Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-11
CIVIC OPERA GROUP
IS FORMED IN CITY
Modest Start With Light Mu-
sic to Give Expression
to Students.

Plans for formation of light opera
company in Washington to develop
local talent were announced today.
1.-The new organization" read an Off
cial statement, will be known as the
Washington Civic Opera-pretentious
in name only, looking to the time when
two or three years hence we shall have
a genuine grand opera in all its glory.
For the present they will modestly start
with light opera, designed to give suit
able public expression by those who are
training locally or who have completed
their study and are ready to step into
the limelight."
The founders will include Marjorie
Lowe, Estelle Wentworth, Jessie E.
Veitch. William T. Pierson. Dorothy
Sherman Pierson, William Rodon, Celia
Fioravanti, Edith Wallack, Arsenic
Ralon, Nathan N Wallack, Nine. Marie
zalipsky, Henrietta lie Menager, Myrtle
Patschke, Elizabeth Scanland. James
Dickinson, Nine Rimsky- Korsakoff,
Arnoldo Berenguer. Nine. Amelia Cont,
Edna Bishop Daniel, Adolph Torovsky,
Myron Whitney, Leon Brusiloff, Anne
Goodhue, Felix Mahony, Thea w.
Gable, Rosina Polio Jarmon, Romeo F.
Gueraldi, Jewell Downs, Meta M. Evans,
Pearl Waugh, Elena De Sayn, George
Cornwell, Lester Shafer, Marion Chase
and Mary "A. Cryder.
Director to Be Chosen.
A director remains to be chosen. Re-
hearsals will be opened December l in
the Belasco Theater, where headquart-
ers have been established.
1T is a fact of general knowledge"
the announcement said, that there are
large number of local song birds who
are truly equipped to give artistic and
pleasing light operas and few who
have essayed grand opera roles salts
factorily and even with notable success.
These latter will be brought together
and made ready for later presentation.
However, the opera plan does not
limit itself to exploitation of the voice,
for the work should interest instructors
and students of dance, drama, Ian
guage, costuming and scenic art.
unlike former attempts at opera 10
cally, the new body aims to be self
supporting. 1t is reasoned that unless
it can be self-supporting there can be
no great need for this undertaking
Errors of the past in this connection
have been too pretentiouS productions
or performances lacking in public APP
peal and artistic ability. There is a
happy medium and proper standard
that can be attained with satisfactory
results.
Many Groups Cooperate.
"A large number of musical institu-
tions, studios of voice, dance, decora
tive art and private instructors have
co-operated to found this new project
by making personal subscriptions to a
membership organization. From present
indications there soon will be 500.
THE only outside subscriptions will
be from public-Spirited and civic
minded music lovers, who may donate
small sums to a scholarship fund-to
assist worthy aspirants who otherwise
could not participate"
The plans contemplate establishment
of an open-air theater. The Belasco
Theater will be used for Fall, Winter
and Spring productions, however.
r. r. Edwards will be business man
ager. He formerly was manager of the
Syracuse Community Opera and Is q
son of the late Mai A. w. Edwards,
former American consul general III
Montreal.