National Republican., 1877-02-09
MISS EMMA ABBoTT's DEBUT In NEW
YORK.

hOfth.
The New York Times Of yesterday Publishes
the following account OF Miss Abbott's debut
on Wednesday evening, which, In view OF the
young prima donna's appearance at Lincoln
Hall, in this city, on Wednesday night, will
doubtless interest the public az
Miss Emma Abbott, young American song.
before the public for many months, made her debut
IN the presence Of an American audience, yester.
day evening. Tho event occurred at ChIckerng
pleasant to record that 1t was at all points sue
cetsill. The announcement of It's success In
mir brought agreeable disappointment % to m many ny
thoughtiul persons without rehearslng, even
iaeOniealiy, the story Of Miss Aobctt,s woes,
that, BY well-int ended effort TO describe her as
amartyr to English jealousy and to her abhcr.
narrowly escaped runns her career. That Miss
Abbott's future since last nights performance,
hai taken on brightness u did not appesr likely
and positive talent. A mere debutante could
never have met public approval In the face Of the
irgy, Miss Abbott's admirers claimed SO much
ior her that nothing short Of uncommon excel
fence Sa wa; likely to render her acceptable The
not not only strong, but that ut J. was wrought
particular pii eoquenee in her Behalf Ss Miss Abbott
Is unqaestionably the most promising American
tOnRttress tnAt mas trOu the stage tnese ~ years.
Wesay promising, not to suggest the existence
simply IN rseSsaslon q iSSsSS Ssr sSqsS "hss isaSas
apparently studied considerably, and to good
purpose. She is most fortunate, in the hrst
power, which has been made as equal through
out its compass as II is strong and pure. Tho
full toneis Of perfect roundness and penatrative
force, and the mezsa poee Is of delicious quality.
possession Of this sort is halfthe battle prlma
donna has TO wage, and hence Mis-, Abbott
Is not fauitiess, Her phasins Of italian music is
sometimes Questionable, for she has not yet ae.
Ss,rssd absolute control Of the art q man managing
what htful. But time and familiarity with the
platform and footlghts will correct these defects,
ton Oi tSs litasH IAN tongue sS'' no, wholly % exempt
aS from nas,ality. s,y In addition to the gltt Of q
WARMTH and @ espresTsnsss Of no ordinary
kind. These win be especially apparent in
opera, but they were never out q sight during
legitimate weapons OF combat in tho concert
room, they certainly conduced largely TO the
Miss % About won t Victory yn To which nj no % othei
word than thi. can with fairness bo applied. The
c9Idiality Of the greeting was quite o., Sutdons by
from "Robert," and, aside from ono or two lapses
she breathsd in the very middle Of the word pisis
she interpreted the sweet and plaintlve music
with real feeling and q freshness and richness Of
skill into lyric art. A stormy encore brought about
delivery Of one Of Sulliyan's songs-"Looklng
Back" we believe is Its title-this piece anording
the audience notably good opportunity OF admir-.
ing Miss Abbotts half fyoice; and, In Difference to
q third recall, the lady had to return and sing
"Home, Sweet Home" We were not as favora-
bly, Impressed by Miss Abott's ballad singing as
BY her Interpretation Of italian dramatic music,
but the sentiment with which the English songs
were rendered was too genuine not TO be effective,
and the plaudits were literally tempcstuous. In
the second part OF the programme, the debutante
sang 'Ah non ere dea" and "Ah! non giunge,"
from la Somnambula;" In response to an encore,
she supplemented these excerpts from Bolllni,s
opera by within mile Of Edinboro' town."
ing, with Signor Ferrantl, the "RataplAn"
duett from LA Eglia del Regglmento" Tho
andsnte from ia Somnambula" was given with
infinite taste, but we were not so we'll pleased
with the rondO; Miss Abbott 10 clearly o dra-
matte prima donna, and should sedulously avoid
and the yivacty Of the aetingfor at this stage Of
events the songstress did not attempt to restrain
her dramatic cimpulses-more potent even than
| the vim Of the singing, was followed by q scene
Of enthusiasm not paralleled In the concert-room
| for years. Besides the cooperation OF Slgnor
| Ferranti, Miss Abbott had that Of Slynor Brig:
noli, who was in excellent good condition. and
| Mattei's lovely "T'amo," which was nearly
| spoiled by Its accompaniment by two additional
and wellknown compositions; and that OF Mr..
| W. r, Case, Q young pianist who has Just gradu-
| ated At the Paris COnservatore. Mr.. Case has
plenty technique and Is not deficient In taste, but
he was 50 nervous, last evening that NO estimate
Of his talent can with justice BIO gotten from his
| American debut. Mr.. Maretz"k directed the
| orchestra. The second concert Of the series oc-
| ours TO- morrow night,