Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-22
Production Of 3 Operas
Announced BY Society

The washington Opera So
ciety has announced q greatly
expanded schedule Of produc-
tions for its second season In
Lisner Auditorium.
It win give nine perform
ances this year-three operas
In three performances each
compared to four last year.
Founded . year ago. the 90
ciety's plans call for the even-
tuAl development Of q local
opera season rivaling that Of
the worlds leading opera COM
panies.
Casts for the three operas /,
were announced yesterday.
The singers were selected after
extensive additions held here
and New York throughout the
summer.
The opening production win
be q modern-dress version Of
Beethoven's 'Fidelio." Per-
formances win be ct $50 pm.
November Z and 8 and at $50
pm. on Sunday. November 10.
Seldom Performed
"Fidelio" Is familiar TO most
concertgoers only in the form
of the famous Leonore Over
ture No. 8 Beethoven wrote for
It. It is seldom performed in
its entirety, perhaps never be-
fore In Washington.
The opera win be sung mi
German, with the spoken dia-
logue in q new English transla-
ton. Since the'opera deals with
oppression by q tyrannious
state. 1t has been brought up to
date for the Opera Society's
production by setting 1t in q
concentration camp.
The second opera is Richard
Strauss "Ariadne auf Naxos."
It. too, has rarely been per-
formed, but lately is enjoying
q renaissance, with productions
scheduled this year in New York
and San Francisco.
A product Of Strauss later
years. it employs few sets and a
very small orchestra. The
Opera Society win present it at
$3.50 pm. on February 6 and Z
and $50 pm. on Sunday. Feb
ruary 8.
Final Production
The final production viii be
Mozart's "Cosi fan lutte" last
seen here in a concert version
with the National Symphony
Orchestra three years ago. That
performance was the first by
the group which has since be-
come the Washington Opera
Society.
"Cosi" viii be performed at
8 pm. on April IA. Is and rs.
The earlier starting hour is re-
CURED because the opera is
much longer than the other
two.
Paul Galloway. the society's'
regular conductor. win be on
the podium for all three pro-
auctions. James Waring. Of the
Catholic University drama de-
partment. win design all the
sets.
Mr.. Waring also will direct
"Fidelio." Nathaniel Merrill
one Of the leading directors OF
the Metropolitan Opera Conn
pany. will direct "Ariadne auf
Naxos." The director for "Ccsi
fan lutte" has not yet been
announced.
Seat prices have been set at
the same scale as last year
ranging from 50 to 50. Individ-
ual and season tickets have
gone on sale at the Society's
of1ices, l745 K street NV. and
VIII be available 10 days before
each performance at the Ma
tional Symphony box ofIice and
at the Discount Record Shop.
NOn-PrOfit Venture
Founded as q non-profit ven
ture. the Society last year lost
about $1,000 on its two pro-
auctions.
We lost money, but less than
we thought we would" said
Day Thorpe. general manager
OF the society. I'VE will lose
$4,000 this year even If we sell
every ticket"
The Society is financed BY
individual and group contribu-
tons. Sponsors are asked tc
put up 500 each. Many persons
have given more. Some con-
tribute as underwriters, whils
others give money without
taking any return. Last year:
sponsors got back 50 cents fol
each dollar contributed.
These are the casts an.
nounced yesterday:
"Fidelio" - Fidelio, Wilma
Spence: Marzelline. Marty
Waters; Rocco, Jan Rubes
JaQuino. Grant williams: Piz,
AFRO. Lee Cas-; Forestan, Da.
vid Lloyd. and Fernando. vii,
liam Walker.
"Ariadne auf Naxos"-Hau.
shofmeister. to be announced
Musiklehrer, Less Cas-; Kom,
ponist. Marguerite Willauer
Bacchus. to be announced; Of
fizier. Frank Porretta; Tanz
meister. John McCollum; Pc
ruckenmacher. To be an