Evening star., 1938-05-01
Two Great
Stars With
Symphony:
Orchestra to Offer
Interpreters of
German Opera.

WITH Lauritz Melchior, tenor, and
Marjorie Lawrence, soprano, on
its schedule to appear as soloists, the
National Symphony Orchestra, under
DR.. Hans Kinder, will next season give
Washington music lovers an oppor-
tunity to hear two of the greatest in
terpreters Of German operatic works
singing today. The two vocalists are
members Of the world-famous German
wing of the Metropolitan Opera Co.
Miss Lawrence, whose star has been
rising rapidly during the last two
seasons, will be making her Washing
ton debut at the National Symphony
concert Mr.. Melchior's concert will
mark his first appearance with the
orchestra.
During the past season at the Met
ropolitan Miss Lawrence created a
sensation with her magnificent per-
torrance of the title role of Richard
Strauss opera, "Salome." Behind this
performance stretched a brief career
that can only be described as meteoric.
In 1928 Miss Lawrence, living with
her family in Australia, won a singing
contest sponsored by the Melbourne
Sun. A year later she set out for
France and started serious study with
Nine. Cecile Gilly. In 1882 came her
operatic debut as Elisabeth in "Tann-
hauser' in Monte Carlo and a contract
with the Paris Opera soon followed.
Not exclusively a Wagnerian, she won
adoltlonal fame in the leading roles
OF the French and Italian repertoire.
including Rachel in La Juive," Aida"
and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni
She sang her first Salome in No
vember. 1884, in Paris revival of the
Strauss work. Previously she had
sung the same heroine in Massenets
"Herodiade." Miss Lawrence mas
tered not only the vocal difficulties of
the work, but the dance as well, learn
ing to spare her breath for the diff
cult singing that follows it. The in
ability to handle the dance portion
OF the role had been the downfall of
many an otherwise splendid character
ization Of the part.
Mr.. Melchior, who has appeared in
recital in Washington, is also known
through radio broadcasts from tn.
Metropolitan. In view of his position
as No. l tenor of the New York opera
mouse today. it is amusing to recall the
discouraging circumstances of his
debut.
Already a famous Wagnerian tenor
on the continent, he made his New
York bow at a matinee performance
OF "Tannhauser" on February II. 1926.
The debut came of as scheduled. but
hardly got passing notice, for on the
same evening a performance Of Rig
oletto" with another debut set an all
time high for operatic .ballyhoo. It
was the bow of Marion Talley as
Gilda in Verdi's opera and the fab
ulous publicity surrounding that per-
formance seemed destined to doom the
new Wagnerian tenor to obscurity.
However, Melchiors subsequent per-
formanceS in the roles of Tristan,
Parsifal, Lohengrin, Siegmund and
Slegfrled brought the Danish tenor
quickly to the fore and made him an
invaluable member IF the German
section Of the company. The tenor
was born in Copenhagen and began
the study of voice in 1908. He first
sang as baritone, but was persuaded
that his true voice was tenor. During
his career ne has been actively aided
by Hugh Walpole, English novelist,
and studied the Wagnerian roles un-
der the tutelage of Wagner's widow,
Cosima, and the composers son, Sieg-
fried.
The National Symphony, under DR..
klndler's baton, will again present a
series of eight midweek concerts, be-
ginning November 9, when MIR. Melch-
ior will be soloist, and series of Il
Sunday afternoon concerts. beginning
October 80. Moriz Rosenthal, world
famous pianist, will be soloist at the
latter concert.
Reservations for season tickets are
now being accepted at the Offices of
the National Symphony Orchestra
Association, I'LL Woodward Building.
Season ticket applications are filled in
the order received, subject only to the
pricr requests Of season ticket sub
scrihers of last season and contributors
to the orchestras sustaining fund for