Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-06
New Opera Company
Sings "RigOletto" in Debut.

Sings ''RigOletto' in Debut.
A STURDY little opera COM
" pany, known as the New York
"A Grand Opera Co., came to
4 A town last night rather
quietly and settled down for
a four-day repertoire at the Ma
tional Theater
Present at last nights festivities
with small audience, which, how
ever, warmed up after the first act;
two splendid Yoices-all that are
vitality essential in the denouement
of Verdis "Rigoletto"-a conductor,
Fulgenzio Guerrieri who worked
wonders with a minimum orchestra,
and much fine music for which
credit must be given to Signor Verdi.
The whole seemed, in fact, to re-
fleet credit on this organization OF
a hundred or more, who are scour-
ing the country bent on giving the
most popular operas at the least
possible prices. And since 'Rigo-
letto" is one of those perennials of
which custom, favor and the public
never tires, this was fitting over
ture for the four-day festivities.
Only the first act creaked last
night And that was due not 50
much to the leading singers as to the
background" tenorS and BASES,
who exhibited not only an extra
ordinary collection of costumes and
DISCUSSES, but seemed bent on walk
ing back and forth across the stage
in military formation. After the
disappearance of this heterogeneous
collection Of mortals, the opera
swung into its stride, and scarcely
so much as teetered for the rest OF
the evening.
First honors went to Malvena
Passmore and Martino-Rossi. These
two singers, who sang Gilda and
Rigoletto respectively, brought not
only splendid vocal qualities to their
work. but excellent dramatic quail
fications. Miss PASSWORDS voice was
clear and fresh and quite able TO
handle the difficulties of her aria in
the second act, and Martino-RosSi
never once ventured from the
straight and narrow. rising to con-
siderable heights in his greater
moments. Mr.. Santiago-Font was
fine as the treacherous Sparafucile
and Fernando Bertini meant well by
the Duke, but was marred in his
Interpretation by too great an effort.
Present, of course, last night was
that imperishable quartet and other
melodic highlights, which the sing
ers handled effectively. The set
tings were adequate, the costumes
bright and all in all showed that
even If this company travels with
lightning-like rapidity all over the
country in its operate journey, its
stay here should be most prosperous
and one likely to be remembered
for various and sundry reasons.
E. de S. M.
Roxy and His Gang
In Benefit Performances.
THE star of yesterdays perform
ances given by Roxy and His
Gang at Constitution Hall was cas-
lily Nine Ernestine Schumann-H eink.
This grand lady, referred to by Roxy
as Mamma Ernestine," was given
real old-fashioned ovation at her ap-
pearance in the last half of the pro-
gram, many standing at her entrance
and others waving handkerchiefs
and becoming highly sentimental as
this great diva was introduced.
Mamma Ernestine" sang only one
short song, the Brahm Lullaby"
but she spent further time giving
Roxy grand tribute, calling him an
angel" saying that she enjoyed
working for him more than she had
working for anybody or anything else
in her So years career, and tossing
such verbal bouquets to him as have
seldom been surpassed. This was,
of course in retaliation to Roxy, who
had waxed eloquently over Nine.
Schumann- Heink when he was in
PRODUCING her. Thus the last few
minutes of the program was one long
fest of loving adjectives thrown back
and forth with much warmth and
vigor.
The rest of the program was de-
voted to favorite stunts" of the
gang under the personal supervision
of Roxy. There was Beatrice Belkin,
recently taken under the wing of the
Metropolitan Opera Co., whose voice
submerged by an over-industrious
orchestra; Patricia Bowman, dancing
in graceful and faultless manner;
Frank Moulan in several amusing
songs; Dorothy Citizens. whist1ing
Wee Willy Robyn, singing, and
most everything to gladden. the
hearts of those who admire Roxy's
cohorts over the air.
Students Presented
at Barker Hall in Recital.
STUDENTS of the Americaniza-
- ton School of the public schools
Of the District of Columbia, last
night we're presented in concert by
the Americanization School Asso-
citation, in Barker Hall, Y. w. C. A.
Three Schubert numbers, played
by the school orchestra, opened the
program. Mr.. Vasa. who is the con-
ductor Of this unit, has, by dint
Of time and effort, rounded out a
very capable lot of musicians. The
stirring strains of March Heroique"
were especially we'll done.