DEMOCRACIA
(July 10, 1949)

     DEMOCRACIA: "The Gala at the Teatro Colón consisted of a brilliant performance".

     With the attendance of the president of the nation, his wife Doña María Eva Duarte de Perón (whose presence the audience celebrated with a long, warm ovation), high national authorities, diplomats, military and municipal personnel, the traditional Gala performance commemorating the 133rd Anniversary of Independence took place last night at the Teatro Colón.
     After the National Hymn, sung by the chorus of students of the National Municipal Conservatory "Manuel de Falla", which was listened to by the audience with profound religiosity, a beautiful lyric musical show was offered.
     The program began with the overture and excerpts from the first act of Bellini’s Norma, including "Casta diva" with chorus, which demonstrated the showmanship of soprano Maria Callas and bass Nicola Rossi-Lemeni. Following that, under the leadership of maestro Héctor Panizza, was the scene and "Jewel Song" from the second act of Gounod’s opera Faust, interpreted with elegant display and warm accent by the Argentinean soprano Helena Arizmendi. Finally, under the direction of maestro Tullio Serafin, the third act of Puccini’s opera Turandot was performed. The roles were portrayed with expressive harmony by Maria Callas, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Virgilio Tavini, Mario del Monaco, Helena Arizmendi, Renato Cesari, Roberto Maggiolo, and Carlos Giusti, who gave a new brilliant demonstration of their capacity as singers and interpreters, giving their respective roles notable character by their high artistic concepts.
     The audience awarded the singers and conductors with warm and sustained applause. J.F.

 

 

     DEMOCRACIA: "Gala performance at the Teatro Colón".
    
     The traditional Gala took place last night at 21:00 in the Teatro Colón. The president of the republic arrived at the coliseum accompanied by his wife Doña María Eva Duarte de Perón, and was escorted by a squadron of the regiment of Grenadiers. At the entrance of the theater, they were received by the municipal intendant, Dr. Emilio P. Siri, and the ceremonial chief of state, Ambassador Raúl Margueirat. The president went directly to his box, where he sat surrounded by the minister of war from Brazil, the commander of the North American forces in the Caribbean, and the ministers of his cabinet. Señora de Perón, accompanied by the wives of the members of the foreign missions and government dignitaries, occupied one of the principal boxes. The performance began with the National Hymn sung by the student chorus of the Municipal Conservatory "Manuel de Falla", conducted by maestro Héctor Panizza. Then the singers Maria Callas and Nicola Rossi-Lemeni performed the "Casta diva" scene from Bellini’s opera Norma, conducted by Tullio Serafin. The young soprano Helena Arizmendi sang the "Jewel Song" from Gounod’s Faust directed by Héctor Panizza, and following that, Tullio Serafin conducted the third act of Puccini’s Turandot.

     A tribute to the president and his wife: As usual, during the intermission, the municipal intendant toasted the president of the republic, his wife, and the guests of honor with a glass of champagne. When the chief of state left the theater, a great number of people gathered at the plaza Lavalle and the adjoining streets of the coliseum, repeating the applause and acclamation that had saluted General Perón and his wife upon their arrival.