The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-02-10
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC.
Her Majesty's Opera Company
and its Star.
Is Emma Abbott Coming?
Harrison and Gourlay-Bartley Camp
BELLS Plagiarism-Fall Dress at
the Devastating Capaci.
ties of Various Theatres
Other Topics.
ETELKA GERSTER.

ETELKA GERsTER.
Thursday evening, March 9th. " i'll
be long looked back upon as a bright
and notable date in Salt Lakes
musical history; on that evening
many of us will behold for the first
time in our lives--and who knows
but for the last--such an ensem BILE
of singers, instrumentalists, impress
sari, eOstuming and lyric acting as
has never before invaded this
western part of the continent. Fresh
from the courts Of Europe they come,
with the plaudIts ofroyal critics still
inging in their ears-the same com.
pany which Victoria has privileged
the use Of her name, and the same
chorus girls the Prince of Wales has
many a time chucked under the
chin. The tabled one or two thou
sand a night prima donna is there !;
the first dramatic baritone of the
italian stage we shall see treading
the boards in Salt Lake City; ar
dit, one of the greatest conductors
and composers of our day, will FL
the high backed chair so many
times occupied by his Lillipu-
tian imitators; his twenty-four
artists = among them the first
harpist in the world - will
crowd the orchestra enclosure and
overflow into the bottom parquette
seats; the chorus will be q positive
revelation to us, and if all we have
heard of it's numbers be true it will
crowd upon the stage like the
witches In Macbeth. The Colonel
will be there too-the great Naples
son, who has succeeded in having
himself interviewed more times
than Gerster ever uttered notes. On
every hand will be heard and seen
preparations for the mighty event;
the whole atmosphere will be heavy
with the pressure of genius; celeb
rites will be thrust into every corr
ner, and not since the old walls rang
to the sounds OF Parepa's voice VIII
they have listened to such strains as
will be poured forth on the night of
the coming event.
Two at least Of Mspleson'S stars
we find recorded in the Telegraph.
ical Memoirs"-Gerster and Galassi.
We subjoin the following sketch OF
the prima donna. taken from that
interesting work, as many opera
patrons wiz he interested to learn
something OF TIE ming stars pre-
vious history:
GERSIER, EtaIke. 'Etelk-" i
the feminine diminutive of cat
tjia," name characteristic of
Hungary, and Etelka Gerster was
born in Hungary ia 1855. Her fsther, a
merchant, brought up his family to re-
fnel tsstes. He was fond Of music
and the family circle often
made entertainment of an even
ing out of the songs Of Schubert and
other German composers. Nobody In
the family seemed to think of specis
musical study until visiting friend Of
the family from Vienna spoke OF the
promise which he thought lay in Etel-
ka's voice; ct the solicitation of this
friend shs was taken to Vienna, where
she sang for the great Madame Mar
chest; By this celebrated teacher she was
taken in charge, and under her she began
her studissin perhaps the most delightfully."-
and thoroughly musical atmosphere 10
Europe. Madame Marchesi was 1T tkat
time connected with the Vienna copserv-
story, its first prize fell to Gerster at the
examination in 1875. Among the nusi
clans present at that examination were
Verdi snd Signor Gardini, the latter con.
duetor of an opera troupe. He offered
Etelka an engagement which she &C.
copied. For two SESSIONS she sang in
Spanish and italian fowls and finally
in March 1877 began ia Berlin.
For three weeks the company
composed Of singers ell unknown 10
fame, sang to empty houses. Then came
whispers OF the fact that .he walls of
deapised Krolls we're echoing to the voice
Of an extraordinary singer, and Etelka
Gerster had reached the turning point
in her career. The nobility focksd
to hear her, and thu Emperor
and the Court were constant attendants
at her representations. In the midst Of
her triumphs she married DR.. Gsrdini,
and left Krolls to accept au engage
ment at Her Msjesiy's 10 London.
Compared with the lives of the famous
singers Of the lest and early part Of this
century, Etelks Gersles's life has been
uneventful, but she ia q general iavofi.-,
loved aud so mifed.
Abbott IN ENGLISH (PERA.
Second to the interest felt in
Mapleson's approach is the public
feeling on the announcement of
Emma Abkott's coming with a
weeks bill of English OPP "a, and
nightly change of programme
We encountered. Doctor Mckenzie
yesterday busting about through
tie mud with his arms full!
of En- na Abbott's lithogfapb, and
to him we again put the question az
to whe Their the engagement was
really effected. contracts sisned,
etc. ? Positively" ratified the Dec
tor as he whistled past. assigned
night before last. Oren in King
for Day. Price 81 ticket, or SO
for the six nights. Receipts for
two weeks IN Denver S26,474. Open
Monday, March 10th, surei" Whether
thsEe remains any Gauss fer query
after all these assurances yet re-
mains TO be seen; If the interroga-
ton has been used at the
head OF this article il is
because we hsppensd 10 see
telegram from Abbott to the other