Evening star., 1933-03-12
Coming Week Celebrates
Irish Songs and Tunes
Harp Is Symbol of the Important Part That Music
Plays in the Life of This Country-Musical
Culture of Ireland Extends Back 1000 Years.
By Alice Eversman.

, that springs spontaneously from
the Irish temperament.
Many Of the old favorite tunes
have been resurrected and given
to the public in a modern form
by Percy Granger in his arrange
ments for the piano, string quar-
tet and orchestra. With unusual
understanding he has preserved
their charm and simplicity while
making them technically interest
ing to the advanced artists of to-
day.
The desire to retain and amplify
this folk music of Ireland has in
spired several musicians to use
them as themes in their compo-
sitions. Haydn, Hummel and
Weber were commissioned to make
arrangements of them, and even
the mighty Beethoven became in
terested and utilized 16 national
airs as duets for violin or flute
and piano. "The Last Rose OF
Summer" while History's Muse
and 20, Had We Some Bright
Little Isle" are some of the melo-
dies used. The collection of vocal
airs which Beethoven arranged for
the voice with accompaniment OF
the piano, violin and cello or the
duets and chorales are some of the
most interesting of his vocal un-
dertakings and invaluable in re-
storing the beauty to these SIM
pie airs. Thus by the help of the
greater geniuseS of a later day
the heart-touching melodies of
that country of proud spirit and
mending romance have been
given immortality.
THE Metropolitan Opera season
at the Lyric Theater, Balti-
more, will open tomorrow with a
performance of "Rigoletto." The
role OF Gilda will be sung by Lily
PonS, who will thus be following
in the footsteps of two celebrated
predecessors, Patti and CALI
Curci, whose sensational American
debut was made in this role. With
the exception Of "Aida," "Rigo-
letto" has held favor more than
any other opera by Verdi, who was
38 years old when he wrote it.
Elghty-two years ago, also in the
month of March, it was produced
for the first time at Venice, and
since then has held a beloved
place in the repertoire of every
opera company. Ten years ago
Paris celebrated the 50Oth per
formance of this musical version
OF their own Victor Hugo's tragic
story, while in America, Ole Bull
staged it in 1855 at the New York
Academy of Music.
In the role of the Duke. Lauri-
Volpi will sing the part that served
as the Metropolitan debut of
Caruso in November, 1908. Sing
ing with him will be Gladys
SWarthout, one of the young
American singers of the Metro
polltan, who has attracted much
attention. Another American,
Richard Bonelli, will have the diff
cult role of Rigoletto in which
rita Ruffo made his first Ameri-
can appearance. This perform
ance in Baltimore will bring a
cast that is more than the equal
to that of the past celebrities who
have made this opera so beloved.
When Emperor Jones" is given
tuesday evening, it will be the
flrst time that a Negro ballet will
be included in an opera perform
ance. More or less realistic make
up has given a dark character to
the ballets used in aida" and
"L'Africana," and Afro-American
supers have gladly supplied the
touch of nativism in the great
professional scene OF "Aida" that
marks the return of Rhadamas,
but no more active part has ever
been given them.
In Gruenberg's opera a group
of dancers from the Negro Art
Theater dance group will inter-
pref the terror-stricken fancies
that beSet the Emperor Jones as
he fees through the tropical
jungle. These dancers have al
ready appeared at the Roerich
Museum, the international House
in New York City and at West
chester Center, and have been
carefully rehearsed by Director
Sanine Of the Metropolitan for
their appearance in this opera.
Emperor Jones" will be pre-
ceded by "Pagliacci" in which the
role of Media will be sung by
Lucrezia Bori, who will make her
only appearance in Baltimore in
that opera. The third evening
Tristan and Isolde" will be pre-
sented with an all-star cast of
Wagnerian singers.