Evening star., 1937-08-14
By A lire Euersm1u.

TWENTY-FIVE wears ago ves-
ferdsv ended the earthly career
Of one OF the most popular
- composers OF opera within The
knowledge OF the living generation
Jules MaSSenet After busy life of
10 wears. in which he gave the world
some OF the most outstanding musical
dramas, he passed aUav in Paris IN
1912, leaving two operas Inproduced
and book Of memoirs, Souvenirs
dun Musicien" to he completed by a
fellow composer, Xavier Leroux.
Among his many contributions 10
operatc repertoire. this country has
become familiar with his "Thais. ="
"Manon." La Navarraise. 'Cendll-
ion,' lie Jonele,r de Notre Dame
"Herodiade. "Sapho." Werther" and
lie Cid Nearly All Of his remaining
operas are consta ntly part Of the roper
tolre of the opera season in his own
country.
During his lifetime. critics predicted
that his music Vould not live to be
claSsed among The greatest. But time
has proven the contrary. and 1he
charm. beauty and drama Of MS cor
reptlons have still the power to TENS
port his listeners. He maintains tIs
popularity in spite of accuSatloDs of
uperf1clalltv and against more original
and more strongly endowed conrem-
porarles.
A r THE age of 3S. ne was voted p
member Of The famed Academic
deS Beau ArrS. UInnln2 our over Saint
Saens. who Uss being sponsored bv he
Nao'n2 musicians nf that exclusive
circle. Although the vounges, member
or The Academic ne had previously
been honOred with decorations bv he
government. frtrng climax to his
career which began with the carrvino
on of coveted prizes from The Con-
ser's'olre and the "PrIx de Rome"
maSSenet was a versatile writer In
ms handling Of themes and harmony
nut greater !Stlll was his dramaric feel
ing and his power TO incornora II in
music speech. His operas are musical
chars cter studies. as kaenlv conceived
ana developed as those Of The most
ceieoraied nramarlsrs and the SUD-
porting characters are no less clearl,
outlined or less carefully ssetcned
Wh1le he chooses for The most parf
stores Gear 10 the nearts of The p,hIic
of his dav. his genus came 10 the fore
nd
"h1cn ne gave them musical form.
What ne mas done 10 infuse new life
MO me operate formula ne has lSo
done 10 the artistic standards of his
lnterpre terS. Because of his nperax a
ne" tvpe of artlSL was born. one Who
learned 10 combine personal grace and
charm with acting ability.
WAS through MsSsenet mat Mary
Garden oeca me known and through
Mary Garden that the world thrilled 10
ms Thsis' and "Joneleur de Notre
Dame and 'Cendrlllon in a. never
lobe -eousied manner. His "Manon q"
produced nine years before P7Iccini's
version OF The s2 me story. has relcneG
supreme ss the most polished and
coherent presentation of that vivid
tale. in which many Of the foremost
opera stars OF today have won their
laurels
MaSSeDer s genius has lifted he op-
cratic atmosphere out of The srnlId
sno unreal cha which weighted
II down. He SET a pace which those
coming after have been Quick 10 emil
late and he has rescued The music
drama from the somDlferous taint
which was surely stranglInp il Never
again will The public be willing 10
listen 10 intermina bic periods Of song
without action nor singers be content
without a medium to express their
dramatic as well as musical feeling
MaSsenet had The secret Of creating
interesting plausible and emotionally
stirring opera and for this will live
forever in the apprecIative memory OF
the music world
"A beautiful. flexible. dramatic tenor
voice i. Technically remarkable
applause tremendous These words
were used in praise of brillia Mt young
Dutch artist. Henk Mort. when he
sang Wagners Die Melstersinger"
With Arturo ToScanIni at the Sa lzburg
Festival recently.
Word of NoorI's distinguished sue
cess in Sazhurg last week was ca blsd
immedia telv 10 C c. CappeI manager
of The National SYMPHONY Orchestra
IN Washington. who is arranging for
The Dutch singers first appearance
here in October. With four other
artists comprising tne Wapnerlan n Fes-
tNal Singers. Mort will be The soloiSt
with the National symphony in the
concert launching its 1878 srason
on October 81.
naive OF Hoils nd NoorT is held in
esteem that equals that Of The famous
bsSSo OF The Festival Group. Alexan-
der klpniS. who is already known in
America through his concert appear
snces and phonograph recordings. He
is particularly favored in Europe for
his Wagnerian performances. and Of
all the roles of the Bavreuth master in
his repertoire he comes closest 10 per
lection. in the minds Of he critics. when
singing Walter Won StOlzine in Die
Meist erSlnger,' His appointment a 70
sing this difficult role under the mas
tor lptN