the royal
welcome on the occasion of her
last appearance" Miss Vettori,
since her debut in the New York
house a year and half ago. has
sung Aida. Santuzza, Leonora.
La Gioconda. Media, Lauretta.
Adalgisa, Liu and Cho Cho
San in last Summers ST.
Louis open-air grand opera
festival. After the Metropolitan
closes its season this year Miss
Vettori will sing a few guest per-
formances in Europe. and. before
the opening next Fall. will sing
l2 performances with the San
Francisco and Los Angeles opera
companies. alternating with
Maria Jeritza and Elizabeth Reth-
berg. also Of the Metropolitan,
who have engagements on the
West Coast at that time.
y
THE opera Tuesday night,
i Hugh, the Drover." is an
English work quite unfamiliar.
naturally enough. to American
audiences. This work, written by
the modernist Ralph Vaughan
williams will be given its first
performance. in America on this
occasion. It has had only one
previous production anywhere in
the world. that was its premiere
In London in 1924.
Mr.. Williams is noted as being
keenly devoted to the cause of
folk song. His symphonic works,
"Sea." London" and Pastoral" ;"
combine modern harmonies with
melodic beauty. He also, has
written compositions called TO
ward the Unknown Region"
s1907,, and Wildwood" I909)
Mr.. Williams was born in England
on Columbus day. October IL,
1872. He is the son of a clergy
man and received his education
In Charterhouse. Trinity College.
Cambridge, with the music bach
eior degree in 1894. the doctor de-
gree in 1901 and the D. Mus.
(honoris causa. from Oxford in
1919. He also has been with the
Royal College of Music and
studied in Berlin and Paris.
Hugh. the Drover." is an opera
written with English libretto, and
at its premiere in London was
conducted by Sir Thomas Beech
am. recently heard here with the
Philadelphia Symphony Orches-
ira. The title role then was sung
by the Welsh tenor. Tudor Davies
who will sing the role here Tues
day night. Eugene GooSsenS
English conductor. will conduct
the American premiere and the
aeroine's role will be sung by
Marie Montana. an American So
prano. who. though with expert
ence in foreign opera houses. will
make her American debut in
opera in this performance. The
opera is described as ballad
opera in two acts. with the alter
native intriguing title OF Love in
the Stocks" The scene is in the
Cottswolds. England, about 1912
Traditional British folk songs
have been utilized by the COM
poser in his score There are sew
ersl distinct and beautiful melo-
dies, but. differing from the old
ford style Of operate writing
the airs are merged into the gen.
eral score without break in the
operas action.
The story Of Hugh, the Drover.
opens on a typical British fair
with the merry villagers buying
and selling. Mary. daughter ol
the town constable. is reminded
in yokeI's song of the fact thai
sire is betrotied 10 marry Johr
the Butcher, whom she does no'
love. but who is the town bull,
and richest innabitant AGn
Jane is really sympathetic 20 heI
niece's feelings. but She wants Il
he on the winning side and Yscii
1ates between the glri and he
ambitious father. In the mean
time, Hugh, the Dyover. has come
20 the fair, met Mary. and the,
have fallen in love. John. th'
SHEfaEF. DtHcOiflSs aware Di iii
rigal and the villagers egg IN
TWO into fight for the hand o
Mary. Hugh wins, but his encmie
insist that he is a spy and he i
thrown into the stocks" where
fore. doubtless. the subtitle ~ tn
0perar. Soldiers are sent for an.
Hugh, VINO mad been freed b,
Mary. but is caught before the
collc fee the town. lis recognized
as one of the kings best mcr
The villagers and Aunt Jane tuii
10 Hugh ana beg him 10 Satti
down in Their town. but ne re
fuses and ~ the END ~ the oper
NJ snc Mary set out, presumaOI