44 WILMETTE LIFE July .1, 1927 OPERA LOVERS AWAJT I an ~utsta~ding piece of acting.. Mario , Bas10la wtll be heard as Escanullo, and R AVJN(A SECOND WEEK well his rich baritone voice is .eminent~y · fitted for the splendtd mustc · Going to Hollywood Brilliant Holiday . Program to Follow Greatest Ope~~ing Week in Summer Opera By Critic It has long been predicted that the present season of Ra,·inia opera and concerts would be the greatest in the history of this unusual institution. This prediction was made on the strength of the fact that Ravinia, season by season, has grown by leaps and bounds, both along artistic lines, and in appreciation of the public as well. Now that the new season is at last a reality and there have been several days. in which to take note of its actual achievements, there is reason to know that there will be no disappointment, and that the most optimistic prophecies made regarding it will be realized to the fullest extent. Louis Eckstein has paraded the majority of the ,.,,oriel-famous artists engaged for this year, and he has given a liberal sample of what the repertoire will be like. It must not be forgotten that there are still several interesting novelties and unusual works in store, for to date he has found it necessary only to draw upon the standard works for his earlier performances. . Never has enthusiasm run· higher, and never ha,·e the crowds which have thronged to ··The Opera House in the \\7oods" been greater. In Ravinia the north shore possesses an asset which is so valuable that it is impossible to measure its worth in mere words. Through it the eyes of the entire music world are fixed upon this particular part of the Chicago district, and it gins thi:-; community a prestige it could not otherwise enjoy. Repeat ··Andrea Chenier" As the first week of RaYinia opera comes to a close thousand , of person~ are avidly looking forward to what the second week of the season is to bring. In scheduling his repertoire for this period ~(r. Eckstein has taken manY things into consideration, and it goe-s without saying that his plans '"ill meet with the entire approval of all Ravinia patrons. It is good to knO\Y that tl1ere is to be another opportunity of hearing ".Andrea Chenier" and 'Romeo and Juliet," as the demand for tickets wa~ so great when these operas were ginn on the first and second nights of the season that there were hundred~ unable to gain admission. hut \\'ho will welcome the opportunity of hearing these \\·orks during the coming "·eek. The second calendar week oi Ra\-·inia opera and concerb will begin SundaY afternoon. Tttl\' 3. \\'ith the regular SundaY COt;cert b,· the Chicago Symphony orchestra: under the direction oi Eric DeLamarter. Jacques Gordon will he the soloi!'t, and an attractive program has been prepared. Sunday night \1\' ill bring the season's first presentation of "Carmen." which is not only one of the greatest operas of the French school. lntt which enjoys universal acclaim. It is upon thi" work that the fame of the French composer. Bizet, rests, and had he written nothing else he would he "·ell entitled to his place in the hall of immortals. :Mada-me Ina BourskaYa will be heard in the title role. this l;eing a part which is eminently suited to her colorful personality, and which she endows with that splendid genius for acting. which marks everything she does. Edward Johnson will appear as Don Jose. a heroic tenor role which makes unusual demands upon the histrionic abilitv of anY artist. Mr. Johnson finls this role particularly suited to him, as he · not only sings it with complete command of all its vocal possibilitie s, but like,,·ise makes it 4 which Bizet has· provided for this part, and which includes the Toreador Song. Florence Macbeth is cast as Micaela, one of the most appealing parts in opera. Others in the cast are Miss Maxwell, Miss Swarthout, Mr. D'Angelo, Mr. Ananian and Mr. Paltrinieri. \Vilfrid