The New York herald., 1879-12-26
MILE. MARIMON'S MARIA.
DEcEMBxR 25. 1879.

DECEMBER 70. 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
There was one point in Mile. Marimon's charming
performance last night which your musical critic
might. think, have fairly taken exception. sup
pose have no business to pass criticisms on mat
ters musical, but made such journey to hear 'La
Figlia last night that feel almost justified in SO
doing (for this occasion only. Lot describe my
heroic struggle. I lectured at Cortland Tuesday
evening; yesterday got up at haf-past three A. M.
from four to quarter past four might have been
seen. it had not been pitch dark. sliding. STUN
bling and occasionally falling the sloppy surface
of trodden snow which covered tho road to the de-
pot
[Mem.-After trying several varieties, incline to
think that. with exception the sippcriest kind
of walking Is over snow which has been trodden
into ice and has then been "washed, well washed in
q shower" The exception is what the French coll
vcrgas Let the rain be falling heavily at the time
the traveller carrying luggage and umbrella. the
time perfectly dark night, the roadway unknown,
and think his happiness is likely to be complete
though brief. Another scientific observation
made-viz.. that a fall or two, under such condi-
tons. chils about efcctually fall into an Ice
cold river. You speak Of mo as descending to
earth now and then. You would have been
sure OF 1t had your editorial eye seen
me yesterday morning This. however. is a
digression]. The New York train was hour and
quarter late at Syracuse. but as 1t reached New
York at quarter to eight, I managed. thanks to q
really businesslike hickman to get to the Academy
!, Of Music some Ave or six minutes only after tho
opera had begun-leaving dinner till latter the
opera over" II l venture, then. to criticse
little point, it must be remembered that had paid
the great songstress q very practical compliment in
the first instance especially shall go West again
to lion. not very far from Cortland. tomorrow.
The point is simply this. Tho song "Chi nacque
al rimbombo" Is. think. one Of the most soul
stirring in existence. Now. it seemed to that
Mile. Marimon sang 1t Is she did not consider it
brightly and-so far execution was con-
cerned-brilliantly but with so little fire that
I did not greatly mind what otherwise
would have been torture to me- the brill
liant runs from fat to @, &c.) which she
introduced into the opening phrases. SO far moro
effective when sung as Donizetu wrote them. By
the way, am wrong; the runs were introduced
where lin my opinion) they were even more COM
pletely out of place-viz IN what (when given with
due re) is the most stirring part of the aria df not
of the whole opera, in my judgment It certainly
isl the repetition of the opening phrases. after the
stringendo passage ION the two words only. "cor''
and ahl) to the noble burst of life and fire in the
words. "Ah viva IL gloria. che vince IL valor'' 1t
has always seemed to me that Tennyson must have
had this splendid passage in his mind when he pic
tured Maud in her garden singing alone. Of death.
and of honor that never dies" If. however, was
disappointed 80 far as this song concerned. ]
must say was on the whole most amply repaid for
my journey. RICHARD A. PROCTOR.