The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-03-23

| the Senate chamber and the House. in tn
Capitol ct Albany, in Tammany Hall, and In |
little retfret niche In some Of the department.
in Washington
| Close Of the Opera scason-Amerfcan
Prime Donnc NJ Home and Abroad.
The opera season closes to-day with o ma
tree, at which Fra Diavolo will be given In
this opera two Americsa prime dome appear
We have now SO many native operate artisGss
that we can send several abroad, while retain
ing large number to delight us at home.
Europe has just begun to give us gold again,
and we give In exchange the best music0l
notes as well as the bonds OF the best govern
ment ON earth. Adelina Patti has all the Euro
pean capitals at her feet Carlotta Patti, who
sings only in concerts, makes kings pay dearly
for the privilege of hearing her beautiful voice.
Apropos Of this, we published In our news
columns yesterday curious story about the
Elector Of Hesse. The Grand Chamberlain
of this petty prince applied to Ull-
mann, who has charge Of Carlotta Patti, to
admit the Elector free to the court box.
Ullmann sturdily refused, saying that If the
Elector wished to hear Patti he must pay his
money like anybody else. aWell," retorted the
Grand Chamberlain, "the Elector owns all the
gas in Cassel, and if You don't let him In free
he will turn out the lights" "Let him do that"
retorted Ullmann, "and we'll sing in the dark"
When this Napoleonic reply was reported to
the Elector he laughed, shrugged his shoulders
and observed, "Ullmann is ill-mannered, but he
pleases me. We will pay" The results of the
story were most brilliantly lighted theatre
and . crowded house.
The fact that this country has produced at
least eleven prime doruse during the compare
lively few years that the Opera has been estab-
lished here is complete justification Of the
musical taste Of our people. Some of these
artistes have been very successful abroad;
others have been greater favorites here than
their merits deserve; but all have been more
or less creditable to the country. Adelina
Patti, Madame Van Zandt, Adelaide Phillips,
Madame Whiting-Lorini, Carlotta Patti, Miss
Lucy Simons, Madame Guerrabella, Miss Kel-
logg, Miss Laura Harris, Miss Morensi and
Madame Hinckley-Susini make up, on the
whole, brilliant list of names. Although
Italy might produce much greater artistes than
some Of these, yet it would require at least .
century for Italy to produce 80 many. We
have brought out eleven prime dome In less
than quarter Of century, and have dozen
more in training for the stage. Upon these
fresh voices the European capitals must rely
for their singers, since The transatlantic critics
are already acknowledging that no young
singers Of any tsient ere to be found In the art.
mars of Europe. The sensation which Patti
| has created proves the truth Of this confession
Some women are always young; but European
prime dome are not Of that class; and the Cock.
neys, the Parisians, the Spaniards and the Ger
mans all hail Patti as an operate Venus just
risen from the Atlantic to WELD sceptre 70
| which there seemed no heiress-apparent.
| 1t II true, however, that equality, not guam
tity" Is the rule In art Judged by this rule
the American prime dome are astonishingl,
successful; for out Of the eleven names befor'
US the majority are really distinguished Hinck
leySusini, q most pleasing singer, Is dead; ant
the recent deceass Of Madame Whiing-Lorin
has hushed one of the purest and sweetest ant
most cultivated Of American voices. Adelin'
Patti Is genius. Her singing and her acting
alike excel criticism. Carlotta Patti, whom I'm
kind Nature has confined to the concert room
has fine voice, trained like vocal acrobat +
accomplish marvellous tours de force. Mr.
Van Zandt has a magnificent organ and q
equally magnificent execution. She is not
great actress; and neither Is Miss Kellogg, no
any Of the other American ariistes, except Patt
But her singing is delicious, ravishing, superb
II reminds us of Persiani. In any Of the Euro
pean capitals she could readily obtain q
engagement and create Juror. Adelaid
Phillips is also great artistic. She wa
very successful in Europe; but since her retur
she has sung but too seldom In public. M,
rensi has an excellent contralto; but It sad
needs careful cultivation. Two years in Ital.
or ia same time spent here under the tuitio
of such masters as Abella, Barill-who fri
instructed Van Zandt-Muxio or Maaznch
would make Morensi perfect Thus out Of
list Of nine living American prime dome W
have at least FIVE who can justly claim pre-em
nence In art, while the two who have left U
had already established delightful reputation
The four driistes who remain to be considere
are Madame Gucrrabella, Miss Kellogg, Mis-
Lucy Simons and Miss Laura Harris. Madam
Guerrabella Isl powerful actress; but we hear
her sing under certain disadvantages, to whic
IL is not necessary TO refer, and she now seem
to have withdrawn from the lyric stage for th
present. Miss Kellogg has been well trained
but her voice does not grow stronger wit
training. 1t is parlor voice. Peopl
at the Academy complain that they cannc
hear her. So pretty singer might be bette
appreciated in a much smaller hall. To Mir
Lucy Simons-who is to become Madam
Muzio before her tour around the world-w
have not had the pleasure Of listening in Oper'
and therefore we cannot speak Of her.. Mis-
Laura Harris has surprising facility Of exec,
ton, but no strength Of voice, and Is create