At Ravina

At Ravinia

An opera unfamiliar to Americans was presented by Louis Eckstein's Chicago summer-company at Ravinia Park, Ill. It is in one act, consumes only 40 minutes' time, was composed by M. Felix Fourdrain, and was first performed at the Opera-Comique, Paris, in 1907. It is called La Legende du Point D'Argentan. The story. The hamlet of Argentan has been famous for its point-lace, of which the secret design has been lost. For this design, the local seigneur, wishing to present a magnificent robe to the Queen of France, has offered a handsome reward. In the village dwells a beautiful damsel, Rose-Marie. Her parents are very, very poor--in fact, the family starves, so Rose-Marie prays for help. As she rises from her knees, there is a knock at the door and the Wandering Woman, a mysterious figure, enters. She is well treated, adds her prayers to those of Rose-Marie. The secret is accordingly revealed, and Rose collects the reward of virtue, piety and poverty. The music. The libretto offers but scant opportunity to the dramatic composer. There is little agitated action, no clamor, no shooting. Consequently the music is calm, unruffled, graceful, cleverly scored. While it cannot touch Olympian heights, it remains colorful and suave. The performance. Ina Bourskaya, as the heroine, injected as much warmth into her role as it could hold, presented what is called an "appealing" figure. Leon Rothier carried dignity and power to the figure of the beggar-father. Thalia Sabanieva, timid in her acting, sang with a certain restrained charm. Louis Hasselmans conducted. It was all rather weak tea, but nicely refreshing as Summer outdoor fare.