New-York tribune., 1883-06-04
FRENCH PERSONAL TOPICS.
EMMA NEvADA-THE COMTE DE CHAMBokD
M DE LESSEPS.,


Mis-. Emma Ney ada last night made her debut at
the Opera Comique in the role of Fora in y The
peor, Of Brazil" o work by Felicien David. The
vonny American cantatrce is from California, and
!. twentv-two years old. She has already sung at
Uer Maiestys Theatre in London. Indeedshe hrst
anoeared upon the lyric stage there ip 1851 along
With Marie Van Zandt. Her musical instruction
was received from Madame Marchesi at Vienna.
She has sustained leading parts in the opera houses
Of Trieste Pesth, Prague, Milan Rome and Naples.
Verdi thinks she has superior cndow ments. hor
salary Mt the Opera Comique is 5000 francs, OF
81 600 a uonth. NJ. Carvalho, her director, has
also maid forfeit to enable her to drop an engage
ment which size made with Berlin manager.
Miss Nevada is almost pretty. and has grace and
charm. Her real name is Wixom. But she chooses
70 Ina called after the range of mountains in which
her early girlhood was passed. Her features are
irregular, but they form most agreeable ensemble
The ubysiognomy, whatever may be her race us
IRISH. What can be mole Celtic than big eyes OF u
hln,sh gray tinge very animated and wde-awake
we'll outlined eyelds strong dark eyebrows little
impudent nose and wide mouth The lips are 1uil
and the teeth perfect But tho chin is slightly un
derhung. However, it is finished of with dimpie
which gives 1t o soft expression. Emma Nevada Is
about the size of Minnie Hauk, but of a different
build her figure bcing more slight and sdpple Her
voice is slngularly high. Its uppermost notes are
the best. They are clear crystalline and are man.
aged in intricate and brilliant passages of the score
with extraordinary ability. The medium range is
relatively DOOR, but tho lower notes have volume
and are mellinuous and grave. Nothing can be
mora delicious than what the French term sons files
or out notes. and there is clearness and pre-
cison in the saccato passages which are very rare.
| In some respects she comes nearer TO fatti than
any other cantatrice of the day. But she mas not
| the astounding musical organization which enables
the renowned diva to interpret with such perfect
nss and inst accentuaton the roles of Lucia and
Violetta Patti sings do the birds in the bushes
because it is her nature. She is tht LATEST artist
that ever breathed and trusts more to inspiration
| and instinct than to study. Nearly everything she
does,, spontaneous The "phrasing" Of Emma
Neyadas scores yet leaves something to be desired.
| 1t wants that dstinctness which comes OF perfect
| mas,erv The accent also is strongly Californian.
Marie Van Zandt has an American accent. but IL Is
| mot disapreeabe to French ears. An old lady who
| remcmbers Jenny Lind in her youth tells me that
| Emma Nevada reminds her of the Swedish Night
| ingale" in the high, clear. sweet notes and In
| certain purity of tore which distinguishes them
| one also in hearing Jenny Liud was apprehensiVe
| that her voice would break down. 1t had ease,
freshness clearness but il gave the idea OF dccate
| fragility So does the of Miss Nevada. which
| believe will acquire volume ana suehg'h rs slo
grows older.
| The role Of ZOra is pretty and sentimental Bnt
there are MANY things in 1t which oldfashioncd
| II was composed when the Italian opera was the
rage in France and initiated the iorldness
~ Rossini This piece first came out at the National
| Theatre in 1880. 1t was written for the opera
| Co,ninue But NJ. Perrin, who was then at the head
| of that playhouse, snubbcd the authors OF tho
| lbretto They refused IN consequence to have any
| thing more 10 do with him. The role OF Zord was
| written for Nine Agalde. Owing to the quarrei
| have alluded TO it passed on to Nine. Due@ a
| pupil of Nine. Cinti Damonian. She was Door
| singer When in 1858 The Pearl OF Brazil was
| represented by Mime. Miolan Carsalho. It's merits
| were overrated. That singer is little known out Oi
| France She is now in her decline But never
remember hearing one who was so perfectly adapted
TO render justice to the delicate pathos oi sonio
Opera Comique scores OF Auber
Emma Nevada lives with her father and mother
DR.. and Mrs. Wixom. Her father goes with her to
th, theatre lie is tall. elderly gentleman of dry
manner and taciturn. The diva always wears a
locket containing some hair of Belin. She regards
It as a sacred relic 1t given TO her by friend
of that composer. Signor flonmond. the librarian
of the Scala Theatre. who has conceived fatherly
| affection for the young American singer. Marie
Van Zandt witnessed the debut of Emma Nevada
| and pplauded her warmly.
The ,,omte de Chambord for whom all French
Republicans sh ould wish lDng life. Is really III bad
! WAY HIS constitution has been giving signs OF q
break np within the last two years. | believe the
organic change which began to set in when the
decrees against the orders were put In execut0nwn
due TO that political event Had it not been for th'
Comts de Cbambord the Republic would not have
tr;umnhed over the monarchical parties without
lIo fnofF nfn1 hfg n IN ar
when the Assembly was at Bordeaux to aid ThIcr'
,n his natriotic work. lie also instructed them al
Versailles TO accept the Republic, and in no fac
tons spirit. 80 long as it neither dctatoria nor
| ogoressiyely impious. The Comte de Paris wal
told by tho Comte de Chambord himself at Frohs
dorf of his wish to avoid civil strife by not making
war openly or secretly against the regime which ac
cordinp TO Thers least divided France. 1t was ow
inc 70 a letter from the Legitimist Pretendcr that
the Fusonist intrigue collapsed in November 1873
The Orlcanists then to keep out both iienri v and
tbe Republicans, founded the MacMahonate, which
as N have lasted seven years. At the end Of thai
n.riod IL was thought the time would be ripe to sc
| mn the Due d'Aumale as Lieutenant-Gcnera Of The
| Kingdom But what with the poor Marshalt
stnpldity his wiie's too great sharpness and thu
restlessness of NJ. d'HaTcourt and the dukes wht
, | were I'm MacMahons confidence. the scptennat'
I came to "a premature ED in January. 1878. Ih
Comte de Chambord was glad that it fell through
II was only when the religious orders were expelled
i and a campaign begun against the clergy that h
| was seized with remorse.
! The Pope does not approve Of his quetudc. ant
has reproached him with standing in the way of
7 | prince who has many governmental qualities an
. who would, if Mt the head of the Executive protec
the French clergy against the Radicals. The Hol
G Fathers lectures have been a cause of some per
q | nleY,tv TO the Comte de ChambOrd. Mental wOrT
e and the unhealthy dampness OF the chateau 0
d Fruhsdotf have given rise to a cardiac malad
which affects tho blood. DrODscal symptoms wer
noticed with alarm in December. Veins in the leg
cof swollen and angry aud we now hear Of pui