The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 5

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 9, 1931 a be 5 ORACOLO" GIVEN WITH "'PAGLIACCI' Sharp Contrast in Offerings of Operas Given as a Double Bill by Metropolitan Co. Scotti Superb in Revival of Is Routine With Martinelli By' LINTON MARTIN zled veteran. "Pagliacci" Routine Performance Between "L'Oracolo," Franco Leoni's vivid little operatic Chinatown, shocker revived of San Francisco's after eight years with the redoubtAntonio Scotti as the villianous able and Leoncavallo's perennially popular "Pagliacci," Company the provided Metan evening of plentiful contrasts in ropolitan Opera its double bill the Academy last night. Even more striking than the contrast between the two operas, between however, was the contrast character and quality of the performances. And this sharp astonishingly contrast presentation, enough depended deach primarily one artist in offering- -upon Scotti, whose shuddersomely sinister portrait of the murderous and murdered opium den keeper superbly set the compelling keynote of and Giovanni Martinelli, whose exaggerated and almost ostentatiously, superficial performance "Pagliacci" did about everything possible to kill conviction in that usually effective opera.

Martinelli apparently proceeded upon the idea that practicing his daily dozen and singing more excessively than accurately would successfully serve as a substitute for intensity of emotion, sincerity of acting. and perfection of pitch. He was loud in his lamentation in "Vesta la giubba" as the clown who found that the triangle provides a sour problem in domestic geometry, but for all his flailing arms and generous gestures his acting carried no conviction, and vocally there wasn't a bit of genuine fire or inspiration. Mr. Scotti, on the other hand, again demonstrated at the outset of the evening that the role of Chim-Fen is as richly and realistically his own against all comers, as he makes the part of Scarpia his in "Tosca," and there was spontaneous fervor in the applause that greeted him after his operatic demise.

Scotti Shuddersomely Sinister has in its favor at the very start a finely effective libretto in Camillo Zanoni's expert adaptation of Chester Bailey Fernald's "'The Cat and the Cherub," so strongly suggestive of a "Limehouse Nights" tale. The score, too, is good theatre, melodious, colorful and constantly intriguing, even if it makes no pretentions to greatness or even individuality, since Leoni has helped himself to liberal portions of Puccini, especially the Cafe Momus scene from "Boheme," and also, quite strikingly, and baldly, to the high violin harmonics from a certain "Lohengrin" Vorspiel of Richard Wagner. But then, Leoncavallo knew his Wagne too, as witness that phrase from the Lament, which is. note for note, out of the first act of "Meistersinger," and the haunting flicker of the Fire Music in the background of Nedda's "Bird Song." Characterization, of course, rather than singing, is the keynote of Scotti's unforgettable Chim-Fen, whose method of love-making relies chiefly upon 1 kidnapping and a hatchet murder. Real Chinese folk may not display emotion, and certainly do not sing like the' characters in this opera.

But for our Occidental eyes and ears it all makes a good, if gruesome and grisly, show, Scotti is always first and foremost in the picture, which last night included a very patriarchal and sonorously sung WinShee by Tancredi Pasero in the role of the Oracle, formerly associated with Adamo Didur; by Nanette Guilford and Armand Tokatyan, as the vibrantly vocal pair providing the limited love interest, by Louis D'Angelo as the merchant, and, by no means least, by little Lyova Rosenthal, as a most amazingly precocious Hoo-Chee, who acted with all the detail and self -possession of any griz- In "Pagliacci," in addition to the stock company style of Mr. Martinelli as Canio, the cast included Giuseppe Danise as a rather stodgy and indifferently Tonio, Editha Flesher as a Nedda who was more agreeable vocally than visually and who wielded her whip in a manner that Mr. Danise may have found too realistic, Giordano Paltrinieri as an effective Beppe, and Claudio Frigerio, who made Silvio one of the brightest bits in the flagrantly routine performance. There was also an amusing donkey, who might have inspired the proverb about mulish stubbornness in his sturdy disinclination either to enter or leave the stage. Vincenzo Bellezza conducted both operas enthusiastically, if not always discrimination, and the chorus sang excellently in both.

