Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

TOR the second time in Janu-
- airy, opera holds prime place
in musical interest. The
- season of German opera
was generally successful. Having
realized the friendly interest
shown by citizens of Washington
in this company'S initial efforts
last year, Mr.. Hurok arranged for
the opening of the second Amer
lean tour in the National Capital.
Another company, native or
ganization, also appreciates the
value of debut in Washington.
Three seasons ago the American
Opera Co. gave its first perform
ance of a revivifieo and brilliant
production of Faust" in Wash
ington. Tomorrow this company
brings the newest opera written
by an American composer for its
first performance in this city.
The special versions of PucciniS
mime. Butterfly" Bizet'S Car
men" and, of course, Gounod's
Faust" will follow on Tuesday
and Wednesday.
The American Opera Co. was
evolved at the Eastman School of
Music in Rochester, N. Y, origi-
nally. At that time Vladimir
RoSing, the Russian singer, who
had become a favorite in this
country, was in charge of operate
music at this conservatory.
Through his persistent, carefully
thought-out efforts, experimental
work was done in developing this
plan for opera in the language
of its audience"
A BROAD, it is the accepted
thing for a country to have all
opera presented in the language
of that country. In France, Ger
man and Italian opera is all
translated and performed in
French. Such is true of the other
European countries. To the es-
thetically minded, however, such
tranSlationS are not really salts
factory in the majority of cases.
The practical business man
also finds the meaningless rep
etition of phrases, which, in
Italian seem in good taste and
sensible, rather ridiculous in
English. In most tranSlationS,
the rhythm of the substituted
language does not fit the rhythm
of the music. A prime example
of this was the recent perform
ance here of Don Giovanni" in
the German version. There is no
doubt but what the original Ital-
ian was not only more singable
but much more charming to the
ear with Mozart's delicate music.
The heavy German syllableS tend
to give leaden weights to MozartS
winged phrases of song.
vladimir Rosing realized all of
these difficulties. AS a result, it
is not the aim of the American
Opera Co. to merely give an Eng
liSh translation of the actual Ii
bretto fer operas originally sung
in Italian and French.
This Americanized Russian, on
the contrary, has brought the
subtle dramatic gift of his native
country to bear upon the problem.
AS a result the action, settings
and words all are Americanized-
translated into an American
medium. Only the music score is
kept intact. Also, the inner,
elusive spirit of each opera is re-
tanned. Creaking, aged stage
business" of the standardized
opera is swept away. In its place
is substituted unified, spectacu-
lar entertainment, typically Amer
lean in treatment. The gorgeous
pageantry of Ziegfeld; the most
recent form of musical comedy,
such as THE Three Musketeers"
and THE Vagabond King" and
the eminent success of real music
as proved by Blossom Time" in
which the theme song was a chief
motif of a great symphony with
only change in. tempo-all these
have been contributing elements
in the evolution of the American
Opera Co. and it's plans to give
performances of masterpieces OF
opera both in language and form
that will have definite entertain
ment appeal to the general public
Of the United States Of America
More power to Mr.. Rosing and his
corps of youthful, earnest Amer
lean singers!
\ +
THE stories of three of the
operas which the American
Opera Co. will present in the
English language at Polls during
the current week-"Mme Butter
fly" Carmen" and Faust"
familiar to operagoers. "Yolanda
of Cyprus" the opening opera
however, is new. 1t was written
by Gale Young Rice, husband OF
Alice Hogan Rice, the author OF
MRS. Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch"
The action of "Yolanda of Cy-
prus" takes places in the Eastern
Mediterranean during medieva
times when the VenetianS and the
Saracens are at war 1t is story
of sacrificial love and sinister in
trigue. The fair heroine, Yolanda
is ward of Queen Berengere ano
King Renter and the betrothed o.
their son Amauryt'
n,,noY1 hoe hnnnYNf