Evening star., 1934-03-18

When considering this season of
opera at the Lyric Theater in Balti-
more, short as it is, one cannot help
the feeling of regret that this most
important Capital cannot invite the
Metropolitan to include it in its away
Trombone journey, The only capital
in the Occidental world unable or
uninterested in supporting an opera,
there is not even proper building
in which to give opera, could the
funds be raised to bring a company
of the best singers here. Not only
to make opera pay but to properly
stage it, a theater with good-sized
stage is needed, and in that, Wash
ington is sadly lacking. This present
moment, when the operatic situa-
ton is undergoing change, is an
ideal one in which to form a plan
whereby opera could be included in
the Winter musical season. With
careful thought and planning, opera
could be had here at moderate eX-
pense, provided place could be found
large enough to produce it ade-
Quately.
The opera companies which have
visited the city this year have shown
that the music dramas can count on
a large public. When the audiences
have not been so large, it has been
entirely the fault of the company
managers themselves, who have been
careless in their choice of artists
and manner OF production, so as to
lose the interest of the people. The
CatIirdoTJ oftarvnnrN hrnaIpoSfS nf tho
Metropolitan are proving an enor-
nous success, and their popularity in
this city is atteSted by the number
who hurry home in order to be able
to listen in or are willing to cancel
engagements so as not to miss the
occasion to hear whatever opera is
scheduled. This is not only true OF
Washington, but of the entire country
and proof of the appreciation of these
broadcasts is shown in the voluntary
contributions that have come from
remote places in response to the re-
cent appeal for next years support
sent out by the Metropolitan and
which are always accompanied by a
word of praise and appreciation.
Many in this silent audience must
miss the possibility of seeing as we'll
as hearing, In opera, especially, the
scenery and Costuming are important
factors, for no verbal description can
quite convey the picture of Nine
Butterfly in her dainty house, with
the city and harbor stretched out
below the hill, the effect of the
moonlight in the scene where Salome
can at last kiss the lips of John the
Baptist, or the elegance and grace
which surround Violetta and which
give contrast to the poignant story
Opera, when well and correctly pre-
sented, is educational from the scenic
standpoint alone, for it shows archi-
lecture, furniture, costumes and va
rious details relative to the period
represented, and it must be histori-
cally authentic. The recent perform
ance of Merry Mount" at the Met
ropolitan is an instance of the edu-
cational value of the DECENTRALIZATION
of the early days in our country, as
well as the interest in seeing our
stern forefathers made human and
understandable before our eyes, May
the day come when Washington will
seriously consider the establishment
of an opera school, an opera house
and national opera company.
The operas to be given in Balti-
more are representative of the diff
erent types of operatic composition
and operatic talent. Special interest
will be found in the revival of "Sa-
lone" which was recently given in
New York with overwhelming sue
cess, in sharp contrast to its first
hearing there, 81 years ago A re-
view of that date says: The score
which Richard II has written for his
version of the Wilde text marks the