Philadelphia Plenty

Manhattan and Chicago each have one permanent opera company (see pp. 52 & 54). Philadelphia has three. Last week all three began the season. The Philadelphia Grand Opera Company, under new Conductor Emil Mynarski, presented Carmen in French with Sophie Braslau. The Philadelphia Civic Opera, under Conductor Alexander Smallens, gave Prince Igor in Russian with a Russian cast and ballet. The Pennsylvania Grand Opera gave Boito's Mefistofele in Italian. Most interesting to watch this year will be the Philadelphia Grand Opera, which begins its first season in cooperation with Mrs. Edward Bok's Curtis Institute of Music.