New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-07
Music.

Mr.. J. A. Dawson, the young pianist, who
has been for time in NewOrlean5, has lately
turned to this city.
Rossini's "Othcllor has been revived at
Drury Lane with Nilsson rs DesdemOnC. The Ahen9ua
says of the performance
de Nilsson the most ambitious as well as She most
lealous Of prime GOnne She recos before difficulties
however formidable. and. must confess. spares
pains to insure Since her drst coming among
u.s. has accomplished than has been effected by
any other artist in recollection in the space
time. Coming straight from secondclass Paris opera
house. the Theatre Lyrque where her reputation had
been chiefly made in the lighter works OF light sopranos
repertoire she lost no time IN extending the of her
activity, She gradually essaved her powers in ser
ventures, never failing to impress her indyidu
ceeded in suhduing her facile To the dignity of
Handels muse Setting out with utter ignorance, We
believe Of the great Anglic1cd Saxon she speedily
came the most conscientious exponent OF the OratOri0
music wherein England alone delights week ago She
for the first time realized to the life the superb Countess
Almaviya, imagined by Mozart; aud she has added
the trying character OF Desdemona 10 her gallery or
striking portraits This Is the most difficult feat she has
yet accomplished. We make account OF her fulfilling
the general ideal OF Shakespeare heroine Desdemons
is popularity supposed TO DC fair, the assumption that
in Joining contrasts eth loves delight whence it fol-
lows that the sable Moor should have blonde bride
Mde Nilsson calnot well do otherwise than ulhl this
physical condition. nor can she be other than graceful
gentle and refined. On these outward re
not lay great stress But we do consider it
remarkable that an artist trained in the small arts
practced by modern French masters should readily
have assmilated the traditions of by-gone and holder
school, To say that Mdle Nilsson delivers the long
snian TRADES with the deliberate emphasis and strongly
marked accent OF the great singers Of the last generation
would he to Oyerstae the 1t Is much that diff
cultes ntrcacies amiss to her pliable we'll
skilled voice III not 10 the manner born all the Is
II to her credit that she has acCmazed herself read
lily In fine, II ~ long since have heard the Ori.
through the medium OF which Desdemona pours out her
passion and despair arcuated with such fluent correct
ness have heard the tender grace OF the will
low song-he only point in the opera where Rossini
touches inc Pialhnyeness OF ailpotent Shake
thing could restore the popularity Of "OtelO"
II would be Mdle. Nelson's DeSdemOnd. This consum-
nation Is scarcely TO be hoped for From beginning TO
end the opera Is one stream OF living melody enriched
by all the changefu effects OF light and shade and color
that be thrown by full clear harmones and many
tinted orchestral devices. The purely musical interest
OF the work never hags and yet rises
hearing OF OtelO" without some Of assAude and
disappointment The fact is that cannot helm being
impressed by the unreality OF Rossinis workmanship
compared o. Shakespe1re's. With the best will i'm the
world we cannot dissociate the two "makers" can
look upon the Italian dditOrc except as rddutfOrc
of the English poets meaning, Tor this reason the gen
orally excellent Performance Of Tuesday not Hkiy Ia
be followed ny many others yet 1t Is well worthy QI
| being often reheafd,