Evening star., 1928-05-27


as the composer of the
favorite of French operas,
'FauSt." His Romeo and Juliet"
also is a popular operatic work.
His three oratorios, "Tobie, Re
demption" and "MorS ct Vita, y
are less generally known: or
these Redemption" which is to
be given a performance tomorrow
night at the Washington Audi
t0rium, is usually conceded TO be
the outstanding. 1t was given its
first production in 1882 at a feStl-
val at Birmingham. Through
these three oratorioS Gounod
achieved a niche not unlike those
occupied by Handel and MendelS-
Sohn. In the religious works he
was not free from some Senti-
mentaliSm, but really unique use
CT rare melodies and brilliant
dramatic climaXeS feature the
oratorioS 1t will be interesting
TO hear Mr.. Harned's production
tomorrow night, when local solo,
lists will sing the leading parts
and a chorus of $50 voices that
has been trained and carefully
rehearSed for some time will pre-
sent the oratorio. There also is
promised fine instrumental sup
port for the performance. 1t is
the dominant feature of the cur
rent week and, in fact. the only
event of any proportions, as the
most of the musical pedagogues
are busy concentrating on student
recitals.
THE question of the adaptability
i of opera stories for motion
pictures is an open one. There
are those in favor of it and those
opposed. Surely nobody who
thoroughly enjoys fine, unified.
dramatic, production could help
but admire the German film, an
Ufa production, 'Siegfried," which
begins a second week today at the
Little Theater. While this film is
OF the same title and general
sequence as the famous Richard
Wagner opera, third in the four
operas that compose the ''Nibe-
lungen Ring" there are certain
differences. The film follows
rather the original basic legend
instead Of Wagner'S opera in the
part pertaining to Brunnhilde. In
stead of being a goddess, who
sleeps on a mountain-top for ages
until wakened by the kiss of the
one knight destined to become her
mate after successfully piercing
the wall of magic fire, which Loge
created at the command of her
father, Wotan, the Brunnhilde of
this film is a vengeful, vampirish
version of Atalanta. She is an
Iceland princess who must be won
by force and beaten in the athletic
games in which she excelS. Also
she comes into the picture as the
sought bride for Gunther, King
OF Burgundy, whose daughter,
Kriemhild, instead of being the
Lorelei who bewitcheS and lures
Siegfried from his memory Of
Brunnhilde, on the contrary is
the sweet, beloved of Siegfried.
VINO arouSes envy in the Icelandic
BrunTlhilde TO such an extent that
it eventually causes the death of
Siegfried. Many Of the episodes,
however, follow the opera story
closely and the whole is a we'll
knit and convincingly acted
dramatic story. The settings, with
their natural beauties for the out
door scenes and the futuriStic
suggestion in the interiors and
architecture, are excellently light
ed. The costumes are beautiful
&ak a a ~ Hl
mirably suggested throughout.
The musical accompaniment
during the first week was not
especially happy, being a phono-
graphic device that kept con-
gtantly running down, getting bad
off-key effects in some of the most
beautiful passages Of Wagner's
music. However, 1t is understood
that some more appropriate
method of presenting this lovely
music will be used during the
coming week. When the picture
was shown in Baltimore, recently,
the well known Wagner enthusiast
and transcriber, Kurt Hetzel, who
has had a studio in Washington
several seasons, played his own
NTanscrlptions to accompany the
picture. Perhaps II Mr.. Hetzel
has not yet sailed for Munich, he
might be prevailed upon TO play
AT the Little Theater and thus
greatly enhance the effectiveness
OF film and accompaniment.
IER many friends in Washing
L ton music circles will be glad
10 welcome the active return TO
affairs musical Of Jessie MacBride,
who has Just been appointed by
the Arthur Jordan Piano Co. as
director Of their artist and con-
cert department. Miss MacBride's
acquaintance with musicians and
students will make her particular
~ valuable in this new sphere. AS
q music critic Miss MacBride was
connected for some years with
Washington newspapers. She also
was press representative in New
York for Max Rabinoff when he
first brought the Ukrainian Ma
tionai Chorus 70 America. For a
short time she was assistant sec
retary in Washington for the
American Federation Of Arts. She
Is q member and one Of the
founders Of the Woman's National
Press Club.
Miss MacEride will attend the
convention Of the National Asso-
ciation Of Music Merchants Of
America. meeting at the Hotel
Commodore, New York, this week
TT is thoroughly appropriate that
q sacred music work such AZ
sn oratorio should inaugurate the
current week and set the mood
and color for religious music The