Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-03

The Empress of Song Tells Some Of Her Plans
to q Star interviewer.

! to a Star interviewer.
"Come sit down and let me talk to you
have Just come from the White House, where
was charmingly treated by the President and
| by Mrs. Mckee, who showed me all about the
place. By the way, what dear little woman
Mrs. Mckee ID. She was just as kind as she
could be-snd the White House-it's q noble
building and reminds me Of some of the build
ings in the old world"
These sentences were uttered in the most
animated way by a trim little woman with
wealth OF black hair, sparkling black eyes,
rounded checks, pouting lips and a petite
though perfectly nodded figure that was well
set of by a becoming dress. As she COM
menced speaking she whirled around from
grand piano. over the keys Of which she had
been running her jeweled fingers, and grasping
warmly the hand of a STAR representative
welcomed him heartily and then presented
him and his friend to a handsome, full bearded
man. whose evident air Of proprietorship indi-
Gated that he was her husband
The lady was Nine. Adelina Patti and the
gentleman Sig. Nicolini, and the place was in
their comfortable apartments at the Arlington.
Was this the first time you ever visited the
White House?" asked the STAR man.
"Yes. It.has so happened that had never
been inside the Executive Mansion before.
When visited Washington during Mr.. Cieve-
lands administration, received a very polite
invitation from Mrs. Cleveland. but my en-
gagements we're such that had to leave the
city without awaiting myself OF il. Mrs Cleve-
land and ]. however, exchanged photographs,
and l have hers Handsomely framed in my
home in Wales"
Then the conversation drfted to visits she
had made in other lands, and the emperors,
kings, princes and presidents who had enter
tanned the empress of song. She said,
of course, that she liked America,
for it the home Of her child
1 L., o
umphs when she was nothing but slip of
| girl. Then The STAR man told her that he
| had heard her sing .4Traviata" IN Boston way
| back in 1852 when he and she were both
younger in years but not in feeling than they
! were now. aud the queen OF opera laughed
heartily and said:
Upon my word feel younger today than l
| did then, for they worked me terribly hard at
that time. was worn out when the perform
ance was over and felt tired ont even when /
woke up the next morning. 1t was work. work.
work; SO much harder than when 1 had sang
| in concert. Now, however, can take my case
! II | want to, ana, as you know. do take
| awfully good care OF myself"
| She then said that she always liked to come
| to Washington, that it was such a beautiful
| city-the most beautiful on this side OF the
water, but that OF late years she had been I'M
fortunate i'll coming to this city when it was
very warm weather, and that she felt stihed by
| the oppressive heat. You know" she added
| Il am used to the bracing atmosphere of Wales.
| II lived here l would have a house, not down
| in the city. but up on the high bluffs north"
When asked whether she liked best to sing in
concert or IN opera. she replied that she rather
preferred a union of both, rs she will give to-
night, first part with a concert program and
then an act or two from an OPERA with costume
and scenery. Then" said Sig. Nicoini, 1.-THE
public can hear her in her solos or duets. which
Is what they want, and she does not have to ia
| tgue herself by long recitative and concerted
work"
When asked what her favorite opera was
Mime. Patti said that she liked them all. each
had some special beauty that appealed to her
artistic sense. ~ like 'Traviata' all the way
through; so do 'Rigoletto' and Faust like
the mad scene in Lucia but don't like the
duet with the brother; / like Semiramide' and
Romeo and Julet,' take that waltz. for in
stance, isn't it delicious when it is properly
sung"
Madame Patti said that she intended during
the summer to bring out at her private theatrr
at Craig Nos Naturalization of the Cavatleria
Rusticana that had been made by Sig. \.
Carrano. She didn't know exactly what date
, she would give the performance, for she
wanted to fix it so that there should be many
OF he royal family there to give it eclat. The
idea OF the play il quite expansive. The
original book is translated into English
| and then amplfed into an intense
| drama, although it is still kept in one act The
action will be accompanied by descriptive
music and in the church there will be an entire
mass sung with chorus and solos and full
gan as well as the orchestral accompaniment.
This play was dedicated to Mme Patti by BIZ.
Carrano and by him presented to her on her
birthday. She thinks there are great possi-
bities in it and will herself assume the part Of
Santuzza. the first time she has appeared in a
character outside Of an opera. II is under
| stood that Alexander Salvlni will sustain the
role OF Turiddu at the performance at Craig
Nos, and the young Italian actor will probably
present the play during his Boston engage
ment in order to try its effect.
"Will you come back to visit Washington
again after this FAREWELL" asked The Stars
| man, as he rose to go.
Nine. Patti smiled as much as to say that the
farewell racket was due to the management and
| not to any desire on her part to mslead the
public, and then oaid: Il may come next year,
but not after that, probably"