In San Francisco

The San Francisco Grand Opera Association, well scrubbed politically and artistically, gave last week in the Civic Auditorium the first of twelve performances that will make up its fourth annual season. Martha was the happy choice, had worthy treatment by the imported principals, the domestic chorus. All praise went to Musical Director Gaetano Merola who conducted. Otto H. Kahn was there, guest of Robert I. Bentley, head of the local organization, spoke, as is his wont, said in effect what he has said many times before, that the time will come before long when great and now frequently wasted U. S. opera talent will have its full opportunity in a circuit of organizations producing the masterpieces of music drama all over the U. S.