Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-06
Amusenents.

the wonderful cantatrice, Mile Christina
Nilsson. No wonder the enthusiastic
critic, after hearing her wonderful voice,
was carried away from the cold ATTITUDES
of criticism into the warmer regions of
admiration, where he gave expression to
the following elegant train of thought:
Christina Nilsson is glorious singer, a wo-
man Of singular power and perception. As
| she swept quickly on the stage last night. with
stately carriage. erect figure and firm step, she
asserted her lofty womanhood before uttering
| a note. Her demeanor, at once so selt-pos-
sessea. so gracious, yet so independent, her
manner so engaging, yet SO keenly artistic.
announced to tho spectators that she seeks no
applause that cannot be adjudged TO solid and
| transcendent merit. She is not beauty in
the softer sense of the term. When her face
Is in repose a stern fire CLEANS in her eyes. and
she looks like woman to shine in tragedies
and 10 be approached by a lover in fear and
trembling. But her smile is as bright as sum
mer and as winning as the smile of syren.
She is more dem0nstratiYe than any eminent
concert singer we have ever seen, but not one
glance nor gesture, nor intonatiOn was open
to criticism. She has studied her art deeply,
has sounded IL to the top of its scale. She is
the perfect mistress of all its beauties and in
| tricacies. She stands revealed as singer who
art; it cannot control her nor dictate to her,
nor perplex her, for nature has bestowed
| something that enables her to soar above con-
| yentional points, and to sing even better than
the Imagination sings to the composer.
Those who we're so fortunate as to at
tend the concert last evening can under
stand why the critic was so enthralled
and enraptured as the half sensuous tide
of music rolled on, every selection
creating fresh pleasure. The opening
piece, "Rataplan," by Brignoli and
Verger, and the violin solo of Vieux-
temps were vociferously applauded and
encored; but the entire of the bright
particular star was a signal for an en-
thusiastic burst of genuine applause, and
every eye grew brighter with expectancy
as the queen of song advanced toward
the footlighls. During the evening Mile
Nilsson sang the pieces to which the
programme confined her. " Cavatina,"
from Traviatta; duet, "a Night in
Venice" with Brignoli; " Scena and
Cavatina," from Lucia, with flute obi
cato; and duet with Brignoli, Pargi 0
Cara" These were exquisitely rem
dered by Mile Nilsson, who shaded
every word with poetic meaning. But
her rendition of 1.-THE Old Folks at
Home" was exquisite and wonderful.
AS the conductor touched few notes OF
the piece Christina Nilsson interpreted
its simple but unique melody in
manner that would have made
its author, poor Foster, shed tears
of delight and worship an artistic who
could so illuminate its inner emotions.
The amount of veneration and affection
which she poured into the lines
ooh, take me to my kind old mother
There let me live and die,
=, as overwhelmingly solemn and tender.
a., he Last Rose of Summer r" was an
otbe gem, unequaled and inapproach
ohio Showers of bouquets were thrown
on the stage as offerings to the fail
Swede a, I'd numberless magnolias-tht
floral gem IF the South-dropped around
her at the cl, use of each charming song
vercer n bar. tone of excellence, was
loudly applauded during the evening.
" Come into the Garden, Maad, and
" Good.by, Sweethe art, Good-by," were
exouisitely rendered by Brignoli, that
prince of tenors. Vieuxtemps, the re-
nowned violinist, delighted the audience
with his wonderful instrument. His ex-
ecution of the Arkansas Traveller and
est. Patricks Day was a remarkable
q, .F,ibition of musical skill. At the close
If the concert the delighted audience re-
tired slowly from the opera house, as II
tbov were 10th to leave a place conse-
crotod TO music. Tonight there will be
oom oIete change of programme.
AMONG the gems set down to Mile
Nilsson =, Va be found the Mad Scene
from Ami, ose Thomas, Ham LETT the
"Valso Rim, IT." by Cohen; and the Ave
Maria" of GounOd-a rich musical
feast. which W, u be enjoyed by crowded
bouse. eompos, ID 0. the worth, beauty
and talent of our ia. r city.
LYDIA TnoMp SON. Never was there
so large an aud fence al I'd never was SO
GREAT enthusiasm seen in the Memphis
Theater as last evening. 7, Ne immense
was remarkable, "heh 'ne
amount and character Of the at'rae-
tons at present before the pu, 'lie Is
taken into consideration, and gives wen
grounded cause for the Queen of B II
lesque to feel that she is already 81
firmly seated in the hearts of our people |
that not even Nilsson, with all her ce-
lebrity and novelty, can cast shade
upon her attractiveness. 1t seems as
though she carries a magic wand, which /
at her will gathers the public to her per
formances, and follow her every move
ment as though impossible to be other
wise than pleased with what fits before
them. The company throughout is in
every respect meritorious, and being the
original burlesque organization in this
it has been so skillfully man
aged that, independent Of Miss Thomp- |
son, the world-renowned central figure
IF the company, none other can COM
"a re whit. Such artistes as Mr.. Beck
N Mr.. Edouin and Miss Weathersby, |
re stars Of themselves, and when com
ineG ! are indisputat,ly attractive, so that