Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

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panies gave the old favorite Martha. "
And on that nightmany people bought seats
in both houses, remaining part Of the
evening at one place and then going 70 the
other, that there might be a better opportu-
nifty to judge between the rivals. 1t was
said that there was an almost complete ex-
change of audiences between the two houses
that night. Those were times worth remem.
bering, indeedl
THE TWO PATHS.
Carlotta Patti, too, awoke enthusiasm
here when she first appeared. There were
times afterward when she was heard at dis
advantage-so far as her audiences we're
concerned. But at her best she was one to
rave about. With voice of marvellous
briIlisncy and sweetness, capable of higher
notes than any other singer; with per-
fection Of execution almost unrivalled, and
with the best of artistic methods, it needed
only that she should be freed from her lame
ness to become at least the dangerous rival
of her sister. But Carlotta was lame to
such degree that it was painful to see her
move across the stage. So Adelina reigned
as queen, and holds the seepter still.
But Carlotts would be queen, too, and
she refused to sing in an English provincial
town where she had been announced as "the
sister of the great AdelinS Patti" She felt
herselfto be the great Carlotta Patti, who
would have made the family name i'm
mortal If the more fortunate sister had never
been heard Of
As to Adelina Patti, she belongs to the
present as much as to the past, and is not
subject for reminiscence; although I remem-
Der the time of her first appearance in New
nd
since then than she would care 10 count,
suspect. And after her appearance the
critics scolded her for taking liberties with
her music, and gave her much good advice,
which tits to be hoped she profted BY. Then, as
now, the past was better than the present;
and Malibran and Grisi and many more
were casting their shadows upon Adelina
Patti.
Does anybody now remember Brignoli?
Surely no swetter tenor than he ever thrilled
the smoky air of Pittsburg. In listening to
him one almost forgot that there was any
other kind of melody than the melody of
his delicious voice. He sang SO Summer
Night" and a winter night seemed impossi-
bic. He sang "Good-by, Sweetheart
Good-by," and who could remember that
the singer had wife who was none too
happy? He lost his good looks; he became
fat and was not pleasant to look upon; but
still his voice maintained its spell, and he
charmed people almost as of old. But not
for long. He became less and less Of real
ity. and then less and less of a memory; and
now there is a whole generation of concert
goers who know nothing whatever about
him.
And Theodore Hableman. He was another
tenor who made Pittsburg captive in days
gone by. He was handsome enough to make
an evening fairly satisfactory if he had but
stood upon the stage without opening his
mouth. But it was no part of his business.
to keep his mouth closed. He could sing in
the most ravishing manner, and he could
act well, beside. So, with his handsome
face and figure. his delightful voice and his
dramatic ability, he was very near to being
the ideal operatic tenor. To see and hear
him in ERA Diavolo" was
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER.
But it was in "La Dame Blanche" that
Pittsburgers seemed to like him best, be-
cause in that he sang "Robin Adair." One
felt, in hearing that song, that nobody else
ought ever to try to sing it. And it may be
doubted if anybody else ever did sing it
quite so perfectly as Hableman sang it.
Tnen there was that man with a skyrocket
in his throat-W achtel-the man who seemed
to have no top at all to his voice. He came
here heralded by the New York papers as
''the steamwhistle of the gods" and he took
the town by storm the first night. He ap-
peared here first in I'll Trovatore, and be-
fore the audience had caught glimpse of
him he had electrified everybody in the
house. In the serenade behind the scenes he
leaped far aloft with single clear, piercing
note which seemed to have wings, so high it
NJ L 4 I
Leonord in that way and from such q height.
The audience caught its breath and broke
into tumultuous applause; and the tuneful
ex-coachman had achieved success before his
hearers had looked upon him.
But it was not as Mdnrico that be created
most enthusiasm. 1t was as the Postillion
Of LOTyun1edu. cracking his whip in miracu-
lous fashion in perfect time with the roIlick-
ing, dashing refrain he sang. That was a
ming ling of melody and mechanical skill
which captivated everybody.
A man who had been crowned king over
all these, but whose crown had long since
been jostled off by cruel time, came here in
the vain hope of regaining something of his
former kingly state. Broken in fortune by
some unmerciful disaster, the great Mario
came forth from the seclusion where he had
dwelt among splendid memories, and des-
peratelY strove to win some provision for
his last years. In his prime wealth had
come at his faintest call, and it was hard if
he must now call in vain for bread. But he
heard no echo of the former plaudits from
the audiences he tried to sing for. 1t was
beyond measure pitiful to hear the poor old
man striving in vain with cracked voice to
make people realize that Mario, one of the
greatest tenors of the world, was singing for
them. 1t is not a pleasant recollection.
Perhaps, after all. Pittsburg has gained
more enjoyment, taking one year with an
other, from the musical talent at home
within its borders than from the occasional
visits Of world-famous singers. Music is at
home here, and appreciation of it is the
normal state of mind. But it was only with
professional singers that this gossip pro-
posed to deal. JAMES C. PURDY.