Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-26
BOR| AND. T|BBETT
DRAW APPLAUSE
Metropolitan Opera Closes
Season in Capital With
"La Traviata."

Beautiful Lucrezia Bori Of Spain and
the brilliant singing actor, Lawrence
Tibbett from California, u. S. A.. won
applause of ovation proportions for their
performance in La Traviata" at the
Fox Theater yesterday afternoon. The
marked warmth Of the applause indi-
Gated that Washington audience,
generally considered to be the coolest
anywhere in this country, does appre-
ciate Supremely fine effort and awards
1t accordingly. Although OF quite so
large an audience as at the two night
performances, it was very representa-
tive group of all circles in the National
Capital that greeted the Metropolitan
Grand Opera Co. in this, their last
production of the brief series in WASH
1ngton.
1t was by far the best production
from every point Of view. After all,
Giuseppe Verdi is king of italian opera
composers. 1t Is no wonder that Ger
many, the center of the many weird
experiments in modernistic opera, has
turned back, even neglecting its own
Wagner for while, to place the works
of Verdi in the greatest favor of the
public for the last couple Of seasons
Verdi wrote beautiful music; it is Or
chestrated with conSummate skill and
it is singable. It gives talented conduc-
tor and soloists material worthy of their
best efforts. Vincenzo BelleZza con-
Quoted with sympathetic Interpretation.
making the familiar strains ring with
new meaning and emphasizing the
dignity and rich beauty of melodic
invention and the flow of italian line.
Lucrezia Bori surpassed anything she
has ever given in Washington before
in the way of operate Interpretation.
Tibbett likewise was excellent. He
was well made-up for his role and
cloaked his fatherly character with sea-
soned dignity and tenderness IN UNI
Outstanding the temperamental Violetta
that the writer at least has never seen
any other baritone infuse into the role.
It makes M. Germont the elder much
more human, understandable person
than he usually is. Tibbett'S perfect
bense of rhythm, his absolute co-ordi-
cation of physical gesture, easily con-
erolled and apparently effortless sing
dramatic motion to etch a vivid char
acterization was admirably shown.
! The tenor role of Alfredo also was
remarkably well done by Armand Toka-
tyan. The young Armenian tenor sang
and acted his part very sympathetically.
At the same time, he did not quite
achieve the complete submerging of his
own personality into that of the char
acter which he was interpreting that
Vocally, Tokatyan has improved con-
stantly. He has a rich, rounded tone
quality and in time should be as fine
rs Gigli in his artistry.
The part of Flora, particular girl
friend of Violetta, was well taken by
the rather statuesque Phradie Wells.
Smaller roles were well done by Philine
Falco, Giordano Paltrinieri, Alfredo
Gandolfl, Milo Picco and Paolo An
anian.
The ballet offered couple of de-
iightful advertisements, gypsy and Span
ish in character, in the third act when
Rita de Leporte was the graceful pre-
miere danseuse. Costumes and set
tings were very satisfying. Verdi knew
his theater and also his public, as well
as possessing a rare gift for original
melodic invention. His operas are grand
opera in the grandest style. To him
primarily is due the greatest success of
the current Washington season. II. r