National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-04
MADEMOIsELLE TITIENs.
An Hours Gossip with the Lyric Queen.

CFrom the Spirit OF the Times, October 81
It was close on twelve years since we last had
thehonor Of seeing her, when we stood shaking
her hand cordially on Wednesday afternoon.
THETA time We met was at christening feast
giving some ten years ago By Signor Arditi the
popular composer and leader Of the orchestra in
Her Majesty theatre, who had become the happy
father Of little black. eyed girl, to whom Giulia
Grisi stood godmother.
We recalled the meeting to MademoIselIe.
"Ah!" she said, ST remember It. Poor, poor
Grisi! she looked SO well that night. Who would
have thought she was to die 80 soonP"
"Do you know, Mile. Tltiens, that have known
her predecessor, Pasta"
"You! impossibleI' she exclaimed. "You are
too Youngr
81 knew her at Como for about two years before
she died. She was very old, but still fine look
ing, and very interesting to talk with"
"Tell me all about her," interrupted Mile.
Titiens eagerly. 81 always like to hear about
Pasta, because, you see, am considered her sue
cessor. Did she sing to your
"Yes," answered Critic. 1.-THE voice was gone,
but the method, the taste, the grand art of de-
clamation, all that remained. l asked her to
sing, and she sang A Duel Griorno, and shall
never forget the supreme expression she threw
the great art. You see singing is In reality only
vocal defamation. Nine. Pasta did not accom-
pany herself, did she?"
"Ns more do 1. When I was very young 1
played on the piano very well indeed, but when
began to sing lett OH playing, because the prac-
one cannot do oneself justice when one sings to
ones own accompaniment. DO you know Pasta
that when he visited her at her villa at Como he
took her for a servant, and asked her to show
him over the house and grounds, and after he had
seen all there was to be seen, he gave her franc
and went away under the impression that Madame
was not at home. Imagine what his feelings
were when he called again and found out his
ave Also" observed the critic, "took your IL.
lustrious predecessor for peasant. When We
first saw her she was gathering nectarins, and
was barefooted, and wore big straw hat on her
head, like a contadina. She undecoived US, how
ever; very soon. She !, was great artist -
yet, would you believe it, her voice was not good
and she often sang out OF tune, still she was
perfect mistress Of the art of defamation, and
artistic emphasis and skill, that her defects Of
information we're hidden by her mastery art. i
tell you the truth, when say that you can count
the singers who understand defamation, on your
fingers, and, without 1t, defy any one TO become
perfect as an opera singer. You see these young
singers now. days will not even take the trouble
to study the full meaning of the words OF the
Iecitatiye, or OF their songs, for the matter Of
that"
"Precsely what Pasta told me. "a song,' said
she, is q dramatic recitation, only, instead OF
speaking, you sing 1t. II Il is cheerful, you must
:
If tragic. with all the dignity you can command,
only be careful not to exaggerate.'"
"Yesr' observed Mile. Titieps, ''but our young
singers are not careful of anything. 1 have seen
scores OF them make their de6uis in London and
Paris, and after night or SO one heard no more
Voice is persuaded by her friends that she is to be
star Of the first magnitude. They send her to
Paris and Milan, where she Is crammed, as it
were, with one or two parts, Amina and Lucia, for
instance. These she does In q sort of of-hand,
dashing way, which easily deceiyes the public on
first hearing: She makes her debut, and It Is pro-
nounced good, and the friendly press puifs her up
to the skies. Presently she is cast for part.
In nine cases out of ten she cannot even read the
knows absolutely nothing but the merest smstter.
ing Of the art Of singing, which, assure you, is
one Of the most dificult,and one which certainly
DID not learn, Ike some OF our young cotempora-
The truth Of these last observations was 50 self.
yentured to say" ado you not think, Mile. Ttfens,
that the lack Of good singing masters has great
deal to do with this state Of affairs ?"
"Of course It has / do not know Of any real
great singing master OF the old school in Europe
now. There are some who are pretty good, but
none eminent as were, for instance, Romanf and
sing but now to preserve your voice, and even, as
you have related in your account to Pasta, to pro-
cellence of the defamation. l hold the italian
school Of defamation to be the greatest In the
world cgkL. Did you ever see salVini'"
"You admire him. of courseP"
"Admire~ cried Medemoiselle, her bright eyes
fairly sparkling with enthusiasm. admire hlmI
indeed, indeed 1 do. He is grand. You have no
idea what q sensation he made In London, You
could not get q ticket for love or money unless
you bong hit IL o week beforehand. Then he was
SO personally beloved. He Is 20 amisble and
"That know to be the case, having had per-
soDally many proofs Of his kindness"
"Whyr' cried Mademoiselle, she seemed to find
time TO do hundreds OF people kind turns. 1t
graphs he was requested to put his name to by
schoolboys and girls, and grown-up people, too,
for the matter OF that. Do you know, almost
cried when saw his grief in Othello, It seemed
90 natural. All he Is great artist"
.'Did you ever see Rossi2"
"Oh, yes; and be, too, is very grand In his way.
They tell me ne has vastly improved Of late I
hope to see him again here"
"And Irving do you like his acting?n
~ never saw him as Hamlet. l have seen his
Richelieu and his Philip, and both are excellent
favorites.n
.Did you hear Mile ChspuyPn we next asked.
"Yes, she is wonderfully finished singer, and
one Of the most successful debutantes last season.
She is . very nice person also Her voice is not
powerful put very sympathetic"
"Ob, what dear little thing; she is so sweet.
Her voice, her person and herself are all three
lovely. Her singing Is not yet perfect, but she Is
so charming that one forgets her defects In ones
admiration for her good qualities"
"She is great fsvorite in England. and 10 her
line of character is very admirable. Her voice Is
OF the class we. may call, with some truth, Pitt
nominal: played oltruda 70 her Elsa IN Lonen-
deed the best tenor We have now, Was Lohengriu
The opera, with this cast, was very successful,
much more so than Il was at Covsnt Garden,
"Mme. Trebelli was to have come with you, was
"shs did not dare leave her parents. who are
I