Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
M U S C
BY HELEN FETTER.

, The Ambassador has sailed to at
tend the opening, which is to be
within the next 10 days. Before
leaving Washington he stated
that there will be about 100 in the
chorus and orchestra of this pro-
duction and that Erich Kleiber,
conductor for the Staat-Oper Of
Berlin, Germany, will conduct the
performance in that opera house.
+ 4
THE increasing versatility of
opera stars in other fields Is
shown particularly in the recent
announcement that Natalie Hall,
prima donna of the American
Opera Co., who created a unique
impersonation of the Marguerite
of Faust" in that company's
Americanization of the Gounod
work, is to appear in a new musi-
cal comedy, Three Little Girls"
Her sister, Bettina Hall, who sang
Carmen" with that company, also
is to go into this musical comedy
production. All who have the
progress and development of this
company at heart will hope that
this is not permanent break on
the part of the two very charming
Hall sisters with the opera COM
pany. One remembers with regret
the fact that George Fleming
Houston, who made a most
astounding personal success in
that same revolutionary produc-
ton of Faust" in the role of
Mephistopheles, has left the COM
pany to appear in more remun-
erative musical comedy produc-
TONS. He made the break last
season for a prominent role In
"Fioretta."
THE German Grand Opera Co,
which had such a successful
season in Washington in January,
has disbanded until next Fall.
Many of the singers have sailed
for Europe. The tour closed the
end of March in Denver, Colo. It
had been the original intention
to end in New York City with an
engagement of a week or two in
the metropolis. However, plans
were changed due to the inavail-
ability of a proper theater for the
New York performances. A long
er tour already Is announced for
next season, and one Is surprised
to find the company under new
management. Sol Hurok, who
rescued the company from the
terrific handicap that almost re-
suited in total disaster in the ini-
tial season two years ago, carried
it over an apparently thoroughly
successful tour of three months
duration following the Washing
ton opening this Spring.
The company, known as the Eu-
ropean Grand Opera Co., which
presents the German Grand OPP
era Co. in this country, has elect
ed ]. j. Vincent as managing di-
rector to succeed Mr.. Hurok, who
has resigned.
Many cities, including the Ma
tional Capital, owe their first
hearing of the famous ring" Of
operas by Wagner to the admira-
BILE efforts of this company within
the past two seasons. It is to be
hoped that that company will
bring this quartet Of fascinating
music dramas-the only continued
story Of the opera world-to Wash
ington again next season.
Il ~ r.. *
THE Metropolitan Grand Opera
Co. announces that the newest
American work to be produced by
it in 1881, is to be Merry Mount"
an opera with score by the Ameri-
can, DR.. Harry Hanson, and with
ibretto by Richard L. Stokes, mu-
sic critic of New York. It is said
to be a story of colonial Massa-
chusetts.
DR.. Hanson is only 80 years old
and has a remarkable career al
ready to his credit. He completed
his professional training at the
American Academy in Rome. Out
standing symphonic works that
have been given performance by
leading orchestras of the world,
written by him, are "Nordtc Sym
phony," pan and the Priest" and
Lament of Beowolf." He also has
written chamber music that has
won praise in performance. He is
director of the Eastman School OF
Music in Rochester, N. z.
Another American, who is to
have an opera produced next sea-
son, If latest rumor is to be be-
lieved, is Deems Taylor. Mr.. Tay-
lor's first opera was "The Kings
Henchman," which has been per-
formed at the Metropolitan for
three seasons. In the interim the
subject of much comment has
been the nature of his next opera.
There were severa,. false alarms,
including an apparently well
founded one that Street Scene,
Elmer Rice's prize-winning play,
would provide Mr.. Taylor with his
second opera libretto. Even last
Spring, in an interview with Mr..
Taylor, the write pf this column
ELECTED considera he information
concerning Mr. aylor's opera,
using the Rice ay as hbretto,
However, more nifty comes the
rumor that an DER plaN Peter
Ibbetson," is I'd 3 the 81 Iect for
the opera tina may on& the
stage of the fetropo g next
year. a
Roland HAYES +o Sfn6