Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-30
BY BETTY BEALE

Capital. The expanding fields
Of music, art and drama here
prove 1t. Now we, are going
to see something brand-new
in the operate category this
year.
A group of Washingtonians
has formed the Opera Asso-
citation of Washington, Inc. to
give residents the chance to
see small operas.
Last year, CAPABILITIES wit
messed such small operas as
Mozart's "Cosi Fan lutte" and
Don Giovanni" = minus
scenery and costumes-con-
Quoted by Paul Galloway in
Constitution Hall. The hall
was too big for these perform
ances and lacked the stage
facilities.
But out of these perform
ances an idea was born to
Mrs. Robert Day who, with her
husband and two boys, sings
IN the Cathedral Choral So
ciety. Joan had only to tell
the Gregory Smiths about her
plan and in a matter Of hours
1t was q reality.
Edward r. Finkenstaedt is
president Of the group, Greg
Smith, Joan Day, Connie Mel
len and Gerson Nordlinger are
vice presidents; Ben Thoron is
treasurer, and Belle Douglas,
wife of the Undersecretary Of
the Air Force, is secretary.
On January 81 and Febru-
airy l they will present the
hilarious Mozart opera, 1.-THE
Abduction From the Seraglio"
in Lisner Auditorium. Mr..
Galloway will conduct it, VIII
liam Vorenberg of New York
will direct it ((he did "CoSi
Fan lutte" last year,, and it
will be staged by James D.
Warning, stage designer at
Catholic University.
A famous and fascinating
movie star is being approached
to play the non-singing role of
the pasha. National SYM
phony musicians will play the
score. And as at the Met it
self, champagne will be served
during intermisSion. =: With
such an suspicious start and
such a list of names behind it,
1t is bound to succeed both
musically and financially.
Diplomats, Fat Cats?
Actually this looks like a
big season in every way. The
International Ball Commit
tee has lined up Ray Bolger to
be emcee at the white tie
event November 8 in the
Sheraton Park. The Air
Force Drum and Fife Corps
will also put on a snappy drill
right there on the dance floor
that evening. :. Emil Cole
man is bringing two bands to
keep the floor filled the rest of
the time.
And as for the National
Symphony Ball on October 10.
the prizes to be dangled before
the bidders in the Chinese
auction grow bigger each year,
owing to the generosity of dip
lomatic corps.
For instance the French
started out donating clothes.
jewelry, perfume. Then the
a m b SSa doris of Norway.
Sweden and Denmark came
up with a free round trip for
two to their countries via
Scandinavian Always. Now
to match that this year the
Brazilian Ambassador and
Nine. Peixoto are Offering an
air trip for two to Rio and
back. But the Argentine AM
bassador and Sonora de Vicchi
have topped them all with q
round trip for two to Buenos
Aires via steamer.
For the ambassador who
wants to top the Vicchis, I
see nothing left short of do
mating a piece Of the pampas,
an oil well or an island in
the Caribbean. It Just
goes to show that interna-
tional friendship is a many
Splenooreo thing.
Flattery From OAS
At last society writer's have
received the recognition due
them! Ambassador Luis Quin-
tanilla of Mexico said the other
day, If it were net for the
society columns we (the Or
ganization Of American States)
would be completely ignored.
We are working behind an ice
curtain, a curtain of indif-
ference"
To think that 20 ambassa-
doris here would go unnoticed
except for us who cover the
hors d'oeuvres circuitl It
makes all those cold limp ca
napes downed every year
worthwhile.
Frankly, I think all their
trouble started when they
changed their name from Pan
American Union, which rolls
of the tongue easily. to Organ
ization of American States,
which is so awkward to pro,
nounce, it's easier for most
people to just forget it.
On the other hand with such
daily, high class society cover