Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-24

t with the most interesting question of
the hour -"Are you going to hear Patti?
Do you suppose she has changed?"
After the first performance the pa
pers were noncommittal, except in re-
gard to chorus and orchestra, and ev-
cry one knew they would be bad. 1t
is against all Halian opera traditions
TO have well costumed or trained
chorus. And as they were not carry
ing their orchestra with them, almost
anything might be expected. We got
it.
One evening the reportorial part of
our brain suggested to the more sane
/ gruy matter, that our readers would
probably be interested ip a second
hand performance of LA Somnam-
bula" with Patti as Amina and Ravelli
as Elonis. The others sang so badly,
we FASTENED to forget them.
AS the inspiration came suddenly
seats were not to be had, so we sent
an advance guard to procure good
stand at the door; that would enable
us to make a rapid descent on the box
office as soon as the outer doors were
opened at seven thirty; so for half an
hour we stood and watched the gath
ering crowd, and enjoyed the fun for
a New York crowd is generally very
good natured. Various suggestions
for eftecting an entrance were offered,
but were rejected because of the inn
| possibility of carrying them into effect.
Some one, jammed into a corner ,arous-
ed speculation as TO whether the doors
hinges showed that the corner was
| very unsafe: the doors opened out and
any one behind them stood a fair
chance of being crushed. Comments
on the family management OF the
house were numerous, as it would
really seem that there might be bet
ter way of treating music lovers than
compelling them to stand in the cold
and rain for half an hour, with the
prospect before them of losing their
places in the line, and being compelled
to forfeit those favorable places in the
house in favor of some later conner.
When we finally did secure tickets we
made wild rush for the dress circle,
the fifth tier, and secured room. We
could see the entire stage, and halfth
boxes. Ii few moments the growl-
ings and scrapiDgs of the musicians at
tracted our attention, and the short
overture was over. Then the chorus
came and sang but no one paid any at
tention to them: we were all waiting
for Patti. Finally she came, and,
bowing very low and looking very
pretty, began to sing. At least, we
heard some clear notes and turning to
the stage beheld the Diva with reddish
hair and, on closer inspection with the
glass, very tired look around the
mouth. She has grown much older
looking and a trifie thin and hard
about the wrists and arms, although
otherwise stouter. Ravelli came on
in few moments, and met with
great deal of applause. During the
first act. neither sang particularly we'll
and we concluded they must be saving
themselves. The second act proved
us to be right for both did better work.
Ravell's voice is clear and sweet and
he made himself heard against the
full orchestra, and then at the end of
some very fine high notes, he flatted
most numerically. 1t was dreadful.
A perceptible shiver passed over the
house; Ravelli felt it and for the re-
main2er of the evening sang like
bird. Patti was shocked at such fear
full flatting, but could not make up her
mind to waste any of her sweet tness on
his account. She merely walked
through the opera, and sang only what
was absolutely necessary.
The entire performance was a failure,
and, as a whole, one of the worst
Patti has aged and her upper tones
are some times trifie false. La a les
ser light it would be pardoned, but
from her we have had perfection and
still demand it. Music owns New
York lust now and the number and
been liberal education. Drop into al
most any church on Sunday morning
and you will hear good organist and
choir. In some of the churches very
large salaries are paid, one soprano
we know OF, commanding one thous-
and dollars, and. several others. seven
hundred.
Thomas, with his magnificent or
,hestra and popular concerts, has done
much for us this winter. His audi
,nces have been large and appreciative;
70 much so that he has decided to give
| concert every evening for month.
Think of it! three hours good music,
plendidly played for fifty cents. Be-
ides Thomas, any number of people
rave given concerts at Chickering and
Steinway halls, and one of the uptown
managers has secured the italian sing
rs for a mum Der of Sunday evenings.
April 10Th, 1890. ELLIS.