Music: Colon Record

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With a small roster of singers and a curtailed repertoire, the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires opened last June its temporada grande (big season), which corresponds both in climate and in social brilliance with the winter seasons of U. S. operas. On its two greatest drawing cards the Colon could not retrench; immediately after the successful 1931 season it had signed contracts with Tenor Giacomo Lauri-Volpi and Coloratura Soprano Lily Pons. But there was no cause for regret. When Lauri-Volpi departed last month he flung exuberantly to the Argentine internal loan fund 50,000 pesos ($12,500), half of his season fee. Pretty Lily Pons got more: $27,000 for the season. Her Lucia and Lakme spellbound the critics, brought the scalpers as much as five times the box office price. No less did the svelte Pons figure and dark Pons lashes please the Argentinians. Last week, day of her final performance, the box office queue began at 6 a. m. When the last peso was counted the receipts totaled $7,000, breaking even the Buenos Aires record of the late great Enrico Caruso.