Evening star., 1941-01-20
BY ELENA DE SAYN.

The return of the San Carlo
Grand Opera Co. to the National
Theater fer a weeks engagement,
opening with Verdis LA Traviata"
last night, was greeted by large and
enthusiastic near-capacity audience.
Ample evidence was given of the
esteem In which this organization is
held in Washington. The opera
goers were not being deferred from
attending the performance by other
important events yesterday.
1t was left to Lucille MeuSel, the
prima donna of the evening, to re-
vive the human interest in the ILL
fated heroine by her impersonation
of the role, founded upon LA Dame
aux Camelias," a play by Dumas,
Fills, made famous by such actresses
as Sarah Bernhardt and Eleanor
DuSe, or by such celebrated TRAY
iata" as was Louise Tetrazzini.
Without doubt, Miss Meusel is
the greatest "Traviata" on the Amer
ican stage today. Rarely does one
find such beauty of voice and great
gift of acting combined in equal
measure. The high point to which
Miss Meusel has brought her vocal
and dramatic technique is unusual
In an opera artist, and joined, as it
Is, with sensitiveness, depth of feel
ing. her beauty and graceful bear
ing, her impersonation of the role
rises to a plane with those who
made the drama and the opera i'm
mortal.
Has Splendid Cast.
Supported by a splendid cast, the
artist and her collaborators made
one forget the artificial environment
OF the stage. This page from an
old book, revived by skillful acting,
seemed lifelike and real, as if it were
happening at the moment. The gay
courteSan of the first act was as
natural and unaffected as the Wom-
an who atoned for her past by sacri-
flce and died of broken heart. Even
the applause which punctured the
progression Of the drama, after each
great aria, did not seem to detract
| from its continuity nor diminish the
interest in it.
Inc loneliness and the crystalline
purity of Miss Meusels voice was re-
Elected in every note, in every high
&C" many of which fell to her lot,
and IN the high "E fiat" which
fn9 tp6 full I'D
An ForS'e Lui," her chief solo,
became a brilliant exhibition of i'm
peccable runs and trills matched
only by the pathos of "Dite All Fan
ciulla Pura Bella" in her scene
with Germont, and of the "Addio
Del Passato," her aria in the final
scene, when Violetta. the heroine of
the opera, ravaged by consumption,
breathes her last. Here. in her
farewell to life, Miss Meusel touched
the heart strings of her audience
and the manner with which she was
applauded spoke more eloouently
than words of the success achieved.
Gerard Well Received.
Rolf Gerard. tenor. substituting
for Dimitri Onofrei, unable to sing
last night because of a cold, made a
handsome appearance as Alfredo.
Vlolettas lover. His sympathetic
voice, in which the lyric element pre-
dominates, created a splendid i'm
preston in his first aria. "Delizio
al Cuor," and in the duet with Vio-
letta which followed The artistic
effect Of the two voices blending
in perfect ensemble and the warmth
with which they infused their scenes
together, helped towards complete
illusion, one of the delights of San
Carlo presentations.
Ivan Petroff. already favorite in
the Capital through his former ap-
pearances, was greeted with plaudits
upon his first entrance. He was
imposing and dignifed in the role