Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-30
THE PASSING OF THE DIVA.
During Three and IA Half Decades she HIS
i;eeu the Queen Of Opera
IN. NnrlI DrnGs

The illness Of Adelina Patti on Thurs
day last prevented what was designed 10
have been her final appearance upon
scene 10 which her genius has lent mucu
splendor. In the annals Of opera there
are many ulustrious names. But now
ever highly We may esteem the memory
OF Grsi Alban. and Mallbran or the
oll.n times or wax enthusiastic over The
fine achievements OF the modern Media
Earnes, and Calve, there Is one woman
who has gained a universal distinction III
song which has dmmed the lustrous ie-
nown Of her predecessors on the op-rati'
stage and maintained her without rivalry
I'm the present day. Great singers come
and so with the seasons. Each year brings
some new competitor FOR our applause,
who after eclipsing the fame OF former
pri,ne donne, Is compelled in turn 10 yield
before the eminence OF IL later and more
gifted soprano. In the rapid hlght OF
wears We have Witnessed the sudden rise
the extensive popularity. and the fall into
simi-oblivion OF Henrietta Sontag vest
vail. la Grange. Gerster and NILSSON,
each OF which ladies' was the toast or
the town at different periods. We have
seen Lille Lehman forgotten In the APP
plause that greeted the younger Emma
Eames, and have observed that excellent
soprano forced TO give precedence TO the
richer art OF Nellie 'Melba Thus runs
the world away. The singers emlnence
is of a transitory nature. Grand opera
Is q Kaleidoscope whose chief figures are
constantly changing, and those whom We
crown with roses to-day may have
nothing save withered leaves on the NOR
row.
But there Is one figure which has been
ipI nsstsrs
than that covered by the memory OF
many music lovers. Adeina Patti made
her first appearance on the lyric stage
In ls47. She was then five years OF age
Her mother Signora Barili-Patt herself
a famous opera singer, was persuaded 20
finish the childs education. instead OF
forcing her into professional life at that
early period Very wisely, therefore. the
infant phenomenon was removed from the
concert platform and put under judlciOuS
vocal training Twelve years later. on
the evening of November q, 1883 pretty
little singer made her debut at the Acad-
envy OF Music. upder the stage name OF
Lucia. That modest maiden who intro
duced herself TO our audiences thirty.nye
years ago was Adehna Patti.
During a period OF three and a half
decades this wonderful singer has held
| the centre OF the operate stage against
I
| all rivals. She has witnessed the rise and
| fall OF lyric dynasties. In this country
she has appeared under the management
OF five impressarii, three OF whom are
now dead In Europe she is still the
principal star OF music at time when
| most of those whose talents assisted her
debut at the opera-houses OF London,
Paris. Milan and 81. Petersburg are for
gotten. The career OF Adelina Patti has
| been remarkable not only for its splendid
completeness in art. but for the unparai-
leled longevity OF her fame. She was a
great singer before any OF the present
prime dome were heard of-before some
OF them were born. She Is a'great singer
still. The diva retires from the scene OF
| her lyric and dramatic triumphs with her
| powers undiminished, with her renown
unrivalled. She has made more music,
money, and fame than any artist ins the
entire history Of opera. We shall not look
| upon her like again.