Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17
Miss May, the American Prima Donna, In
Paris.

An American cantdtrlce is rising on the mu-
sical horizon, says the Paris correspondent of
the Philadelphia North american, and to Judge
from present efforts, bids fair to shed abroad
no faint light, when she attains to her MONDAY
attitude; or, in more appropriate language, to
make her roulddes and forctuye heard some
day far and wide. Miss May is the name of
this American swan, or nightingale, which
ever appellGtion the lady most delights in-a
songstress not unknown, if am rightly in.
formed to the musical world Of Philadelphia,
and now Just returned with renewed inspira-
ton, from Italy, from the land of song itself,
where primo tenores Of the Fe1goia and 4pol.
lonicon have almost quarrelled who should sing
d,ios with the fresh soprano from the far West.
1t was, suppose, the still lingering impulses
of Italian sky, and air, and feeling, which aided
Miss May to throw off with so much expression
aud brilliancy the "Casta DipG" and "Di Pa
uer"-those exquisite "reminiscences Of Grisi
in her young days-in the salons Of your for.
mer townsman, Mr.. Walsh; where, may it be
permitted me 10 observe en paSSdat, the French
soree OF politer times, the old, elegant, high.
bred sairee of former days, before it was dis
figured into an imitation of the vulgar English
"roHt"--a fitting name, truly, for crowds where
people go to show their clothes for want Of wit
seems to have established one Of its few re-
naming places Of refuge and to be eagerly fol-
lowed by some Of the elite Of the American and
Parisian society of the capital. Such an audi.
ence Miss May delighted last week with a dis
play Of her now cultivated vocal powers upon
the difficult pieces have mentioned, as well as
upon several others equally irving. Her voice
is a ibe soprano, of great power, volume, and
composs, and the in1exiblity Of which, natural
more or less to such qualities, she appears to
have completely conquered, and brought il, by
severe training, under complete command
Perfect ease, selfpossession, and confidence Of
power, give great effect to Miss Mays style of
singing, while her early instruction in sound
ecclesiastical and classic music of the old
school has impaired that soSteHuto power so
sareiy met without those who have sung only
the music of Bardi or Beliui. Perhaps-for
word Of criticism must be thrown in lest ap.
pear to be penning only an elogy-perhaps
Miss May has something yet 70 learn OF the
finished graces ofstyle suited to the salon. She
sings, and chases her pieces as though accus-
toned TO larger locale, as, for instance, a
church, and has not yet attained the faculty Of
moderating her powers with tie delicacy Of feel.
ing we are accustomed to in such old favorites
as Madame Sabatier and others of our favorite
concert singers. But the transition is easy
where there are power and taste, and of her
possession OF these attributes, Miss May has
given us ample testimony. sincerely hope
that when she revisits the shores Of America, she
may be received with the eciot Of a stranger"
while at the same time she disarms all animos.
ity, even that of the Know nothings themselves,
by the display Of her native talent.