The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-14
Brilliant operate and Dramatic
Promises-Nilsson, Snlvini, Tamber-

Brilliant Operatic and Dramatic
Promiscs-Nilsson, salvini, Tamber-
Xix.
Both American art and American taste have
grown SO rapidly in the last few years that
foreign artists who come to us must be Of the
best to prove acceptable We are no longer
content with 1.-THE of operate promises in
their fulflment When q great singer or a
great tragedian comes from the Old to carry
away the plaudits of the New World he must
bring us something besides great European
reputation. Mario had come to be tradition
among us, through his achievements with
Grisi at the Academy, nearly q quarter Of q
century ago, but when he returned last season
to exhibit the wreck of his remarkable gifts
his coming was as painful to us as to him.
What kindness we showed him was the kind
ness of remembrance. Those who come to us
this season can expect no such indulgence, and
we are not aware that any of them look for
plaudits except those that are we'll earned.
They come to us as artists, and must be judged
from the art standard. We might except Miss
Nilsson from this rule, in SO far as it relates
to forestalling an opinion, for we know her
powers too well to hesitate concerning them.
Of the artists who are to support her we have
led to expect the best ensemble yet seen at the
Academy of Music. The HERALD has always
vigorously opposed the star system in opera,
and consequently it is pleasure to look for
ward to season which promises something
better than o company composed Of only one
artist.
But Miss, Nilsson is, after all, exceptionally
great, and she cannot fail to repeat her tri-
umphs Of two years ago. Her merits as On
artist are universally admitted and admired,
and her voice has never for moment been
impaired. When she went from us before it
was to gain greater triumphs in St. Peters
burg where she shared the honors with Nine.
Adelina Patti. Her successes and her
adventures she makes the topic of
. very pleasant conversation with HERALD
writer this morning, telling us something of
the winter she spent in the bleak capitals of
Russia, and revealing just perceptibly enough
to make it piquant the joy of the artistic life.
After her present season it is not impossible
that she may rest from the severe labors of
the last few years, but in any event neither
she nor her admirers are likely to forget that
America shared in her earliest triumphs.
Miss Nilsson has done much toward the growth
of musical taste in this city, and as the leading
prima donna of the year, in a season when the
honors are to be holly contested by other
artists, she is likely to place the American
public under still greater obligations. In
another fortnight her stately presence will be
seen and her superb voice heard in her highly
idealized creation of Marguerite, in "Faust,"
and it is hardly too much to expect that her
reception will be an ovation. With such an
artist and such support as we are led to ex-
pect the season at the Academy must be
something that will exceed in brilliancy all
the others which preceded it.
We also print the report of conversation
with Sgnor Salvini, the distinguished Italian
tragedian, which has many points of interest;
and with it we publish communication from
highly enthusiastic correspondent who has
often seen Salvini play in Italy. Words of