The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-02
La DIVA'S SERENADE
Peerless Patti Receives Her
Friends in a Charming Manner.
DirectOr-She Talks About
Schools of Music.

the world in speaking of her, reached the
city yesterday morning with her half hum
dred NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and all-and en-
joyed the rare balm of the New Years
day. La diva is somewhat exclusive, and.
alas! there was no local patriot to explain
to her that such rare charm of atmosphere
is TO be found only in the capital Of the
Hoosier State, the State whose artistic
tastes have been so often maligned. Nico-
lini, the husband of the peerless, rushed her
into a cab that was waiting at the Union
Station when the train from Kansas City
came in and the rest of the troupe followed
up town, some on foot and some in car
riages. The artists all have rooms at the
Denison. The forid Arditi, the musical di-
rector who has accompanied Patti On all
her farewell American tours Immediately
busted himself to see that his musicians
were properly quartered. In the afternoon
Madam enjoyed an outing with her hus-
and.
The famous songstress was passing
through the marshes of northern Illinois
when the number of the year came TO be
1894, and she was awake to see the annual
presto, changed The artists and instrument
talists of the troup had prepared a little
surprise for her, gathering in her car and
welcoming the new year with sweet sounds.
The Madame is passionately fond of instru-
mental music, and the manager of her tour,
Marcus Mayer, finds that the musicians take
a delight in playing for her in hours and
out of hours. She sent back several cases
OF wine to the troupe as a token of her COM
pliments of the season. A mandolin quartet
in a car adjoining that OF Patti played until
several hours of the new day had worn
away.
Last night brought another serenade.
Shortly before 10 o'clock there was a thrum-
ming of instruments in a store room of
the Denison, a general tuning up, in fact,
for the Madame was to hear several of
her favorite numbers. Trestles were silent
ly carried to the hallway opposite the suite
Of parlors occupied by her and her hus-
band, and over these ~trestles boards were
placed for the accommodation of music
sheets. After all was in order and the in
strumentalists were at their im~provised
stands, Arditi mounted a chair and waited
the signal from Manager Mayer, which.
when given, brought forth the strains of
the Tampa overture. A number of the
ladies in the hotel gathered in the hallway
to catch a glimpse of the queen of song,
and several Of the fair artists Of the troupe
were among them.
1t was only IL minute or two until the door
of the parlor opened slowly. Necks We're
craned to catch a glimpse of the wonderful
little woman, but there was a. moment of
disappointment, for only the valet of Nicol-
nm aP fbe door H eIose clriT fh eead so &lnddepe Of a
violin within the room came through the
open transom. Nicolini had taken out his
violin for a part in the overture. The
door opened again and la. diva came out
alone. Arditi was Swishing the air vigor-
ously with his baton for the closing strains.
his polished brow and forehead shining
under the incandescent light. AS he dropped
his stick he turned TOWARD the door with a
smile. Patti had been listening, and she
seemed thoroughly en- rapport with the
music. She rushed to the little leader-both
are little people-and threw her arms
around his neck, offering him her cheek,
which he at once kissed with fervor. re-
peating the performance on the other cheek
and then again on the first cheek offered.
Her fair friends who were waiting to greet
her received the same favors, with a show
of affection that was passing strange to
the Americans who had gathered in the
hall. After a brief impromptu reception
confined TO her own pCSple, she sat down,
and the leader gave the beck for a gavofte
of his own composition, a very pretty, light
work. The Madame showed an increased
attention, swaying her head in rythm with
the music and beating time with her very
small foot. Nicolini appeared at the door,
almost as coy as a young girl, but his wife
caught his hand and pulled him to a seat
beside her, not once relaxing her hold on
his hand; indeed, squeezing ii, as a quick
turning of his head and a significant beam
ing of face indicated. Again she compli-
mented the leader on his excellent work.
The overture from Martha was given,
and as a final number one CT Gounod's
marches was played. Gounod is a favorite
composer in PATHS list. She was a warm
friend of this famous F~renchman, and once
or twice she turned her eyes to the ceiling.
Her manager said she often thinks of
Gounod. After the serenade the songstress
bid her ladies a farewell, patted Arditi,
and then retired to her apartments. The
melodious voice of the remarkable woman
was only heard in conversation, for she
disappointed a few who hoped that she
might sing just one little song. Said Patti
last night, when called upon by a press
representative:
Yes, L think time has dealt rather leni-
ei.tly with me, and / am, l think, in as
good voice as ever. | certainly have the
same control over, it, and find it as flexible
here in indianapolis is a rare pleasure to
me-"
What of music in general and the Italian
how or where to begin. l am of the opinion
that the classic Italian opera will never
Lose favor; but there is a great advance
has written beautiful music in La Giocon-
do and Mascagni and Le~oncavallo have
also written bars that will live a long
time"
I do not think tina 'Cavalleria Rusti-
cara is a good opera to sing. The part of
SaEtuzza Is very distasteful to me. / do
not like ii for she is screaming all the time.
1 would never attempt to sing La GioconGo
or Santuzza- l am very fond of Wagner.
He has written some music SO great that
1 cannot describe it, but it would ruin my
voice in a very short time. 1t would ruin
any voice in q few years.
MY new opera in one act, by Pizzi, is to
be classified with the works of the new
Italian school. 1t partakes very much of
their methods, because the composer was a
fellow-pupil of Mascagni and L~eoncavello.
Still there is q good deal of Bizet and some
of the French composers in it.
las to the operas that sing, j prefer, of
course, Faust or Carmen in French, and
Lucia La Son lambula' and La Trav-
iata' in Italian. Where the music has been
originally written to French words il cam
not be properly sung in Italian, and vice
musical talent, and [ hope to please on this
appearance, which is my last"
ADJUSTMENTS.