Pelletier will conduct. ··Martha" Holiday Event That popular light opera, "Martha," will be the special holiday offering on Monday night, July 4, taking the place of the orchestra concert usually scheduled for Monday .nights. It goes without saying that "Martha" is a work having universal appeal for all opera lovers, for it is replete in melody, it tells a charming romantic story, and is especially well suited for holiday presentation in view of the fact that it reaches a happy ending. Miss Macbeth will again be heard in the tile role, while Mr. Chamlee will be opposite her as Lionel. The work of these two artists in these parts is well-known to all Ravinia patrons. Miss Macbeth makes Martha a funloving girl, filled with the spirit o·f mis~fiss Alice Lundquist, 732 Reba chief, but who succumbs gracefully to the call of romance. Mr. Chamlee's place, "Evanston's Mary Pi-ckford," beautiful lyric voice is perfectly adapt- has been appearing lately in a scenario ed to the love arias in which this work made by the Cinema Arts company for is replete, and his singing of that '"on- which the company last week filmed a derful song. "M'Appari" is always con- number of scenes ·On the university sidered one of the high spots of a beach in l·.,·anston. Miss Lundquist, Ravinia season. Madame Bourskaya \\'ho i~ a cousin of Anna Q. Nilsson, and ~f r. T ,azzari will he hea rcl as the screen star, expects to leave soon Nancy and Plunkett, respectively. sup- ior Holln,·ood to rnter the motion plying much of the good fun_ which i~ picturt·;-; field thert· . an enjoyable feature of this celebrated opera. ~1 r. Trevi:;an will he ca~t a~ Sir Tristan, with Mr. D'Angelo as tlH' sheriff. Louis Hassel mans will COilduct. uchenier" Next Tuesday fn view of the fact that hundrt"d~ Tf all\·one ~hould a~k ,·ou what the j0lly noise might he . " ·ho \Yrre anxious to hear "Andrea Chenier' on the opening nigbt of the A \\'Cek ago last \\' pdne~da~ · 1>~· our season could not he accommodated u11 own enticing ~ca. this occasion, ).f r. Eckstein has sche - Just anS\Hr 'enl and tell 'em. 'twas duled a repeat performance of thi:\\'ilmette Post 4-6 " ·ork f0r Tuesday · night. July 5. with exacth· the !'\amc cast as that whir1 1 A-ha,·in' ,)·f a steak ir~·- ll\· culinary inaug~trated the sea~on. ).fadanlt' tricb! Rethberg- will appear as ?\fadclt'ine. one of opera's greatest dralllatiL· ~o - And l!y tht· cro\\'d a:-~elllhkd twa.; p~ano p~rts. \\'l~ik ~pposite he.r \Yill !1e I . con~tde~ed-h.' · .~111d lar~·e~ . G10vann1 ).1artmei!J 111 the tttlc r~l<:. 1 he year" mmt snappy trohr. Thr which he plentifully endows with hi ladie" \H' fl' in charge: superb genius for clram<ltic . inging· But tlH· lllt'll \\'ere ahray~ \\'aiching-and effective acting. Giuseppe Dani :- e ,·on nllt~n't get this \\'rong·e~ery . opportt~nity _-for display <:f tlit' F~r e\'l'J'\' little cbanct· tu lwlp t1H· nchness of hts YOtce. Others 111 t!ll' \rork a;HI'iun along. . · \ ' Oll cast are ). fad am e ..B ours k a\' a . .).I I" s ."'\lH " 1 11 · · \ ' (' -.,eell t 1 < I ,. 1 · I 1 tll·' .1 ·I. 'f 1.f . D lt.'lll 1 11 Swarthout, Mr. .\ OJtca, ~v r. elr<:r<'. · , . . .. . para c1 (' an;; v. ~f r. DAngelo. ~fr. Pa1tnntc11. ).f 1. · Ananian . and Mr. Derman. Genarro You'n: simply no runcept inn ho"· the Papi will conduct. Legio1111aircs can play; 'l'l1ev're n~ver ~ittino· idh· 'round. nor There is heavy · demand every season ev.en ~imply strolli~g. . for Massenet's beautiful opera ").[anon," and it is good news that this iar - In fact l'<J say that Lee and Han-r both kept thr ball a-rolling~ famed French work is to he given early presentation this year. It has been scheduled for Wednesdav night. XO\\' ii the ladies at the fn absorbed a little "sand," July 6. at which time Madan;c .Bori. who is probably the greatest interpre- 'Twas usdul when the,· 't ntcred in the ter this role has ever had, will appear contc~t on the strand: in the name part. As the wilful The youngsters, too. strove valiantly as Manon, 'Madame Bori creates a charsoldiers' children should; acter study v.