AVIATION Timely Notes on Fliers and Flying Fields IN SPITE of the strong wind on Monday Ernie Buehl, of the Flying Dutchman Airport, flew to Sunbury, to repair the plane of C. Allen, inspector for the Aeronautics Branch, Department of Commerce, which had been stranded plane repaired Day. Buehl and Allen Thanksgiving After the made the trip from Sunbury to here in 45 minutes. Frances "Bud" Lieber flew from Wings Field to Princeton, yesterday, with William Mitchell, of Washington. Robert Hoey, of Brooklyn, who received his advanced training at the Flying Dutchman Airport, Somerton, passed his test for a transport pilot's license, yesterday.

Charles Winder, of the Main Line, and James Hunt, of have been enrolled for private, pilot's courses at the William Penn Airport. Albert C. Zollers, who obtained his flying instruction at the William Penn Airport, passed his test for: a private pilot's license. Larry George MacLaurin, of Brook- lyn, an employee of the Keystone Aircraft Corporation, Bristol, has received an airplane mechanic's license from the Department of Commerce. MARRIAGE LICENSES ISSUED L.

Messaro, 1530 8. 9th and Gaspare Parlapiano, 21. 2338 Morris st. Dora Godiek, 22. 1008 N.

43rd and Albert Rappaport. 24. 1008 N. 43rd Katherine M. Smith.

27. 647 Kingsley and George J. Uirick. 31. 3323 Aldine st.

Edna A. Volker, 20. 906 W. Susquehanna and Louis J. Wagenheiser.

19. 3312 N. 13th st. Addie Parker. 24.

7922 Lincoln Drive, and Sidney L. Winter, 40, 937 N. 11th st. Ann Blum, 18. 1608 South and Benjamin W.

Buckle. 26. New York City. Reba Po'ansky. 2406 N.

Natrona and Isadore S. Spector. 22. 2406 N. Nitrona st.

Bernadine Masterson. 21, Colorado Springs. Ralph Pollozza. 24. 6216 Stiles st.

Clara Painter. 28. 4533 Marion and Columbus Taylor. 31. 4533 Marion ave.

Rosen. 23, 5657 Litchfield and Albert B. Salkin. 29. 1020 Sender ave.

Helen Fink. 21, 5036 Fairhill and Walter 0. Reimet. 32. 6429 N.

13th st. Hazel A. Robinson. 27. 34 Preston and Geo ge 55 34 Preston at.

Fa nie Winokur, 20. 2235 N. 320 and Carl Strauss. 21. 1911 N.

30th Katherine La Necchio. 32. 1703 8. Bancroft 9t and Nicola Giordano. 35.

1727 8 lath st. Sophie Glider. 22. 2456 Napa and Max Coo rstein. 23.

3127 W. Page st. Edna Merrick. 30. 943 N.

10th and John Carter, Miriam 35. 725 Noble st. M. Akers. 25.

24. Lambertville, N. and James J. Slack, Lambertville. Popefka.

23. Atlantic City. N. and Joseph Farber. 27.

3901 Marshall st. Roslyn Costner, 25. 2122 Kimball and William Mariner 34. 715 Cambridge st. Sanzare 39.

418 N. 64th and Alfred Leoncavallo. 50. 1738 E. Passyunk ave.

Tillie M. Jackson. 21, 2127 Kimball and James Thompson, 23. 9108 Carpenter st. Rose Bergman 17.

7339 Dungan and Antone Kuhn. 19, 131 Chew st. Josephein Alba, 16, 1911 S. Warnock and Frank Zangaro, 26. Marlton.

N. J. Dorothy E. McConnell. 18.

2415 W. Garnett st. and Russell Herbert. 22. 5824 N.

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