The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-03
LA DIVA SING
An Immense Crowd Welcomes
Patti at TOmlinSOn Hall.
The Songstress Appears in an Act of
Opera-She Also Sings Home,
Sweet Home"

The divine Patti sang to more people
last night in Tomlinson Hall than have
ever before gathered in that large audi
torium. This is the opinion of many who
noted the hundreds of people lining the
walls and standing up in every available
place except in the aisles. which were kept
cleared. Most of the people who stood up
had come to the hall early in the evening,
and for a full half hour kept wistful eyes
on the unoccupied reserve seats. The jam
in the corridors after the concert was at
times dangerous. Perhaps $500 people were
in the nall.
The big stage had been set with a house
scene for the second act Of Martha" but
the appointments were by no means elab-
crate. The first part of the entertainment
was a concert. giving the artists who ac-
company the peerless solo opportunities.
Arditi, the famous orchestra leader. re-
ceived no applause as he stepped TO his
place to give the wave for the Tampa
overture, with its gypsy-like cadences.
Signor Galassi, the baritone. sang the
"Oh, Casio Flor ronanza of Massenets
with much compoSure of bearing. He was
followed by Mile. Fabbri. the contralto,
who gave the cavatina "Se Romeo" from
Bellini's musical version of the Capulet-
Montague romance and tragedy. Although
Fabbri has none the advantage of youth
fulness. her voice is very flexible and has
much of the human melancholy over which
artists rave. She responded to an enchore
with a simpler composition. Signor No
vara, the basso, sang the cavatina "Sperate
o Figli." from Verdfs "Nabucodonso." with
much effect. His tones in the lower regis
ter are like, as one man said, the sonorous
soundings of winds from a cavern. After
he had answered an encore, Mr.. ID. Lely,
a sweet-voiced tenor. sang Sullivan's beau
tiful ballad air, The Distant Shore" with
its ender refrain BE of Good Cheer" etc.
Although he is not an Italian, Mr.. Lely
Is decidedly of the Italian schooi. fls en-
core response, annie Laurie has never
been sung with better effect in Indianap-
oils.
Madame Adelina Patti was given a royal
welcome when she appeared, clad IN a
white satin evening gown with light olive
colored bodice. Always a gracious nttle
woman. she bowed and smiled as If the
plaudits gave her the greatest joy. Her
first number was the familiar Una Noce
of Rossini. No one seemed TO feel that
PATHS voice is falling; no eaptious critic
dared to say so. Who would dare to md
fault with a hooking bird? Who would
dare to find fault with this remarkable
woman, a woman who has had the musical
world at her feet for decades, and prom
Uses to have it there for another decade!
So to pass by the voice for a moment and
III Dtd " llt w hLN dA 0AAoS
of glitter was there, on her breast and on
her couture. 1t is surely not artistic TO
speak about the vulgar cost of diamonds,
but the SongStreSS certainly had the out
put of a modest mine to set Off her charms.
All of PATHS art is not in her voice; she
is an actress, one whose charm OF manner
will ineffably impress itself on the memory.
The emotion of every bar or set of bars
finds reflex action in her facial play. Not
which is at times of refreshing naivete
and at times of tender pathos. She IA
last of which was Home, Sweet Home"
Patti is very tired of singing Home.
Sweet Home" but no one would have ever
dreamed such a thing to have heard her
sing it last night. 1t strangely affected
many people, so beautiful and touching was
The act from Martha brought the
Madame on the stage for a considerable
time, and the act gave her an opportunity
to sing 1.-The Last Rose of Summer in it's
with Mr.. Lely, who took the part of Lion
clio. One verse of the song was given in
English. 1t is not sufficient to say her
singing Of the popular air was inirnitable,
and yet 1t is difficult to describe the i'm
preston the song made. In the act there
was a duet by Mr.. Lely and Signor No
varo, by Mr.. Lely and Patti, and a quar-
tt which included the tenor, the contral-
to. the basso and Patti. When the four
withdrew at the close of the act the audi
ence was undecided whether to remain or
to leave, but a heavy applause failed to
bring the artists out again The troupe
leaves to-day for Louisville, and from there
will make a Southern tour.