Evening star., 1931-04-16
LILY PONS AND.LUCREZIA BORI
SHARE HONORS IN ''MIGNON''
Diplomatic and Capital So
ciety Leaders Turn Out
for Matinee.
InnumerabIe Curtain Calls
Give Evidence of Success
of Performance.

A vast matinee audience at the Fox
Theater yesterday capitulated to Lily
Pens, petite French coloratura soprano,
who has been acclaimed the greatest
operatic find" of the year. 1t is said.
in fact, that since her debut with the
Metropolitan company a few months
ago she has not appeared in single
opera without bringing down the house.
That she did this in the Metropolitan's
presentation of Ambrose Thomas
"Mignon" yesterday was more than ap-
parent.
At the climax of the difficult Polo
naise," one of the most treacherouS OF
coloratura singing featS, the audience
broke into frenzied applause and kept
the young French singer bowling and
courtseying far beyond the usual time
limit of such things.
BOri Wins Acclaim.
While Nine. Pons won the most fer
vent bit of applause during the after
noon, Nine. Bori. one of the greatest of
the Metropolitan divas and easily the
most popular singing heroine of the
company when it comes to Washington,
sang the role of Mignon and acted it
with unsurpassed feeling and grace.
This grand lady OF the opera" whose
every operate creation seems better
than the last, and who has never yet
disappointed an audience in the many
roles she has attempted, won the most
sustained applause Of any one yesterday
except for the tumult of braves that
greeted Nine. Pons in her one great
number.
AS If this were not enough for one
momentous occasion, Beniamino Gigli
made his only operate appearance with
these two celebrated ladies, thus form
ing what must inevitably be called the
most sensational singing triumvirate
that Washington has been privileged to
hear this season.
Performance Outstanding.
Signor Gigli sang aria after aria in
the manner which has endearsd him
to so many hundreds of thousands of
music lovers, using that impeccable
enunciation which allows one really to
understand what he is singing about,
even in the staccato whispered linss
letting his voice penetrate into the far
reaches of the enormous theater.
Except perhaps for the conventional
scenery, which seemed needlessly musty,
except in the last act, when a glimpse
of dark blue background gave a true
sense of romantic depth, this perform
ance of "Mignon" must be ranked as
one of the NEST satisfying the Metro
politan has ever given here At the
the audience still seemed unwilling to
leave. and many ladies probably echoed
the feelings of one who stated frankly
that she was overcome"
IdyI Proves AIluring.
Certainly the Watteauesque charm of
this opera, which flows along SO gently
and so brightly on the familiar Thomas
music, with the idylic "Connais tn le
Pays sung with great charm by Nine.
Bori, never has been more alluring.
Those who complain that this is one
of the overnight phantasies, produced
consistently by this company. If there
we're any such present yesterday, must
have felt a doubt come over them as
to the value of their opinion.
What is especially satisfying in this
is that 1t allows two sopranos to soar
10 1initless heights without SO much as
treading on each others toes. Particu
larly gratifying was it yesterday to see
| the lack of temperament displayed,
while first one lady received thunder
Gus applause and then the other. There
was no backstaging or spotlight hug
ging Each lady graciously did her
share and then stepped quietly into
! the background. Thus Bori was a de-
| lightful Mignon and Pons differently
delightful Philine-and neither of them
begrudged one item of enthusiasm that
the audience chose to bestow on the
other True and great artists-both Of
| them.
= Under the direction of Louis Hassel-
mans, the orchestral music was ideally
attuned to the mood of the work and
to the singers, who were neither rushed
ror retarded nor received anything but
| the greatest support. And among the
| singers of lesser roles. there was Leon
Rothier, a sturdy Lothario; Angelo
Bada, a sprightly Laerte, and Gladys
! Swarthout, well costumed as the lad
Frederic, but a trifle thin of voice. The
gypsy dance by Rita de Leporte and
| the chorus work were especially COM
uendable Z. de S. MELCHER.