Evening star., 1949-08-14
.Opera Suffers
Here by Faulty
Stage Facilities
By Alice Eversmon

the Washington public convincing
presentations of the familiar
music dramas, old fare for the
seasoned opera goer but ever
thrilling for those to whom opera
is still new. The San Carlo
Opera Co. and its manager.
Fortune Gallo, did an excellent
job, but they could do better.
They needed above all the help
of the National Parks Service, for
the. support of the public was evi-
dent from the size of the audi
ences.
Seldom has such an outstand-
ing exhibition of talent been seen
here. Beautiful. unspoiled voices
Of operatic caliber were the rule
and, in addition. the young ar
fists were good looking. animated
and gifted with acting ability.
This is all the more remarkable
since only a few Of them had
achieved any widespread fame
and only two are on the roster
of the Metropolitan. 1t makes one
wonder why much inferior talent
is listed at the Metropolitan when
there seems to be plenty of the
right kind Many of the singers
at our leading opera houses are
not really opera material. They
are fine singers but not always the
kind that develop with stage ex-
perience into being great opera
artists.
Particular Quality Demanded.
Very few of the singers in Gallo's
company did such variable sing
ing as did Eleanor Steber, for
example, when she appeared as
guest with the National SYM
phony. 1t is true that she sang
several big arias and duets as
they should be sung but the very
thing that made her different
from other singers. the rare ma
tural beauty of her voice, was
sacrificed in the big demands Of
the opera numbers. This happens
frequently to gifted singers when
they are not born with the par
ticular quality that grows better
and better under the exigencies OF
grand opera.
1t appears that most Of Gallo's
artists have this quality for sew
eral sang nights in succession
without showing vocal strain. A
great many of them also. are
Americans trained in this country.
1t is all the more to their credit
that they had so fine feeling for
opera style and the intelligence to
work it out individually. It was
not famous names that drew the
public to the Water Gate but the
general excellence of the perform
ances.
1t was in the staging that the
performances were left open to
criticism. 1t seems that both the
Parks Service and Mr.. Gallo's
stage manager fell down on this.
When the new barge was built, the.
| impression was given that ade-'
quate provision had been made
for bringing in such musical
groups as require scenery. It Is
believed to be the desire Of the
Parks Service that summer enter
tainment be not confined to in
strumental concerts but that
opera. both grand and light, might
be included. But 1t now appears
to be as difficult to supply grand
opera with the proper scenic back.
ground on the barge as 1t is in
Constitution Hall.
There is a ruling in both places
that not a nail may be driven in
the floors, walls or. on the barge.
the ceiling. Nor can the shells
ceiling. which slopes down at the
back, be removed so as to permit
the placement of the tall drops
that belong to the theater. It is
impossible to put up scenery in the
proper manner for 1t is heavy and
aquires firm support and it must
be changed to give the idea Of
each scene. The San Carlo Com
pany did the best 1t could under
the circumstances, using sand
bags to hold it. and on the OPEN
ing night, taking three of the men
choristers from their singing
duties to hold up some of the
props. The San Carlo Company
has a warehouse full Of scenery
worth somewhere around 100000.
1t is made, however, according to
the dimensions of the theater
stage.
Thorough Study Recommended.
Now the fault has been that.
apparently. none of those con-
nected with the presentation Of
this series made sufficient study
of staging conditions. Some logi-
cal solution should have resulted.
One Of the most costly items Of
stage production is the salary of
those who set up and move the
scenery. 1t is necessary then, to
see that everything moves smooth
ly so that overtime payment is
not called for. That is one side
of the question. The other Is that
the Parks Service is not doing its
best by the local public, as is its
wish. if some arrangements are
not made by which scenery can
be handled as experts are accus-
toned to handle it.
AS long as we have these make
shifts in setting, both at the
Watergate and at Constitution
Hall. the giving of opera, in this
city suffers. The public has shown
its desire for opera time and
again. Mr.. Gallo has demon
strated he can bring outstanding
talent capable Of giving the ut
most satisfaction without charg-
ing Metropolitan Opera prices. It
seems it Is about time that those