Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-08
PATHS FAREWELL,
How a Young Lady Saw 1t.

The following extract is from a Young 1adys
letter to friend in this city-both Washington
ians-who went to Philadelphia to see Patti in
opera: 'YOu are now waiting to hear my opin-
ion the great Patti. What can say? AS the
night came on l grew impatient to go to the
opera house, and should have gone an hour too
early. to be certain of getting there. had my
escort been in the same frame of mind. How
ever, ten minutes of eight found us in our seats.
The opera house was thronged. The boxes
were boquet o; beauty; beautiful girls beau
tiful toilets; flowers in great punches lying
all along the cushioned front of the boxes;
many of the ladies in the audience in full dress,
many in light bOnnets, many bare heads: the
flutter of FANS the odor of flowers the merry
gentlemen in full dress standing all the way
round the house; well-dressed ladies and gen
tlemen sitting upon the steps in the circle. At
eight exactly the leader took his seat and the
overture began. In a moment more the very
air seemed quieted. All the chatter ceased.
Those who were visiting about among their
friends hurried to their places. The audience
seemed to feel that even the overture should be
listened to with quiet admiration though usu-
ally hardly heard. At last the great curtain
rolled up, disclosing the well-dressed chorus.
whose few lines were not listened to, all eyes
turning toward the right entrance. the entire
throng bending forward eager to catch the first
glimpse of her slipper toe as she came. mo-
smiling bOwlng and radiantly beautiful in face
form, and costume. came before us the greatest
living artistic. Some cheering greeted her: but
in a second all was still, and her rosy lips, dis
closing double row of pearls parted: then
came her vOice-sO pure so full so beautiful-the
perfection of melody During her first solo the
silence in the audience was something marvellous.
No one seemed willing to look even towards
friend, much less speak. AS the last notes were
uttered. came storm of applause, as if from
hi
to say just what the feeling was with me when
she finished, except that of perfect satisfaction.
| was surprised that the voice was not larger
but it is so rich and so full that it reaches to
every spot without the slightest effort, with
bird-like ease and purity; not one tone was
made that could be criticised failed to see
the passion in her voice. There was no mo-
ment when | was thrilled but | sat there
speechless with content. The exquisite even
quality; the flute-like scales her trills like
bird; but the highest note she took was only C,
and she was very stingy with her high notes all
through Her lower notes are as rich and full
beautiful vo0ncello. After the duet with
NicOlini, which closed the first act, the audi
ence were wild, shouted and called, so the cur
tain was raised three times. She came forward
happy as q child with good deal of gush, and
the last time Tyre of rosebuds was given her.
She came forward, clapping her hands like
three yeaF-old, which is all very we'll to some
people. but too many are aware that it is
III,
brOidered in birds; the most gorgeous dress
ever saw. In the point of the drapery below the
left knee was a South American parrot in its
true color-light and dark green back and head,
scarlet breast, and about his real size; perfectly
beautiful. The dress was very low in front.
high in the back, and just on each shoulder
blade, or rather just below, were paraquets; no
sleeves In the DRESS and such arms, oh good
ness! beautiful! The drapery i'm the back was
caught up on the right hip with a group of six
or eight birds. real birds. of beautiful bright
colors; around the square neck were sewed amber,
sapphires and rubies. She wore here own dark
hair with star of sapphres in the forehead. When
the second act came on her toilette was ciei
blue satin with painted panels Of ecru-the
flowers all shades of morning glores-surplus
neck, elbow sleeves; pearls in prOfusiOn in her
hair, pearl necklace. and pearls sewed on the
neck of her dress.
The singing was simply exquisite In the
duet with the bass. where she promises to give
up her lover, she was great but still missed
the fire and passion; there was not even as much
pathOs as l expected When say great, mean
powerful in action and rendering, but l. for the
only time, wanted something more, and that
was pathos. AS whole, the performance was
simply wonderful. In the next act she wore
white satin embroidered in crystalline front
one glittering mass-train white plush; no
sleeves square neck, back and front, and across
the front of the neck rows and rows of dia-
mOnds-single stones-pendant You never saw
sucu stohesln your iiIe A SingleF row Close around
her throat, and four rows around one arm; an
arrow in her hair of gorgeous ones. When she
came on the people fairly yelled over her dress
before she opened her mouth. This act belongs
mostly to tenor and bass. The last act. where
she dies, was so real that we were glad when
they called her out after the last curtain She
sang the "Adio" like an angel. Her soto voce
is enchanting. The audience was breathless
until the tone died. and for second after held
their breath in silence, seeming to follow the
flight Of that last exquisite dying note. Her
death was too real. She fell back I'm q large
arm chair, which sat in the center of the stage
facing the audience. Her Jaw fell-her eyes
stared, and she looked so dead-it was painful
Fortunately the curtain fell.