The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-16
From Wilkes Spirit.
NELLIE GRANTS MOTHER-IN.LAW.


ADELAIDE KEMBLE.
The recent marriage OF Miss Nellie Gran
TO Mr.. Algernon Sartoris recalls flood o.
old time memories-not in connection with
either the bride or bridegroom, for both
may be very commonplace kind OF people
but owing to the mother of the latter being
a woman of mark in the artistic world, AIDE
laide, the youngest daughter of the KEN
bles.
1t was in 1841 that the dazzling vocal star
of the English operate hemisphere startled
the musical world of London. Well do we
remem Der her advent it seems o'us but
yesterday.
English opera was in torpid state; all
ATTEMPTS to give it a permanent vitality
were unsuccessful failure had succeeded
failure, owing to the lack of prima donna
capable of replacing Mrs. Wood or poor
Malibran In the estimation of the public
It was then that thrill of expectation
ens1ed in London, when the announcement
that Adelaide, the youngest daughter of the
great Charles Kemble, was about to make
her debut on the lyric stage at Covent Gar
den Theater-that house so intimately con-
nected with all the glories and past trtumphs
of the Kemble family, and the great Mrs.
Slddors.
Fanny Kemble had made her mark as q
most worthy scion ofthe house, as a TRACE
dienne of more than exceptional ability, and
1t only remained for Adelaide, the youngest
and last of the Kembles, to add the remain
ing leaf to the glorious wreath of bays the
Kembes 50 proudly wove.
The event, so eagerly anticipated alike
By the musical and dramatic world Of Lon
don, took place on the evening OF November
81, when the auditorium of old Covent Carr
den was thronged to its utmost capacity
from pit to upper amphitheater- There
were two of the latter in those days, for all
the theater-going world OF the English me-
tropolis felt an interest in anything which
concerned the family Of their tme-honored
idols, the Kembles.
The opera selected for the occasion, and
most wisely 60, considering the characteris-
tics of tie artistic who was to make her de-
but, was an excellent English adoption OF
Bellini's Norma in which Madam Pasta,
the great original. had made so profound a
sensation on the Italian lyric stage. In the
Haymarket, where she also, ON whom Pas ia 8
mantle subsequently fell, Giulia Grisi, the
original AdeIgisa, on the first production of
the opera ia Italy, was then challenging
tfeonc xuit hor a
prototype in all her most renowned roles.
1t was thoroughly well known that Ade-
lAide Kembe had been studying vocalization
in Italy under the best teachers Of the art
1t was equally we'll understood that all the
necessary dramatic culture that could be
Charles hemble, as a matter of course.
Hence perhaps more was expected from her
than tails to the lot of m ost lyric de6utantes.
High as were the expectations INDUCED In,
they were not doomed to be disappointed
on the contrary, they were more than fulfill
ed, for the audience present saw and heard
a truly great and finished artistic, and not q
half-frighteDed and futtering debutante
We well remember the scene, though lone
years have elapsed, the hush that prevailed
Immediately prior to the entrance of Norma
the ringingEngllsh cheers which accompanied
her down the stage to the footlights, ani
would have daunted most debutantes, pu
not her. Grand and stately she advanced
until she had reached them, and there stood
an unmistakable daughter of the Kemblos-
the same classic face and perfect profile
the same well knit form, the same stated,
movement and grandeur O: presence tina
had characterized all her race were taken ii
at glance by all present, and only tended
TO redouble the enthusiasm of the reception
That over, they quietly waited TO see if she
the first of her family who lad troddcn ia
lyric stage. could sing as well as look, an,
evidently was prepared to act the role fsh
was about to attempt. Her delivery of th
grand opening prayer, SO we'll known in til
italian original as "Casta Dlva,' and tn
ensuing cG6alata, definitely and immediatel
settled that question. No customary pie
for youthful inexperience or stage frigh