The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-15

Nearing the close of Charles L. WaRner's 35th concert season, and Eth opera season, he offers for the first time a real opera comlque com pany--the result of several years planning
 Five years ago, It. Edward w.. SnoWdon (noW overSeaS), his aSso- ciate manager, suggested going back 30 years and give the road a com pany presenting The Barber of Seville, similar to the one MT. Wag- ner sent out when he was associated with the late Henry Russell, director of the Boston Grand Opera. With memories of Alice Nielsen as Rosina, he selected Hilda Reggiani. Three tours followed, and then the RIGA. Victor recorded the Wagner cast, under the direction of BanlboSchek in an album-a permanent record of & musical milestone. The conn., many will be sent out, with Reg giani, in the spring of lo46-next season.
 And now--Martha, this April 1o45, presenting "The Last Rose Of Sum mer" as the first opera of spring. A real Opera Comique company of young American voices and person. alities. Martha, delightful and melodious, is seldom done at the Metropolitan. Caruso and Sem- brich sang 1t, but failed to give 1t the delicious Irish flavor, in their acting and vocal effects. It requires voices plus acting
 "In building this company" says MT. Wagner, "I found the regular grand opera stars, out of tune Ill opera comique. l had long since found the public want to laugh in English and weep in q foreign ton gue. So 1t demanded youth-Ameri- can youth, with voices and sense o1 humor to give the Hitting Irish qual- ity love. having been thoroughly saturated with 1t, through the Johf Mccormack and Alice Nielsen days And the people love it."
 This, MT. Wagner has achieved With superb all new production a' to scenery, and costumes he Ina! added his usual Wagner quality O. orchestra under the direction O. Giuseppe Bomboschek and a sing ing chorus, easy to look at--al staged and directed by Desire Defrere. In Defrere's remarkable career, he has only been associated with the best. For years with Mar! Garden at the Opera Comique, Whil' Miss Garden was under Wagner management, then with the Chi cago Opera and with Gatti ant Johnson at the Metropolitan ant always with all the Charles L. Wag ner productions.
 "In casting our companies tn past six years, have realized tn real successes are made by m 'nnds'", says MT. Wagner "To' often, people have read of star well known on the Metropolital stage and are disappointed, whei they hear them"
 MT. Wagncrs idea is a perfec cast and ensemble--thoroughly re hearsed, directed and presented II
 plays permanent management"- his stage crews, directors, scener and costume builders have bee with him, through all his work. As to his Judgment of voices, n
 one has ever questioned that. NC Cormack, Galli-Curci, Emmy Dcs tin, Aida, Miliza Korjus, Nicol Moscona and many others.
 He has engaged again the re i, markable ensemble of voices h selected for 1'raviata -- they ar , also singing in Martha. No choru singers all selected voices, many ( , whom have given New York recital --and all attractive and cultured. , The four leads in Martha mui
 be sung. MT. Wagner heard oyt seventy singers before deciding. TT 1. light lovely music was beyond th | average singer 1 Here Is the selection for Lad
 Harriet (Martha): Susanne Fishe U of the Metropolitan and Oper Comluue Paris. Marguerite Plazs a of the City Center, young Italiar American whose Martha has been |, tremendous success, and Laura Cai v tellano, the lovely maid" of Trt [. yiata. For Nancy, Mona Bradfor 4 who appeared AS Siebel fin Faua v lovely tall beauty, and Jane Folt :, also of Traviata. These two, M Wagner considers, the best contra .. tos he has found hearing over of s hundred. Both young and expe
 fenced For Lionel -- MT. Wagner . new find" Andrew Mckinley, ar
 clifford Menz, wei known in col
 cert and Chatauqua work. Fol