The Washington times., 1929-11-20
La ARGENTINA
ST AIRS AT
POLLS

La Argentina. whose. virtu-
osity with the castanets has In
toxicated New York music cir
cles beyond al measure OF
ecstacy, was presented for the
first time in washington by
Mrs, wilson Greene, at Polls
TheateT yesterday afternoon.
Before an audience that over
flowed the seating capacity OF
the Playhouse, the famous
Spanish artist disclosed I'M
paralleled mastery of the sound
in woods. In the tips Of her
fingers, whether swapping an
enchanting rhythm bare, or
evoking a tantalizing melody
from the mahogany castanets,
lies the great secret of La
Argentina'S charm.
Her clicking heels, that echo
the manipulations Of the tiny
percussion instruments are fur
ther agents in her unprece-
dented success.
AS the overpowering majesty
of symphonic music swells the
spirit Or NE ripping solo fof a
violin stirs the heart, soS La
Argentina awakened dormant
emotions in her listeners,
through croSS-rhythms and dy-
manic colorings with her casta-
nets.
. With LA Argentina, castanets
no longer remain merry beat
counters, they are musical in
strllments that sing a song that
enters your soul. Perhaps
never before have we, here in
America known how truly mus.
cal castanets are. It is more
than likely that never before
La Argentina. has the world
been aware of the music that
hid within the polished shells
just awaiting deliverance by a
genius.
Lovlier Spanish pictures
have seldom graced a stage,
than we're presented by the fas-
cinating Spanish beauty. Gowns.
that form a vital part of every
terpSichorean exhibition, flashed
gorgeously before us. Eyes
snapped with the fire of
coquetry and the flame of the
deeper emotions as she whirled
about In execution Of 10
definitely characterized presenta-
tions.
Each Of her numbers. en-
ploying the highest order of
imagination and interpretative
ability was met with conflicting
reactions from the audience.
There seemed present a com
pick that her reviewers we're
baffled to solve. They had
come to see the famous La
Argentina, who after years of
obscurity in New York and
European cities has suddenly
taken the world by storm end
is now the most celebrated
artist here.
Enchanted. powerless under
her spell. sat the SPECTATORS
what is it in La Argentina that
so completely captivates her
people? It was her castenets
and her heels. the song within
her soul sings through them
rather than through the move
ments OF her body as is the
case with most dancers. La
Argentina has hypnotized the
world with her finger-tipS.
The Sequidillas dance with
out music) was the most ami
mate and difficult exhibition
on her program.
The Bolero. (claSsic dance nj
the eighteenth century, requir-
ed the most of her interpretive
skill. to convey the fullness of
it's stirring vitality. "Lagar-
terana," "a peasant dance from
the provincea of Toledo was
the number that met with
popular acclaim. This is one
of the gems in La Argentina's
repertoire. In it she portrays
the efforts of a peasant girl to
be a coquette. We learned at
this time. that the renowned
one has that most precious of
all gifts. a sense of humor.
MIGUEL Berdion assisted La
Argentina at the piano. He
offered several piano solos,
done with excellence. "Triana"
by Albeniz was the most effec-
tive of his efforts.