National Republican., 1883-03-30
If Spring holds Winter in her lap much
longer we hope her mother will come in.
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE NILSSON CoNCERr.


Tho post lenten season of amsuemcnts
was very pleasantly accentuatod by last even
ing's concert in Lincoln hall. The entertain
ment was not great in more than ono
of its features; nor was anything Of highly
remarkable nature undertaken in it. But
il was fine and nicely balanced. Everything
in il was in its kind good, and delcatcly well
done, and for that reason, rs II complete and
harmoniously rounded performance Of u well
selected programme, 1t will live long time,
gratefully, in the memory of everyone who
was present.
Mr. Abbey is to be commended for tho care
and judgment that governed his selection OF
the artists who surround Nine. Nillson in
this company. For this ineflable artist her
self, there is nothing to be said that will do
more than the merest partial justice to her
greatness. 1t is good to know that we arc
to have her in grand OPERA for in that phrase
only can her splendid powers find free play.
She is essentially dramatic singer. The inn
pulse to fit the sentiment of her song TO ac-
tion is strong enough to overcome even
the restraints Of the concert platform.
She would have been n great actress even If
she had not been great singer How many
women arc there upon the dramatic stage
who could havs given more delicate
and truthful touch of pure humanity
than that which smiled and sighed
through the tender little Swedish
song that followed her first number
or how many could have created out Of i'm
aginary accessories so complete II scene as that
in which she framed the 'jewel song :" from
"Faust?" Nilsson has infinite variety. With
every accomplishment belonging to the toch-
nicalties of her art she has still as fine n SEN
sibility and as quick a sympathetic power as
though no moment Of her time had been given
to the study of mere mechanical methods.
The abeyant graces wait upon her work.
Such singing as that in "Swcet Home "
and ''Suwanee river" is no less inspired
than are the splendid flights of her
Marguerite or the dreamy romance that
breathes out of her reading Of Schubert.
Miss Hope Glenn is most agreeable con-
tralto, and Mr.. Biorksten II conscientious
tenor. Miss Glenn may look TO winning a
very high place in the favor OF
the public She has what ladies
happily describe as "pretty manners" Her
appearance establishes her at once. She is
young, with an interesting rather than a
beautiful face, aud II presence that
commands at once attention and favor
Her voice is OF very even though not
very great strength, and it has
u sympathetic quality and pure, elastic fresh
ness that suit it admiringly to ballad sing,
| ing. Mr.. BiOrksten is commendable upon
much the same grounds. He is an honest
singer, attempting little that is difficult, but
/ doing well and evenly what he does attempt
! The Mondelssohn Quintet club have lost
/ none of that superb finish which first made
/ their playing famous. The membership re-
mains unchanged, and the style of their work
| is quite what il was. One Of the best thing,
of the evcning-the best indeed that
tho club had in their programme-wai
tho delicious little Boecherini "minuet
for strings with which the con
cert closed. At any other place in the
programme it would assuredly have been
redemanded, as nearly everything else was
The company was exceedingly gracious il
responding to recalls, all the way through
Nilsson herself was generous enough to re
turn two or three times after each of hel
regular numbers. The good feeling between
the stage and tho auditorium was indeed on,
Of the most pleasing characteristics of tn,
evening
MIR. ABBEY's PLANS,
Mr. Henry L. Abbey, of New York, cam
to the city last evening ON his way to Fort
ross Monroe with his family, The plan
which he has just completed for next season
aro of unusual magnitude, The present sea
son is almost closed with all of the companie
under his management. Nilsson will finisl
her concert tour on the sixteenth Of April
Mrs. Langtry will not play after the seyentl
of May; and all the Abbey thcaters will clos
about the middle of the month last named
excepting the Park theater in Boston, wher
n summer season will be played.
O. shall have four theaters and two com