The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-05-09
Our Wisconsin (OrresDOndencp

Our wisconsin correspondence.
Ed. LEADER.--As all of your readers
did not attend the recent opera festival
at Chicago, and consequently did not
hear PATHS farewell note. you may he
interested i'm a few more words about it
although the papers have been so full
of it OF late Imagine an opera house
with "A capacity for eleven thousand
peCple-almost as many as the city of
Madison contains. Then All audience
composed Of the wealthiest and hand
soonest Chicagoans, with a background
of more commonly dressed people from
IN and ont of the city. How fortunate
il WAS that all did not wear diamonds,
for the flashing and glittering of the
precious gems almost dazzled our eyes
between the acts, when an opportunity
was afforded rs to gaze upon the dec
orations of the wonderful building,
constructed for two weeks of opera
festival and then To he torn down, a
characteristic Chicago venture. When
was popular event known to be fail
ure in this wonderful city when men of
energy and almost unlimited means,
guarantee to make il a success. The
stage accommodated five hundred peo-
pie easily. and was arranged with spec
ial fitness for the different operas 10 he
represented. The scenery was wonder
Il I,n ct II
setting. \ gentleman who has travelled
extensively told me.that he had heard
+" FAUST both in Europe and America
IN nearly all the largest cities and had
never heard or seen il given SO effec-
lively. With Patti for Marguerite il
would have been effective without any
scenery whatever.
Sixteen operas were sung in the two
weeks hy such vocalistS as are not com
monty gathered together in one com
pany. Emma Nevada. who made her
debut in Chicago at the festival, won
the hearts of nearly all. The people
were prepared to receive her warmly
because she belongs To us and as an
American girl has made a reputation
abroad She is quite Young, only "a,
and has a career before her. Her man
ner is very winning and pleasant, and
although she has not the physique one
could wish to see to sustain such
voice, yet she undoubtedly has enough
will power to do her good service for
some years.
The great contralto of the company
was Mde. Schalchi. her voice filled0 the
house as no other, not even excepting
Cherubini and DeAnna, bass and bari
tone.
How impossible it is to convey TO
others even one tone of music. One
could rattle on indefinitely and use any
of descriptive sentences and vet
not give to one who has not heard, IA
clear idea Of the impression you indi-
receive while listening to such
singing. How you listen with
all the concentration of your powers to
catch the sensitive and tender trills of
PATHS voice and unconsciously sigh
when she finishes, because she has
finished; how You sit more erect and
glory i'm the sublime tones of Scalchi.
and how intense Your enjoyment when
SignOr DE Anna or CherubIni hold the
audience as by spell.
Nevada's voice thrills you with its
sweetness, PATHS by its clearness.
Signor Nicholini the most prominent
tenor has seen his best days and will
not much longer withstand the criti-
cisms of the public.
The immense audience, the terrific
crush Of carriages and people on the
streets will long be remembered by
those who helped swell the crowd. but
the memory of the music and the sweet
singers will linger after all else has
flown
Can we ever forget how Patti sang
" Home, Sweet Home. as her farewell
to Chicago, or how Nevada made us
feel as she sang the Star Spangled
Banner" :?
The opera festival gave common
people chance To hear the best music
at popular prices, and it is to he hoped
this is the beginning of yearly festival
of the sane kind in Chicago.
NJ. NJ. y.
MADISON, May 1, 1885.