-hich has a depth that With Da\'is' and Heeser's lead ership elevates it far ahovc the a\·erage opera the sports program was good! role. She sets forth the manv sides of (If we had said Miaa Reeser 'twould be Manon's fickle character so- tellingly more polite and sweeter, that not a detail is omitted from the picture she dra\'I'S. In addition to his- But one small miss in ryhme-and trionic shading she gives the role cars-plays havoc with your meter.) splendid vocal interpretati:m, breathing forth the spirit which J..[assenet 'Tw__ould give us joy to name all those has written into the score. Mario who made it a success, Chamlee will be heard as the young But 'tis a formidable list! 'Twould and romantic Chevalier Des Grieux, a take a page, I guess. . lyric role which fits him like the prO\·- To properly describe the fry. one needs erbial glove. In this part he has an a facile nen, opportunity for. that beautiful singing- But mine-alas !-is fossil! Accept its which distinguishes his work and story then. makes it heart-appealing. -U nattimous. Legion Auxiliary NEXT WEEK IN WILMETTE (Recorded· at the Chamber of Commerce) Friday, .July 1 7 :30 P. M. Wilmette chapter, R. A. M., Masonic temple. 8 :00 P. M. Wilevansbrook Encampment, No. 177, I. 0. 0. F., Odd Fellows hall. Sunday, July 3 3:00 P. M. Baseball, Vvashington Park vs. \Vilmette, Howard school playground. . 3 :00 P. M. Public meeting, Louis Bourc;!gois, 536 Sheridan road, 44 Bahai Teachings and Principles." Monday, July 4 3:00 P. M. Baseball, \Vashingt0:1 Park vs. Wilmette at \Vashington park, Evanston. 1 :30 P. M. Patriotic program at \\'ashington park under auspices of Wilmette Post American Legion. 2:00 P. M. Games and races at \Vashington park under auspices oi \Vilmette Post American Legion. Tuesday, July 5 12:15 P. :M. Luncheon, \Vilmette Optimist club, Lake Shore terrace. 7 :30 P. M. Village Board me<:ting, Village hall. 8:00 P. M. Wilmette Camp , .:\o. 10334. Modern \\'ooclman o r America, Odd Fellows hall. Wedneaday, July 6 12:15 P. M. Luncheon, \VilnH:tt<.: Rotary club, Ouilmette Country club. 8 :00 P. ~l. Bahai ~tucly Cla~ s ~l t C'. P. Christensen. Public im·ited . Thursday, July 7 7 :30 P. ).f. \\'ilmette lodge , Xo. 931. A. F. & .\ . ~f.. ~Ia s unic temple. 8:00 P. ?\.I. A. '1'. Sherman lodf,! e, \'o. ~N2. f. 0 . n. F .. Odd Fello"· ~ hall. Friday, July 8 7 :30 P . ~f. \Vilmette chapter, H.. .\ . ~I.. ~fa sonic temple Monday, July 11 X:00 J>. ).1. Regular meeting, Challlher <·i Comllll'rcl'. Central Cait teria. \Jr. and ~fr:-. \\'illia111 Hullllt". r,.?2 Central aHnm·. ar~· returnin~ thi s ,,·u·k-end from a lll!lllth';-; ,· i~it in California. The\' haH· hn·11 in Lu~ :\ ngl'k~. ~an Dieg(). San Franci~cc·. and other point:- in tl1e . . tatl'. and art ' i. . it ing ,·ariou:-. Jll) int . . Ill interl· .; t 1111 1 ilt· ,. ,._ tmn trip. -o\1 i · ~ Cladn \\'hitt ·. claugllttr ,,j \fr. and ~Irs. Harold \\.hitl· tli (i,1() { 'tntral an·nm·. " ·ho l1a~ ju~t · compld('d he r sophPmc·rt year at \\\· lk~Jt.,· colkgt·. i..; returning toda\· fro111 a ,· i~it in :\t·\\· York and :\tla;Jta. Cra . -0- \Yilliam ~(ilm~dtg· cn . /10 Greenleaf avenue, returned Sund;.w from a five weeks' \·isit with he.r · ,daughter. Mrs. Alan C. Collim. in Philadelphia. _:_0- \fr~. ).[ r. and Mrs. Tame . .; Cross I<..'\' and daughters, Julia and Helen, of 407 \Vashington avenue. are leaving todav for Sister Bay, \\1 is., to stay untif Labor day. -oMiss Eleanor Stewart, 1232 Greenwood avenue, left yesterday to attend a house party in the northern woods of \Visconsin, at the summer home of ~f r. and Mrs. Nelson L. Buck of Evanston. -0- I ).f r. and Mrs. Henry Cutler of 407 Central avenue have returned from Ke\\' York City. Henry. Jr., sailed last Saturday to spend the summer in England.