Evening star., 1933-05-28

wald Foundation in which he placed
such high estimate upon Mr.. Whites
ability and praised in such glowing
terms the manner in which he had
used the material upon which he had
worked so faithfully that the committee
voted to send him an additional 81 300
to complete his studies abroad.
II took great pleasure in making the
acquaintance of Mr.. Clarence Cameron
White" M. Laparra wrote the Rosen-
Wald Foundation. Il consider him as
very gifted for composition. The opera
he has under way on a very interest
ing Haitian subject, looks full of prom
Use as to rhythm, color and dramatic
intensity. believe that, if circum-
stances allow him to 60 ahead with the
work, it will surely be, if properly
staged, a great hit.
THE studies Mr.. White is doing in
Paris are improving his technique very
fast and show the seriousness and sub
stantial nature of his talent. It is
real pleasure for me to help him as
much as I can with what I might
nave gathered in experience and long
practice of the musical art I wish I
could have many pupils as well gifted
and sympathetic as he is
In case you want any further in
formation, I will be ready to provide
you with data you need relative to
his progress. Believe me, dear sir.
very cordially yours,
'RAOUL LAPARRA."
"Ouanga' means "voodoo charm" or
"voodoo SPELL" Mr. White says. Several
tlmeS In the opera the magic power
OF the voodoo cult is invoked by the
characters and is represented as work.
ing the wonders claimed for 1t before
ones very eyes. Mr. White changed
ms mind about making Toussaint
LOuverture the hero and decided upon
Jean Jacques DeSSalines, who was pro-
CANNED Emperor with great pomp a
year after Toussaint had passed away.
Onoer the most solemn guarantees on
the part OF France TouSSaint had been
induced to lay down his arms when
resisting Bonaparte's attempt to re-
store slavery in the island. And then
Ioussant was seized and sent to
france, where he died in prison.
DeSSalineS finally liberated Haiti
from French control after a fierce
struggle, declared her independence
ana gained great power on account of
ms phenomenal military success. This
much Is historical fact. Dessalines
then tried to force the Christian re-
ngion on the people, which they re-.
oeiteu desperately.
1t is hoped that "Ouanga" will he
produced in this country in the near
future. Last August the Paris edition
OF the New York Herald stated that
negotiations are under way to present
'Ouanga' for the first time in Paris
next season" 1t has already been
translated into French. Efforts have
oeen made both by Nathan SNYDER
president of the League for Public Ex,
preston of Boston, and by Mrs, Ona
b. talbot, Mr.. Whites personal repre-
sentative, to produce "Ouanga" in Paris,
put they have not yet succeeded in do
ing So
MIR. Wendell Phillips Lodge, the Amer
lean 1mpreSario who a few wears ago
organized the first American theater in
Paris, Is eager to have "Ouanga" pro-
duced IN Paris. Other distinguished
people, both in this country and abroad.
are also deeply interested in putting
'Ouanga" on the stage. And plans are
being made to compass this end by
necessary financial backing may be
found.
Mr.. White has expressed the hope
that Dessalines, the principal character
in the opera, will be sung by Jules
BledSoe, the colored star in "Show
Boat" He has also selected Abbie
Mitchell to sing the leading soprano
role. Oukrainsky the head of the Bal
let School of the Chicago Civic Opera
Co., who formerly danced with Paw
Iowa, has signed contract with Mrs.
Talbot to produce the ballet Of the
opera.
Otto Kahn, formerly chairman of the
Metropolitan Opera Co., came to Mon
sieur Laparra's house to learn about
"Ouanga" and spoke most encouragingly
about its prospects in every way.
Stokowsky, conductor of the Philadel-
ptia Orchestra, has examined the score
and has sah words Of praise about it.