Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-14
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
Celebrated Singers Of the age.
MRS. SALMON

mad lavisheu upon her voice extensive, sweet
and powerful, with warbling Aexbity never
exceeded by art. Her tones were not only pure,
but rich; and the manner in which she threw
them out gave them liquidity that STEPPED the
ear with delight. Her voice partook more Of the
powers Of an instrument than Of singer, espe.
cially when uashacklel by words, 10 which, in
fact, she paid but little attention.
Her object was tone, with execution, and in
this respect she surpassed every other perlormer.
Her voice had all the colour Of the rainbow. and
her great faculty was that of adapting the colour
OF her tones to the notes she had to perform: ma
turally warm, her notes had refulgent glow:
yet she could cool them do"n to the mild ray Of
moonbeam.
Depending upon these superior gifts, she was
careless TO fault in her mode Of using her
words; in this respect she was more to be cen.
sured than admired Her power of sustaining
note was remarkable; and The neat manner in
which size recovered her breath, was an example
to all singers Her exec ution was delicate and fe.
licitous; and her fancy unbounded That beautl.
full ornament. thu shade sparkled III her voice
with all the luslre Of a diamond; and though la
wish in the use Of It, she never abated the first
sensations of delight. She introduced second
rate song of Handel's, From mighty Kings
which she sung with such dazzling effect, that
she made it always the prime object Of the feast.
Whatever she adopted, 10 one presumed to touch
such was the charm Of her voice, and the ma
gc Of her powers!
GRASSINI
Was the first ffma'e singer who appeared on
the Italian theatre with contrato voice, that
part having been previous y sustained by men,
Her tones. though purely feminine. were sonew,
that they were received with distrust: anu some
! -
cied to voice which they Thought greatly ton
low for woman. Her compass did not exceed
ten notes, from 4 in the bass TO Gin The treble;
but such was their rich and mellow quality, that
they formed a new species Of delight IN the vocal
art. Her pathos and feeling became the more
evident when contra sted with the cold and f1uty
tones of Ellington. She was BEAUTIFUL and
graceful; aud her acting was superior to all those
who had preceded Ser From the introduction
Of Grassini we may date one OF the greatest i'm
pro, ements in the opera, that Of the dUetto for
female voice, in which Rossini has shown such
exquisite aud Incompatible taste
MADAME CATALINA,
The most splendid vocalist Of the aye, made her
appearance in this country 1866. and such was
her extraordinary power ct vince, that it said
Place her at tie top Of 81. Pau's. and she will
be heard at the Opera House Ia compass it ex.
tended from A in the bass TO IN alt, every note
Of which was as firm az the tone Of trumpet
Her middle voice, when subdued, possessed a
quality of tone that was delightful: the notes e,
and B being produced in IA way similar to the
tone we make III laughing
The force ot her execution was extraordinary;
she would run through the scale ot semitoues
with the rapidity Of lightning, and jump back
again over two octavcs at once. Her soul was
full of music. and her energy 50 great, that she
sustained the whole weight OF the opera through.
out season, driving every other competitor from
the stage As musician she wa, below mednc-
ritz, possessing scarceiy the kn"w'edse Of third
rate performance; but BY a quick perception
aud senslollily. she concealed these defects even
from the learned
Her figure was elegant and commanding, and
her face could assume terrific aspect, ur tie
most captivating smiles As an actress she was
eminenty great; and, a. tr--etian. i"l' of
grace and dignity. With these ~pj,rJ,d Its
she debased the Opera dpnug r,r feaa 1.-the
lowest degree; for 50 leroA lyaJeI So, g. audi
ence with her individual vocal powers, ioat she
was permitted to mangle and cut up the hnest
compositions to serve as mere vehicles TO exhibit
her extraordinary powers Soon after her arri-
val she acquired sufficient knowledge of our Ian.
guase, TO repeat the words of Rule Britannia
aud God save the King. which size sang at Eng.
Iish Theatres. and at all he music meetings. with
a power Of vice That overwhelmed every instru.
mpnI in the orchestra.
RONZI.
Madame RoDzi de Begins appeared IN the year
1921, when the stage was occupied by Campo
reese and Belochi; and it has been said of her. in
the terms Of Burke, ssureiy never alighted on
the stage, which she was destined to adorn, so
beautiful a v,sion.' 1t is not within the design
Of these essays to describe every star which has
risen and set but those only of the first magni,
tude. Canporese claimed attention more BY
that genuine grace which her rank and station in
life gave her, than BY her merits as singer; and
Beiiocbi, deficient in this. maintained her place
only BY the truth and soldity OF her vocal power.
But on Ronzi. nature had avisbrd all her excel.
lencies. With an arch and beautiful face, and
slender voice, she executed every thing with all
the neatness and ready precision OF the oboe.
Her comic powers were finely shown in those