Evening star., 1935-01-13

en- scene, While MICHEL SCelma0, HuS.
sian musical director, was put in
charge of that department. The Hip
prodrome, the third largest theater in
New York, was decided upon to permit
plenty of seats at the lowest price, fol,
in planning an opera for the people, he
provided in advance for the generous
response he knew would be his.
AS this was to be an opera company
to assist in musical development, Mr..
Rabinof enlisted the cooperation Of
the Board of Education. A Listeners
Course" of six lectures was given by
DR.. Sigmund Spaeth, the completion
of the course counting in teachers
credits together with six tickets to the
operas explained in the course. To
foster interest in opera in the young
generation, the French, German and
Italian departments OF public and pri-
vate schools were notified when operas
in each language would be sung and
discounts made for groups OF students
attending.
There we're many skeptics. Of course,
as to how this adventure would prosper.
1t is true, during the first week, the
specter of all the badly produced
operate seasons from which New York
had suffered, as has Washington, in
f1uenced the size of the audiences, but
not for long. The report of the
efficiency and artistry of the new
company began to circulate and the
crowds to besiege the box Office. Soon
even the standing room capacity was
oybo,,cfod opd b,,pdraIc f,,rpod ouou "
and eventually the season extended in
response to insistent demands. As it
was not Mr.. Rabinoff's plan to con-
tinue during the Metropolitan's sea-
son, he finally closed the doors until
Spring, when the company will con-
tinue. At the end of the short season
the membership Of the association had
grown to nearly 10000.
1t will perhaps startle the music
lovers of this city to hear that Con-
stitution Hall has been chosen for an
operate production. Mr.. Rabinoff has
followed in the footsteps of Maude
Adams in his search for correct and
properly reproductive lighting effects,
while his resourcefulneSs in stagecraft
resembles that of the great German
producer, Max Rheinhardt. With his
corps of experts, he will be able to
stage La Traviata" in that very diff
cult place, Constitution Hall, with a
gain in artistic scenic display.
With the desire to encourage opera
and at the same time establish a
school for special work in this line,
Mr.. Rabinoff founded the American
Institute of Operatic and Allied Arts
at Stony-Point-on-the-Hu Hudson some
years ago. Several buildings were
erected to take care Of the needs, in
Guiding theater and work rooms for
the construction Of scenery and cos
tunes. Promising talent from studios
were selected and tested here as to
their operatic ability and nodded for
career by a staff Of rs experts and
without cost to the student.
There has been movement recently
to modernize grand opera and do
away with much of the heaviness of
staging and action which now ap-
pears obsolete. Max Rabinoff's ideas
will be hailed with joy by those who
love opera yet realize that its present
manner Of presentation will ALLEVIATE
many who are accustomed to the latest
creations on stage and screen. The
performance of La Traviata" promises
to be an unique and interesting event.