New-York tribune., 1884-12-08
MUSIC.
MISS NEVADA,S LUCIA.

MISS NEvADHS LUCIA.
Miss Nevadas impersOn alton of the heroine
IN Donizettis "Luca d Lammermoor" at the Academy
Of Music Saturday afternoon gave new evidences OF
the exquisite refinement Of her vocal training and the
tasteuness and intelligence Of her artistic instincts but
also made plain the limitations which nature has put
upon her powers Operato singer. What Is bost III
Miss Nevadas art land 1t affords many occasions for ao
mraton and for astonshmenD is presented to us
in small frame. BY this We do not mean to cast re-
Hection upon the young artist Many critics find higher
proofs Of inspiration In the tiny panels OF Messonier
than in the monster crowded and glowing canvases OF
Hans Makart Wnen Sontag young In her career
she heard by Angelica Cataani the first singer Oh
the world, who said Of her youthful rival Son genre
est petit mas ellie est unique dams son genre VIC are ho'
told whether sontag resented the judgment (se PROB
ably did for it is natural for singers to disagree WIN
ths of tho world to their real forte rs for Writers
and actors), but there was nothing humating III "ia'
the queen song fifty years said OF the promising
princess II is not given to all to awe with tragic power
tradition tells Pasta did, nor Ia II gwen 10 III !"
charm with that subtle grace which is 50 peculiarly iSc
mating in Nine Gersters An'ina and which, III oahsou
and unique phase we recognize In Miss Ncvadas mper
sonatiOn of the same character, The two roeS VIM"
Miss Nevada has cssayed since she came TO us shcc "
sure at least to closc the attitude when nature
intended she should assume toward the lyric Drama
Miss Nevadas voice and style uh'e u
form the natural vehicle for small enoiols lhoy au"P'
themselves wthmost charming gcnuousncss to the JOYS
and sorrows the mild sunlight and passing SHADOWS 4" INC
simple minded and pure hearted. transparent h"o' "o
proul wron ged and finally dstraught maiden Scott sr'
nance calls for a and style OF greater po"'r an"
breadth The music OF the opera Is scarccy "r'"',
thc term is applied nowadays. but ~ cktehuS 'ho '
srir, c,ose mn 10 the borders OF the dramatic Even
lovor of WAGNER would absolutely merit stonng u TIC
were to say that the much and rightly "d"ed o". III
frcna of The second act has In IL some g0Od req, ara
matte blood and is beautiful as II Is ehcc'e III hon
styling the climax which II marks IN the mourhu py'
As TO the mad scene of the last act th"t
s thereafter "a may wish. If tho nssra are not ac
coIntabe for their actions, why should composer or
poet held strictly to account for what he permits MS
umatics to do Iunacy brings privilege which inc
opera composers utilize 10 its extremity ana Dohzeu III
b. opera especially has used 1t to put play withh
play concert within concert. When II ~ rc"hc" 'ho
purpose of all that preceded is attained the account Is
wiped out aud "A score begun. The prima donna
may get mad in any style that chances to sun her
mcolous fancy choosing mild melancholy. simple IN
aniiy or wild dcrD may happen to I'll her ms'fiohc
powers natural inclination The INSANITY whch u
represented in the music at ALL is represented IN the
tones of the singers voice tand here there IL really
wide range of possibility. or III her dcci"ma-
ton (where tho composer has not hit
much choico one essential. however exists. and
II is because we recognize that hcrpcformanoe possesses
It in an unusual degree that we think Miss Nevada en-
titled to high praise.
Plainly there should he manifestation Of effort In the
singing which we must take the wandcrugs of iucds
ultd Concert cnccs Hrc fatal disturbance ~ the
music of the mad All the noiid olnnmrniaton
whcl, Donzeii and his telcrurn,ots lsNc embroidered
on the melodies of this scene must como ne uhconHtIhhed
aud AZ far IA possihe natural expression ono ~ the
hirhra 1uslic. " M.a Ncvndaa ART n the icruseiul
meas ~ manner with which sc performs thoac i"n's "l
Vnrhllgntion Her styc Ia different from most other
artists aud here there fair chance foi division ~ lnde
mont iiur iuein hrrms like creature IN perspective
dininuiiVe but Illuminated by Tie lirt Nhlth H"rH
n,t her perfect NoCHlSniun ihhl 10 "in,hl "l Tia
beauty IN luat o the hohodcr io chfomho hthlca are
remarkably clear, Hnd symmetrical, net phrases hrtuu
fuil balanced, her inonaon pure hhd 'c luhl'N I" htl
consistent III HtacChto ~ IN sustained hhehs
ior voice has sympathetic quality which hotclh ara
malc oOpring within the linis Indicated. and her whole
interpretation II charming Charming hui n" npfchsi,W
shp does excite awe but only rymp6hy ana pity.
Mss NoVndas lucia IA summed up IN tho mad scene,
any other Of the opera that II seems To
show independent study and Of interest
on part II commands the greatest interest OF her
auditors In what is commonly called the sextet hci
voice outweighed Saturday by tho voices or ic
men and approached the difficult task OF her nrs
sccno with tniity. which did not see 10 wear on
until She safely launched IN the canlcn 1hal tho
Gang we'll Besides Miss Nevada nobody who sang on
Saturday worthy of consideration except hig >
Anna whose really fine voice cano out to good advar
in the music of Aston.