Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-09
miscellaneous.
An American Girls Debut at the Grand
opera, Paris.

opera, PaPiS.
To any of US who are genuinely inter-
ested in the progress made By American
students of art and music in Europe. there
is a strong and peculiar interest attached
to the debut of an American girl on the
stage of the Grand Opera OF Paris-an in
stitution. the approaches to which are
guarded with jealous care from the intru-
sion of any performer not OF French ma
tionality, or at least educated by French
professor And when Miss Lillian Nor
Ion-known by her stage name OF Mile
Nordico-first signed her contract with
the manager of the Opera, there were
many persons. even among her own
countrypeople, who doubted If she would
ever be suffered to make her debut. For
the Paris Opera is national instl-
tuition; it is supported by the State at a
cost Of $50, 900 per annum; it is the am-
bition OF every French singer to appear
upon its boards; and it is the theatre, on
whose stage the winners of the first prize
for sicging at the Conservative are priv
LEGGED 10 make their debut. This was
the case with Miss Griswold, the only
other American who ever sung at the
Grand Opera. She received her musical
education at the Paris Conservative. and.
when she won her first prize. she was en-
titled by the character of the establish
ment, to make three appearances at the
Grand Opera. But with Miss Norton the
case was very different No tie, either of
birth or training linked her 20 France, and
the strong French jealousy aganstthe intro
duction of foreign element into theatres
of the State had, in her case. an uncheck-
ed sway That the young artistic was able
To overcome so potent and adverse element
is conclusive evidence of her remarkable
talent, even if such evidence had not been
rendered needless by her marked success
on the 18th of July, when the sympathet-
ic. but much personated character of Mar
querite, in Faust she made her first
appearance before Partisan audience.
The ordeal was trying one, even to
Young prima donna, with the plaudits of
the audience of St. Petersburg and Milan
sill ringing in her ears. 1t was very try
ing to Miss Norton, who has all a true
artists diffidence respecting her own pow
ers. The house was crowded to its utmost
capacity, despite the midsummer season.
and the absence of most of the hdbttues
of the Opera from Paris. French audien-
ces never give to a>performer what is tech
nically known in stage parlance rs re
ception''-namelv, round OF applause
on his or her first appearance; so 1t was
in the midst of silence so intense as to be
actually terrifying. that Marguerite made
her first appearance upon the stage. The
personal appearance of Miss Norton told at
once in her favor. Tall and graceful, with
soft brown eyes, profuse chestnut brown
tresses, lovely and expressive mouth and
Informed brow, she presents a very
charming realization of a tender and wom-
anly style of beauty. The first favorable
impression was deepened and confirmed
by her admirable rendition of the opening
phase II am no lady, neither am fair"
etc. which literally brought down the
house and from that moment the success
of the new Marguerite was a fixed fact.
She sang very charmingly in the garden
scene, though her vocal powers were half
paralyzed by stage-fright; and she was
enthusiastically recalled at the conclusion
of the act But it was in the church scene
that her greatest triumph was achieved.
The natural alarm of the debutante had
subsidized before her evident success. and
she sang and acted in the most difficult
anu tTNluG Sttut dS iio pIilld tttuut
done in the Grand Opera since the days of
Christine Nilsson, excepting. possibly the
stout and elderly krauss, who by age and
physique, is prevented from numbering
Marguerite among the prominent roles of
her repertoire. The scene of Nalentin's
death was also admirably rendered; and
the debutante was again summoned befC re
the curtain and overwhelmed with APP
plause. The beautiful ringing notes of
the fresh young voice told with fine effect
in the concluding trio. and the curtain fell
on the most brilliantly successful debut
that | have ever witnessed at the Grand
Opera.
Miss Norton is genuine Yankee girl.
having been born at Pennington, Maine.
She is just % years of age. Her voice is
n soprano of good extent, and of excep-
tiopal loneliness of quality. There is a
peculiar ringing sweetness about certain
of the high notes, that, as one enthusiastic
musician remarked, reminded the nearer
of a silver trumpet. The voice is also re-
markably even and perfect in tone. There
is none of the unpleasant quaver and I'M
certainty about it wherewith the ear is Of
ten annoyed in the singing of less per-
feet artistic than Miss Norton. Her must
cal organization is faultless. With her
remarkable vocal qualifications, she pos
sesses dramatic ones of an equally high
order. She sings with depth and fervor
of expression that are wonderful in so
young prima-donna. and one whose
stage-experience extends over scarcely
three years. Her attitudes. her gestures.
and the excellence of her byplay proclaim
the born actress. Thus gifted. and with
her foot securely planted in the first diff
cnlt stem of the ladder that leads to fame