Evening star., 1940-01-19
Miss Meusel
Again Stars
1n:Opera
La Traviata' Role
Sung and Acted
Appealingly
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

LA Traviata," the San Carlo
Opera Co.'S offering last evening
at the National Theater, was the
high point of this splendid organiza-
tion's presentations so far. A most
finished production, within the ca
pabilities Of a travelling company,
1t also presented some Of the finest
singing of the week. The artists
have all been heard here before.
but ''Traviata" seemed to offer them
the best opportunity for vocal dis
play and for acting.
The part of Violetta was taken by
Lucille Meusel, who sang Gilda in
"Rigoletto" on Tuesday. Her lovely
voice, fragile and pure in quality,
Is used so effortlessly that her sing
ing is a real joy. The aria "Ah,
Fors'e Lui" was beautifully given
with every phrase having particu-
lar meaning in her delivery Of it and
there were many other moments,
throughout the opera, when her pol
ished and intelligent work charmed
the listener
q. She is also a fine actress and
played the role with a naturalness
that doubled its appeal. So far Miss
Meusel heads the list of the San
Carlo singers from the artistic point
Of view and from the continual evi-
dence of thought and imagination in
the character she portrays. Her
voice is not so large or brilliant as
some of the popular coloraturas
before the public today, but it Is fine
In texture, sweet in quality and clear
and easy in both fioritura and the
production of high tones that are
literally called for in this role. Her
success was a pronounced one.
She was splendidly supported by
Franco Perulli In the part of Al
fredo and Ivan Petrof as his father.
Mr.. Perulli had most congenial
role vocally in that of the lover
I'll favioletta and he sang and acted
11iS various important scenes with
conviction. The "Di Provenza" aria
has never been better sung than in
the tender affecting Interpretation
given it by Mr.. Petroff. His voice,
always beautifully under control,
was richly expressive and his por-
trayal OF Giorgio Germont had dig
nifty and compassion intermingled.
The shorter roles of the opera
were also excellently presented,
Myra Manning being the Annina,
Charlotte Bruno, Flora; francesca
Curci, Gastone; Richard Went
worth, DR.. Grenvil, and Fausto Bozza,
Baron Douphol. The ballet, which
is one of the important assets of
the company. with its premiere
danseuse, Lydia Arlova and pre-
miere danseur, Lucien Prideaux, had
moment all its own in the scene in
Flora's palace where their spirited
-. dancing brought rounds of applause.
The San Carlo company is to be
congratulated for introducing a
naturalness into these performances
that has seldom been q part OF
grand opera. Special credit should
be given to Luigi Raybaut, who has
been able to accomplish this
miracle and make these stories Of
another age mron with verify. His
attention TO detail in the stage.
setting and the smaller bits Of
:. action has been . revelation. To the
same degree Carlo Peroni has ac-
comphshed much, tn training q
chorus to restrained singing and
contrasting effects as well as to
carry the musical burden Of each
performance each day to a bril-
liant finish.
There was q near-capacity audi
ence in attendance which gave an
ovation to the singers at every op-
portunity.