Evening star., 1938-03-20

Robert Montgomery of Cos Cob,
Conn. Against q background of
frs and birches and shiny laurel
were planted masses and masses Of
primulas Of every color from warm
red to gentle yellows. This received
gold medal. The first prize in
the same competition went to
Zenon Schneider Of Bergenfield,
N. j.. for his growing, among rocks,
Of delicious miniature primroses
and jonquils and bird-foot violets
and tiny iris and azaleas and
anemone.
On the first floor there was q
real dovecote with pouter pigeons
strutting around it. S. z. Mitchell
Of Oyster Bay, Long Island, who
had won prizes in the horticultural
world for years, showed this.
Fanny, the goose who acts in the
movies, was having particularly
fine time honking from the top Of
a barrel and successfully advertis-
ing poultry magazine.
The many well-known and
wealthy women who have fostered
the Garden Club of America, some
Of whom open their gardens an
nually to the visiting branches, had
handsome exhibits.
TOMORROW the Metropolitan
Opera Association, Inc, will
open in Baltimore for three nights
with "Tanhauser," "Otello" and
Faust" Then it goes to Boston,
Cleveland and Rochester, but in
none Of these places will the resi-
dents hear Richard Strauss
Electra" or "Salome" or Clam
Carlo Menottrs enhancing first
production, Amelia Goes to the
Ball"
This week in New York, for the
first time, "Salome" was given in
conjunction with Amelia" The
title role Of the latter one-act opera
was sung by the slim, exquisite
soprano, Muriel Dickson, whom
Edward Johnson discovered three
years ago in the D'Oyly Carte
Company. Marjorie Lawrence sang
"Salome" magnif1cently, but in the
Dance of the Seven Wells" she did
not convey the tragic, passionate
decadence that is innate in the
story Of the princess Of Judea.
We missed Mary Garden, who once
sang this role and acted with such
graphic intensity that for long
time the opera was banned at the
Met. But Marjorie Lawrence has
not the imagination Of Mary Gar
den, This "Salome," though vis-
ually less exciting, is musically
inspiring and will undoubtedly be
given again and again.
Thre years ago Edward Johnson,
Canadian tenor, succeeded the in
scrutable and massive Gatti-
Casazza as general manager of the
Met, and he has done much, within
the limits of tradition and a resi-
due of very bureaucratic regime,
to rejuvenate a great institution.
He has brought in three new con-
ductors and more tran Is singers.
Among them Kerstin Thorborg,
Rosa Pauly. Helen Traubel and
Jan Kiepura. New York is a city
filled with Wagner enthusiasts.
Tristan and Isolde" and the ring,
particularly "Goetterdaemmerung,"
rank first in popularity. Then comes
Verdi's "Otello." johnson wants
to make Richard Strauss popular,
but except for the happy and lilt-
ing "Rosenkavelier." the audiences
are but moderately receptive.
The idol of all opera lovers is
Kristen Flagstad. Every time she
appears on the stage, even though
johnson has abolished clacques.
there is furore of applause and
stamping.
Not long ago Neysa McMein
painted her portrait for the cover
OF a magazine. Neysa said Nine.
Flagstad was lovely and gay and
busy though she was, singing four
times a week. she gave plenty of
time to her sittings. She told
this story about her childhood.
When she was . little girl her
father, whom she loved dearly,
gave her big turtle. She was ter
rif1ed OF this great lump but, not
wanting to hurt her fathers feel
ings, she kept it in the room where
she practiced. Every morning,
when she settled down to work, the
turtle would show its only visible
sign Of animation. He would clat-
ter across the floor and place him.
self directly under the piano by
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