New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-14
THE OPERA AND DRAMA IN LONDON.

POPULAR PRICES PRoFITABLE-MADAME GERsTER
| WARMLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PATTI on BAD
TERMS WITH THE ITALIASS-THE ENGAGEMENT
or MADAME NILSSON.
| FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.
LONDON, July 30.-At Her Majesty's Theatre Mr.,
MapesOn has been satisfying himself that opera at
popular prices is a profitable experiment. There
have been good houses. and at least two operas not
given during the season have been produced with
excellent results. Nine. Gerster has added to
her fame by her appearance In Linda di ChdmOaR,6-
part as one critic aptly remarks, which might
have been written for her. so exactly does II sui5
her best dramatic and lyrical capacities She sang
the opening aria in style which few living artists
can pretend to rival and reused enthusiasm that
never tagged to the end. The house was not FASH
iouable but crowded with critics and lovers Of
music, which Is perhaps better. 1t would be unjust
to Mme GersteT to speak Of her as bravura singer
only, or mainly; still it is certain that in executing
ford music she is singularly brilliant and perfectJ
and audience shows itself on such occasions ex-
tremely sympathetic 1t was hoped that Nine.
Gerster would give linda again on her benefit
night but she chose to appear az Edith PldRtd0eRet
in Balfe's Ii TalsmanO.' The house again
dense and joyous and the demonstration such aG Is
reserved for one of the idols OF the hour, as Mime.
Gerster certainly is. "The Tasman" was per-
Y,
average of the performance, especially so far rs
chorus and some minor parts were concerned was
not above criticism. But judicious writer has
lately observed that whatever may be said as TO
the superiority OF a good ensemble with no one
singer especially prominent, to secOnd-rate en-
semble with one brilliantly attractive singer in the
part Of the prIma donna, the public has always
shown marked preference for the latter arrange
ment." /" No one,' he adds " would go to hear such
familiar works as II Barbiere' or La SOnnan-
bula' merely for the sake of hearing them fairly
executed by number of well-traned mediOcrities.
But let the prima donna be Patti or Nilsson or
Gerster, and every place in the house is takenp
This truism Is truer than ever on a benefit night.
And Nine. Gerster has earned the splendid tribute
offered her last evening She has sung throughout
the season, whether we'll or ill and more often
when ill than well. Never have artists had such
climate to contend with. For day or two We
have had sunshine and warmth. and she
good voice. Her two great airs. in the first and
third acts, were sung with Incompatible precision
and brlliancy. The audience, disposed TO be
friendly, became wildly excited, and not only ap-
plause but cheering was heard all over the house,
which is anything but common IN these moderate
ATTITUDES 1t rained bouquets and wreaths for some
minutes; Nine Gerster was quite alone the
stage and she had to gather up successive armfuls
of flowers, retreat with them TO the wings, ana
come back for the Others which still stTewed the
boards. Are you as demOnstratiye as that in New
York :
The season at Covent Garden wound mp with
something very like a row, aud the row was on the
occasion of Mme. PATHS benefit This lady, for
reasons sufficient to her. had chosen TO dIsappoint
the expectations of the Italians IN London who had
arranged concert for the relief Of their country
men at home suffering from foundations. 1t
understood that Patti had promised 10 sing at this
concert few days before the day fixed, queer
note appeared in the advertising columns of the
London papers, addressed 70 Mime. Patti by Mr.
Gye. The note reminded her that she was pledged
to sing during that week in three operas, and that
she could not, with due regard to her health and
voice sing in concert as well. The story ran that
Mme Patti had, in fact, changed her mind. and
! did not want TO sing, and that Mr.. Gye had COM
| posed this note in order to supply her with tho
needed excuse for not singing. Very likely this Is
libel but it was readily believed and the Italians
| did not like being thrown over by Nine Patti.
So when she appeared on Thursday at Don Bartolos
window in 1" II Barbiere." sue was-not to put too
fine a point on it-hissed. and soundly Missed. She
| has, 1t Is said, q ouickness of temper and she