Evening star., 1931-11-22
BY E. de S. MELCHER.

forces uniting to make it an actuality
-. seem more than mildly excited about
it. Any day you can walk into the
Schubert -Belasco Theater for in
stance, and find r. r. Edwards busily sorting
names and dates and places and cogitating
over the morning mail which is stacked high
with questions from musicians, all evidently
interested in a scheme which may give them.
well as a lot of other people great deal
of pleasure.
The time is indeed ripe for a now-and then
diet Of Gilbert & Sullivan and other composers
such as F1otow (hs Martha" would be a
splendid choice) Suppe-his "Boccaccio"
would be difficult but inieresting-or Victor
Herbert De Koven. Furthermore, if we
looking for music around about the time of our
much publiciZed George Washington we find
that while Gays THE Beggar'S Opera"
anteceded him a little, still it is in the vein of
the times and 1.-THE Irpresaro" is not far
behind it. There is certainly abundant
material for Q project of this kind which would
give an outlet for much talent which at the
moment is blushing unseen in our musical
studios.
Particularly to be noted in the general
scheme of things which Mr.. Edwards is pro-
noting is the plan for Summer opera. Follow
perhaps In the path of st. Louis? Why not?
Except that here We should use only native
talent and import not much stick or
one stone or one talented piccolo player. Every
thing would be 100 per cent But the pros
pect of being able to relax hot Sum-
mer's evening on a conveniently located slope
f(the idea Is to have these Summer operas out
10 miles or and high up) is an exceeding
pleasant thought. Music OF this sort, properly
Located, should and would attract more than
casual interest.
THE list of those who have indorsed this plan
and who will act on the Advisory Board
OK the Washington Civic Opera are such noted
local musicians and instructors as Mary A.
Cryder, Flora McGill Keefer H. lie Roy Lewis.
Pearl Waugh, Dorothy Sherman Person,
Marie ZalipSky Elena de Sayn, Estelle Went
worth, Anne H. Goodhue, Edna Bishop Daniels,
Myron Whitney, Amelia CONT Jewell Downs.
Romeo Gueraldi James Dickinson, Adolf
Torosvky and Leon Brusiloff. While many
more undoubtedly will come in on this, the
advance reports are extremely assuring and
indicate that with successful local symphony
orchestra hourishing in its midst this city may
very probably have native light opera COM
pany Of its own (grand opera will not be at
tempted until sufficient heights have been
reached.
In discussing this with a prominent member
Of the committee two things appear upper
most: No partisanship will be shown; pupils
of these teachers will be asked but not forced
to take part and no one will be accepted upon
mere recommendation. An addition inn
posing as perhaps Mr.. Gatti-Casazza'S will con-
front every aspirant, and from what is hoped
will be large group Of contestants (registra-
tions for these additions are now being received
q
chorus-the company will then approximate
something like one hundred.
\A /HILE the concert given by Lily Pons has
w been foremost among the weeks discus
sioH-how such a minute person with such q
minute diaphram should be able to produce
such seemingly never-ending notes, etc.-there
should have been even more discussion over
the fact that the exceedingly able accompanist
; was left OF the program altogether. Who was
this pianist who was so excellent all by himself
and whom nobody mentioned?
NF the past weeks musical events none was
~ more thoroughly enjoyed than the per-
formance Of the De Falla ballet, "EI Amor
Brujo," at the Arts Club given by Elisa
Gardiner and her talented co-partners. The
ballet was not only attractively staged but
the dancers showed remarkable proficiency in
their "paces," and the De Falla music (always
stimulating) seemed thoroughly effective
Those who have heard the oft-played Ritual
Fire Dapce" as piano "firework' had perhaps
forgotten that it originally sprang from this
source. At any rate, the dance which Miss
Gardner incorporated into it was picturesque
and elastically damboyant. It is said that this
Is the first time the ballet has been presented
In the United States. The invited audience
seemed to enjoy it immensely. Those taking
part were Harry Wilkins, Richard Edwards,
Jane Dunscombe, Christine Stewart Alice
Hunter, Faye Rogers and Eda Vomeka
Is 1t true, as stated In Time magazine,
that Conductor Hans Kinder promised to let
PRESIDENT Hoover-after an ancient base ball
custon-throw out fiddle If he came to the
hrst symphony concert?
Marine Band Concert