New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-31
MUSIC.


WORD ABOUT MISS KELLOGG.
A matinee performance of The Barber of
Seville" to day. at the Academy OF Music. will bring to
close OF the most curious musical seasons" which
we have seen in Nev-YOrk for great while Miss cara
Louise Kellogg, when she left last year FOR profess
tonal Europe carried away the good wishes ana
regards OF the entire public We had been slow TO
discover the capabilities Of her voice, or to perceive her
enthusiasm for art her intelligence as an actress ana
the excellent foundation for her future emnence which,
at the outset OF her career had been laid by correct
method Of instruction Her popularity had grown pretty
steadily during tine six years that she had been
singing in Now orknOt bursting out In renzied fits OF
enthusiasm. but merely keeping even pace with the
development of her and the continual progress Of
her culture Except Parepa-Rosa, there had been,
upon the whole no singer since Patti went
away whom We liked much We felt
proud OF her. too. American by birth
and a Ncw-Yorker by education 1t is true never
overwhelmed her with money. Many q time, even after
she had reached the pentude OF her powers used 10
leave the benches halfempty while with excellent sup
port ana all tho needed accessories OF the stage she
tempted us In vain We liked her, yes praised her
with all might but the praise and the liking were OF
rather lofty knd patronized the young songstress
and thought her very promising pupil, and predicted
fine success for her day other. Meantime the
pleasant young voice had rpened by degrees mo so
prano of purity ana truth: the bushng girl had Dc
rome accomplished actress; the graceful singer pau
grown TO be of the 1--WE or six most excehent p"a
donnas i'm the world The change had been wrought 50
gradually that hardly perceived 1t; uht ono iH"'
she sang IN London. and the Cable ndSheu HoW'
10 rs OF the ringing praises OF the English crit
les, and the batteries which were sh""eIeu upo"
tina urknown American girl by the titled cOnnOs-
seprs ~ tbe old world That altered everything OF
course There nothing your fTee-oorn American Vi
certain class respects profoundly as an Englsh oru
and after Miss Kellogg had been made the fashion IN
London shoddy and Petrola outran each other IN de-
ts1o a1, theme
the fashion I'm New-Yor became courers. and
Inkewarm admirers turned into devotees rms was
all very well, 10 be sure. Miss Kellogg IS Charming
singer and an attractive young lady BESIDES only did
not realize it until London told us In the midst how
ever Of the vulcary which made much Of her because
n had been pronounced the arsOcato thing to do and
which crowded about her when she came home not be-
cause what she but because her robes were
scented with the perfumes Of Begravia, there was
n good deal Of honest hearty warm feeling.
good deal Of proper pride in the
success Of country woman and perhaps. far amount
of real musical appreciation. The triumph Of her first
night at any rate complete. The applause was not
purchased from the regular corps nor stimulated by Tree
tickets the flowers were not furnished 10y the managers
the recalls part of the play rehearsed before
hand II the Academy OF Music had contained Thousand
seats more they would all have been sold days before the
openng and though many OF the stockholders with cha
acerisc indifference to the art which their theater was
butto array OF locked and empty
upon the whole of the most brilliant as well as one
of the fullest that we have for long, long while
The assemblage brilliant; but neither ON that nor
any OF the subsequent nights was 1t critical ana most
OF the applause was evidently, personal tribute
rather than an expression OF approval OF the
performance We said at the time that Mss Kellogg
had not Improved during her absence Subsequent hear
ings have confirmed 10 that impression Some OF her
simplicity so charming Of old, has been rubbed on and
no style which is not simple long please the ear or
VI ever touch heart The change as yet sght but
when a singer once falls the sin Of afectaton it is
marvellous how rapid is the decline from bad TO worse
until the end is reached in mere artificial yocaisn
which differs from music almost beautiful piece OF
mechanism differs from living creature. Miss kellogg
often commits the fault Of thinking about the form
OF the music its meaning She sacrifices expression
and that peculiar pathos which hes in perfectly nau
raj style, TO ambition for brilliant execution.
And one effect Of this little failnG-an effect OF
which she probably is uncOnsciOus-is al ap-
parent loss Of power in parts Of many Of her
phrases she saved her mot for passages which
either for musical dramatic require increased
intensity but for those which give opportunities OF vocal
exhibition. This is not true art; the true artist forgets
self the effort to give adequate Interpretation to
grand beautiful idea Miss Kellogg IS an artist in re-
atty and 10 she is good that we make
this minute criticism on fault which is not very appa-
rent and which she may easily correct she will she
has strong hold upon the popular heart but she can
retain 1t only in one way: she must ann mgh, ana
not imagine that the goal OF her career IS reacheu
when she IS made the pet OF the drawingrooms
We think that only small minority of her audiences
have noticed any difference in her, except that
her dresses perhaps unusually gorgeous
and her self-pOssession somewhat assured That her
success her return has been personal and
social rather than artistic is evident from the heartness
with which she has nightly been apIauded in her sing
ing Of "Home, Sweet Home" and the sublime patience
with which her supporting" performers have been
tolerated The song expressed the sentiment which
animated the assemhlage; were heartily glad TO havo
our young prma donna at home again, and It was de-
lghtfu that she glad 10 be with US; but the
song was well sung because 1t not sung simply
And then the Of the troupe There were short
spasms Of excellence be from two OF them;
Lott for instance, the first night played Faust well aud
Petre almost pretty good in the concert the same
evening; but il Miss Kellogg had sung With such COM
pany year she would have sung to an empty house
Asst Is nobody whether these people are
good bad They like the musicians at bail, only
Accomplishments for the entertainment OF the evening