Evening star., 1935-09-29

plOneQ Dy ledQeT ana Ill dI IIlSI VI
the standing of DR.. Kinder. This
fact should be source of rejoicing
by those who love and have missed
opera in the local musical season.
It must have occurred to many who
visited the Summer concerts how
ideally suited to presentation OF
music drama was the entire setting
at the WaCergate. The romantic at
mosphere which Mother Nature so
understandingly provided, as If she
knew how closely united are music
and the beauty under her control, did
more than could be realized to reveal
the evanescent but powerful message
inclosed in harmonic sound. But this
had to do with but one section OF
great musical art, and there remains
another in which the human element
PLAYS a still greater part, and which
is admirably fitted for the beautiful
BACKGROUND which this city Is fortu-
nate in possessing.
X
DR.. Kinder with true artistic in
sight, sees the possibility of opera
under these conditions. He realizes
that many could be won to the cause
of opera in such a setting that would
not be so interested in hearing 1t as
usually presented. And those who
have had experience in such matters
know that once opera is understood,
and that by being heard often enough,
it will be demanded as part of each
musical season.
The pros and cons regarding the
appeal of opera have been discussed
constantly, but the point that is most
overlooked is that we, in this coun-
try. are not well qualified to have
an expert opinion. for we have had
too little opportunity to know much
about the subject. The development
of operate art has not gone hand in
hand with that of other branches of
music. Symphony orchestras have
sprung up in nearly every important
musical center and have been sue
cess both financially and in the in
crease of appreciation of this kind
of music. but opera, from the Metro
politan down to the smallest local
venture, has had hard time Of it,
and the present moment sees the pos
sibility of its complete abandonment
If something drastic is not done
about it.
What is the reason for the lack of
success of the opera, the most inter-
esting and entertaining of all music
branches?
CEVERAL factors are the cause of
this condition. In the first place,
opera has been expensive, because
it required the importations of direc-
tors and singers who had no hesi-
fancy in setting the prices of their
services many times above the fee they
received in their own country. Today
America does not need these irnpor-
tations, for it has well trained execu-
tives and the greatest opera artists in
the world. Besides those already ia
nous there are many waiting an op-
portunity to prove their merit and
at no exorbitant fee. Although opera
requires a special talent and particu-
larized training. as a music form it
should be taken on its value for
musical expression. and not as
medium for the exploitation of per-
sonalities. When considered from that
angle, the problem of cost will not
be difficult to solve.
Opera, purely as music and not as
q spectacle, has as much to offer as
q symphony. 1t does not matter that
one knows exactly what the music
represents. 1t is great art to be
able to express in musical phrases the
emotions of life and, even with the
subject foreign to the present era, the
emotional content is the same as we
know today. Although principally
presented in foreign language, it is
not more difficult to understand or ap-
preciate than a symphony. 1t is true
that an unknown tongue makes 1t
difficult to follow the dramatic devel-
opment of the story, but the remedy
for that will come with increased in
terest by music patrons in the art of
opera presentation.
X *
THE second reason for the lack of
appreciation of opera is due to
the manner in which it is given. With
the exception of the large organiza-
tions, operate companies have been
assembled as a financial adventure.
with the artistic side left to the talent
of the principal singers, Washington
has known, to its regret. just what
that means, and has become wary of
companies whose performances are
marred by mishaps. Inadequate seem
cry, poor costuming, choruses which
are a trial to the eye and ear, prin-
cipals who have no vision as to the
Interpretation of their roles. orches-
tras that fade out at critical moments,
and long waits between scenes-there
are few of the many annoyances
which the operate public has grown
to expect when an operatic season is
announced.
With an artist such as DR.. Kinder
at the helm the public would be as
sured that all lapses from a high
standard would be obliterated. The
careful working out of details, which
adds so greatly to the pleasure of a
presentation, could not but be given
minute. attention by man whose
musical education was grounded in a
country where opera has been loved
and appreciated for centuries. No
musical venture can be a success
without the leadership of an artist,
and the absolute truth of this state
ment has been verified by the failures
of operatic enterprises undertaken
from a business angle.
y y y
A FEW years ago it would have been
nearly impossible to convince this
city that a symphony orchestra could
be sustained by the music lovers them
selves. Statistics were brought out
to show what percentage of the popu-
lation was interested in serious mu-
sic, and the figures were not large.
But the history of the National SYM
phony Orchestra has proved that Tie
statistics were incorrect, and the most