Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-24
'THEATER CROWDED
FOR OPENING OPERA
Brilliant Audience Attends
ala Boheme," First of Sc
ries of Three Here.

Every one Of the $500 seats in the
FOX Theater was filled last night for
the opening performance of the Met
ropolitan Grand Opera Co. in Wash
tngton. It was a brilliant and repre-
sentative audience of the National
Capital that gathered to hear Puc-
cinis La Boheme," which seemed
thoroughly delighted with the new
setting for audience and production.
The acoustics of this theater are ex-
cellent. The effect of congressional
and diplomatic leaders and the many
smart women of Washington descend
ing the beautiful stairway OF this the
alter to the orchestra floor preceding
the performance was strikingly like
that achieved in the most famous opera
house in the world, the Paris Grand
Opera House. In intermissions the
lobby and foyers were filled with chang
ing throngs, all apparently highly en-
thusiaStic over the performance and the
house. The Vice President, MIR. Curtis,
VS. the ranking official present. The
m mberS of the Washington Opera As
81 citation, Inc, may well congratulate
themselves on the marked success Of
this initial production.
Three stars with great drawing power
all over the world sang the leading roles
of la Boheme" last night. The most
beautiful singing of the evening was
done by Beniamino Gigli whom many
compare to the great CaruSo. Gigli was
IN excellent voice and gave his custom
" beautiful spun tones In the rich
A.elodic passages Of this italian opera
score. If there were those who thought
he put too much of the sob" In his
singing in the third act music, they
perhaps lost sight of the fact that the
character he was portraying was q
temperamental Bohemian, a poet living
in the Latin Quarter Of Paris.
Bori Was Charming.
The heroine Of the opera was charm
Sngly sung by Lucrezia Bori. Mimi Is
one of this stars most popular roles
and her artistic style and personal
charm graced it particularly effectively
last night.
The third in the trio of leading roles,
that of Marcello, artist friend of Ro-
dolfo, was admirably sung and acted by
Lawrence Tibbett. There Is no doubt
whatsoever that Mr.. Tibbett's personal
success In the sound film so recently
shown in Washington had considerably
aroused an additional audience eager
to hear him in opera. He certainly
made the most of every opportunity Of
his role last night and was quite the
most real of all the characters on the
stage.
It is interesting to note that half of
the quartet Of singers in the more prom
anent roles were American. In addition
to the young Californian, there was
Editha F1eischer, an American soprano,
who made her first appearance in WASH
ington In 1928, when the Wagnerian
Grand Opera Co. brought her in the
role of Cherubini In Marriage Of
Figaro" She made her most pronounced
hit since being with the Metropolitan
in the most prominent feminine role Of
Johnny Spielt Auf" last season. She
was very good Musette last night. and
sang the famous waltz song acceptably.
She substituted on short notice for
Nanette Guilford, who, according to an
announcement made from the stage by
Billy Guard, was too i'll to appear.
Soon to Join Talkies.
Ezio PIMA made the most Of the
noted Farewell, Old Coat" in the last
act, showing bass voice quite as ade-
uuate and artistic as was his remark
ably fine makeup. It is understood
that Mr.. PIMA is shortly to join the
talkies" forces in film.
The smaller roles were well placed
with Milo Picco, Paolo Ananian, MAJ
Artglass, Pompilio Malatesta and AL.
fredo Gandolh. Vincenza BelezZa con.
Quoted, giving an unusually fine read
ing of the score and holding his instru.
mentalists down always so that ever
when Gigli gave a singing whisper II
part Of his singing he could be distinct
" heard. The only criticism would bt
to suggest that the prompter evidently
must get more accustomed to the new
house, so that he is not audible to people
even half way back in the house, suggest
ing a disembodied voice actually parti.
cipating In the action. Such prompting
destroys all illusion and seemed totally
.a..A,1cessary at the time it was most no.
ticeable-in the third act when Gigli
Tibbett and Bori, all thoroughly &C.
tquainted with their roles from many
=, appearances in them, were on the stage
$50 The most brilliant of all American
: prima donnas of the present era, Rosa
Ponselle, will make her first and only
appearance in the washington season