New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-10
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE PATTI CONCERTS.

Last night AT Steinway Hall Madame Adelina Patti
made her temperance before the New York public
after an absence of more than twepty-one years.
The hall was not crowded, but the au-
dIence compensated for its smallness by the
amount OF en- thusiasm that it displayed. Nothing
could have been warmer than Madame PATHS well
come; and after her first song there came storm
of applause, which grew stronger with each
succeeding number. Not only was there
tho customary clapping of hands and
stamping and pounding of sticks and
umbrellas but the usually cold New-York public
got fairly warmed up for once, and sh outed and
hurrahed and waved hats and handkerchiefs in a
fashion which one is not wont to see here.
Already an accomplished artist when she left us
in 1850, Madame Patti has gone improving and
ripening during all the years of her absence Long
ago she was acknowledged to be the first
of living prime-donne in the Italian
school and no rival has since arisen to challenge
her supremacy Now she returns TO us in the
maturity and in the plentitude of her powers.
Her marvellous voice has lost of its
beauty and her wonderful art is perfect that it is
hard to believe that it could be improved. The test
which Madame Patti was exposed TO last night
was n peculiarly severe one, for two rea-
sons-the first beng her great reputation;
the second the character of the perform
ance. Her fame has been so Astounding, the
descriptions of her singing which have preceded
her. have been so laudatOry that twas almost impos-
slble that disappointment should attend her first
appearance. Moreover, no position is
so trying as the concert stage for one
who is essentially q dramatic singer, whose
triumphs have been won upon the
boards of the opera. How great an ARTIST Madame
Patti really Is was shown last night by
a. r.at hat nat nl
ton of her fulfilled and more than full
filled, but that she succeeded in arousing
her audience to pitch of almost
prccedented enthusiasm, though she was deprived
of the adventurous aids of the theatre, powerful
and so valuable to n purely lyric artist.
The programme presented her in four numbers,
the &" All Fors lui,7 from /" La Traviata"; Home,
Sweet Home; the Shadow Song from Dinovah'
and the terzetto from Z" | lombard" The first of
these was the most satisfactory, for it gave
her a chance to display her sentiments
in the Andante as well in brilliant vocali-
zahon in the Cabaletta; but she was
equally good in all of Them dissimilar as
they are The most striking quality of
her work was perhaps, its superatively artistic
quality 1t was finished refined delicate, impecca-
BILE in the matter of taste and rreproachable in point
of judgment. Every good quality which a singer
and all in the highest degree. When to all
this are added a beautiful voice of great extent,
perfectly even from one end To the other,
noble style and vocalizaton whose brilliancy
may have been equalled, but has not
been surpassed within the memory of this
generation, we have combination of which
it is impossible to speak with too much
warmth. 1t is cold praise to say that
we have had no singer here like Madame Patti, but
il is impossible to describe her merits without
appearing extravagant.
Signor Nicolini, who has a rich, powerful
tenor voice. : sang tho All se ben MO-,
from II Trovatore," with admirable taste and
feeling but no has q vibrato in his voice
which makes his information appear unccr.
tain, and in sustained notes he is apt
to drop the tone, executing curious
sort of "wobble" He sang the caba-
letta C'Di Quella PiraD with great
spirit, but the piece had been transposed and the
magnificent high note which the audience ap-
&, but a b fat. Mime. Theresa Caste-
an rs charming amg +, viSlinist who PLAYED
dainty taste and brilliant execution. The
company,-with the possible exception Of Signor
Pinto, who is useful bass-seems like huge
joke. There were Mile. Hohenschield, q
very young lady, whose voice and whose
style are both uniformed; Signor Salyati,
who gave serio-oomic rendering OF an air from
lie Ro dc Lahore NJ. Leyilly. O. melancholy
baritone, who favored the public with peculiarly