Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02

n far behind or replaced by
those more appropriate to the de-
nands of the times. There still
are a few people left who feel like
the man who plaintively said
when his wife insisted on Florida
in the Winter and Canada in the
Summer. Il want to live in a place
where Winter is Winter and Sum
mer is Summer and they have
Spring and Fall in between.
Such people, however, seem to be
in the minority Moreover, even
the saying, "All America is on
wheels" has become revised as
more and more America develops
wings. This is true unsteady,
too. It was not so very long ago
that it was great event for Eu-
ropean stars. who were "Sensa =
tional," to be brought with high
acclaim to debut performances IN
the United States. All Europe and
a goodly portion of the United
States, too, thought that Europe
produced far greater musical
products than America could ever
produce.
Tuesday night of last week an
American prima donna created
such a sensation at her debut at
Covent Garden, London, that the
critic Of the London Post wrote
Rosa PonSelle is the best singer
/ have heard in Covent Garden
since CaruSo."
Moreover, it was 80 years since
an audience in that famous opera
house had heard any one attempt
the role of Norma in Bellini's
Ssr;e.s. because Europe could not
produce a singer qualified to pre-
sent this role since the late Lilli
lehman retired.
One of the New York papers
stated in a cabled dispatch that
Nine Nellie Melba, the great Aus
tralian, who has had many daz-
zling triumphS on the stage of
Covent Garden, warned Miss Pom
selle kindly a couple of hours
previous to her appearance on
that stage for the first time that
1T will not be like the Metropoli-
tan. in New York, and, above all,
don't expect any applause for
your great aria, 'Casta Diva.
For never in the history of opera
has a London audience inter
rupted the performance in the
middle of an act by any demon
stration whatever. They wouldn't
clap the Angel Gabriel until the
curtain was down and the proper
time for applause arrived"
Just the same the reviewer
continued, in this article: with
in two hours after this prediction
was made, Miss Ponselle sang her
'Casta Diva, and, in response to
the loneliness of that voice.. a
London audience forgot a tradi-
ton of this ancient theater and
applauded. It was not only from
the upper attitudes of the galleries
that this amazing demonstration
came, but from boxes, orchestra
and circle stalls. There were other
great moments scattered through
the four acts in which the crowd,
that filled every seat in the house,
threw custom overheard to yield
t. emselves without restraint to
the spell of that glorious voice
and show their appreciation with
out waiting"
Miss Ponselle is quoted as hav-
ing said, after it was over, to
friends: II am very happy.
have sung in old Covent Garden,
and an English audience has been
very kind to me. That's one of
the experiences I've wanted all
my life"
The simplicity and modesty of
Miss Ponselle are two unusual
charms for one built of prima-
donna caliber, who has won such
heavy laurels while still SO young.
These traits were never more no.
ticeable in the American singer
than on the evening following her
aida" in Washington, last April
AT a small party in the singers
honor, the writer of this column
asked Miss PonSelle how she felt
about her coming London debut.
She answered: "Oh, you know I'll
be so glad when it's over. Really,
no Joking, I'm just scared to death
thinking about it"
She also is to sing the title role
of La Gioconda" at Covent Gar
den.
ONE prom in ent Washington
~ woman went abroad in April
and planned her schedule partic-
ularly before sailing so that she
might be in London to hear Pom
selle in this debut at Covent Gar
den. Mrs. Lawrence Townsend.
herself a thorough musician and
generally recognized as a musical
connoisSeur, as we'll as one of the
most charming personalities that
may be found anywhere, is this
woman. She has promised the
writer of this column that she will
write her own impressions of that
debut especially for the music
page of The Star. They will be
printed here as soon as possible
after being received in the mail.
Following the performance OF
Norma" Tuesday night, the New
York cables carry mention of the
fact that Mrs. Townsend gave a
supper party in Miss PonSelle's
honor at Claridge's. All the guests
had attended the opera. Among
those present were the Italian
Ambassador, the American charge
d'affaireS, Ray Atherton; Nine.
Media, Prince and Princess Bis
marck, Count and Countess Ro-
gieri Count and Countess Som
matti. the Countess of oxford and
Asquith, Lady Cunard, Lords
LeeSdale, Colehrook and Mount
eagle, Baroness Ravensdale. the
counselor of the Netherlands lega-
ton, Mr.. and Mrs. Shane Leslie,
Eliza beth Schunnann Ear,ra1r Car