The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-24
EMMA ABBOTT.
An Argus Reporter Secures a Brief
Talk With the Noted Prima
Donna,
And Afterwards With Her Business
Manager, Mr.. Bartlett.

The ARGUS, learning that the great
cantatrice, Emma Abbott and her troupe
would pass through the city this morning
en- route from New York to Des Moines,
where they are to open the opera house
was on hand early to intercept the train
and lealn a few facts concerning the
coming seasons work. and the personnel
of the recognized company. Owing
to The brief space of time that tie train
remained here there was but moment in
which to greet the charming little lady,
and she was as anxious to learn about
many former friends in Rock Island and
Moline, where some of her first ventures
as a concert singer were made, that the
reporter was the interviewed, rather than
the interviewer But in the most charm
ing manner she expressed in her enthus.
iastic way her delight at the opportunity
of siLging-now at the height of her sue
cess as a prima donna-wherc her girlish
efforts were first put forth. Just as the
train was moving off she said ''see our
business manager, Mr.. Bartlett, and he
can tell you all about the company, and
The delightful new opera We are going to
sing for you, and lido hope you will all come
to hear it, for it is one of the prettiest
operas we have ever given" Accordingly
our reporter called on Mr.. Bartlett at the
Harper House, where he also found Mr..
Pratt, the general manager of the com
pany.
Mr.. Bartlett laughingly greeted the
ARGUS man and said in answer to our
request for information, go ahead; I've
been reporter and know what to expect,
apply your pump, which we accordingly
did, and then in answer to our
inquiries, he said; AS YOU saw
this morning the company filled
two cars and they are a pretty good
looking company too, and what is better,
they have good voices. They've kept
things lively all the way from New York
They will be in Des Moineo this afternoon,
and after rehearsing to-day and to-
morrow will begin the season by opening
the new opera house just completed
there"
What opera do they open with?'
"Oh, tits Linda, the one they are going
to sing here 1t is one of Donizettes
best and is a universal favorite both with
artists and the public, but it takes great
company TO perform it as it ought to be.
The music is very brilliant, and only great
artirts can sing it successfully, while the
story is one OF the most interesting in the
whole range of opera
What about the artists"
Miss Abbott is enthusiastic over her
company this year, and well she may be,
for, besides Castle and Fabrini, the leading
tenors; Rosewald and Hindle, sopranos;
Broderick, bassO, and the other well
known artists who have sung with her for
years. she has again secured Mrs, Zelda
Seguin, a contralto unsurpassed in
America, and has the greatest baritone of
the day Tagliapietra, in her company,
besides charming dehutantc, Miss
Schuler, and the noted buffo, William
Allen"
will all of them appear here?'
Certainly. They are all in the cast of
Linda, and it is cast that will give more
pleasure than that in the Mapleson
company with whom TagIiapietra has
repeatedly appeared in this same plot
opera"
Tell us something more about Alb
bott"
There is so much to tell that one
scarcely knows where to begin. I'll
assume that you know all about her early
life, her youthful trials and her great
success. She has developed great pas
sion for diamonds and magnificent
dresses, and you will see one or
two new ones, marvels of beauty,
which she wears in this opera
She has had eighteen new costumes made
this summer, all of which were designed
by herself Shes an interchangeable stu
dent and can scarcely refrain from sing
ing on the cars. She sings every night in
the week, and if some good church man
gets in her good glaces, she'll sing in
church on Sunday. There seems to be no
end to her powers of endurance, and she
thr:ves and grows plump on what would
kill an ordinary prima donna But you
must see her in opera and hear her sing.
next Thursday evening. That's the best
sort of description for you or your
readers "
HORSE RIDING