The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-26
MISS RUSSELL'S GOWNS.
The One the Great Singer Wore at
the White House.

The Washington Post of last "Wednesday
gives considerable space to Miss Ella Rus
sell. the American prima donna. in whom
indianapolis has a growing interest. since
she is TO appear at the music festival In
May. The article makes an appeal TO the
feminine minds in its description of Miss
RusseI's beautiful gowns. Says the Post:
"AII Americans who believe in the prog
ress of their people and their art must take
an interest i'm such brilliant examples of
talent and industry as shown in Lillian
Nordica, Emma Games. Sibyl Sanderson
! and Ella Russell. The latter. who is ac-
White House to-day. comes on her first
professional visit. She is heralded by a rep
utation, not from England alone. but from
all Europe. Her versatility is so great that
she sings with equal success In opera. ora
torio OF concerts: and owing to her numer-
Gus engagements abroad. one being the
Handel festival in June, she can only re-
main n few weeks in her own country. one
has been feted. she has been honored. and
she has been pronounced one of the great
o~ratOriO singers in the country where ora
torio singing is at its height of perfection
as an art. If one may Judge from her first
appearance i'm New York with the SYM
phony Society on Saturday evening, she e
stay on this side of the water. Her voice
is large I'm tone. her technique very finished,
and her presence most attractive. Directly
after her evening at the White House she
returns to New York to sing the soprano
solos in Mendelssohn's o%ratorio of Elijah
to be given at Carnegie Hall on Friday and
Saturday by the Oratorio Society of New
York.
The gown that Miss Russell will wear
at the White House is one of the most
beautiful ever brought to this country.
This. like her other costumes for her con-
cert appearances. has been made for this
American tour and has not been worn. Ii
is of ivory-white satin. made with a long
train. The entire dress is thickly spangled
tffh itn nGrEI and opOhrnfdnrnh ~
bold artistic designs of vines, leaves and
flowers. At intervals superb figures, mace
of Brussels lace. of the richest description.
ornament this rich gown. and the beauty
of their pattern is revealed by rose-colored
silk laid under the lace. The embroidery
is enriched still further by pearl beads COM
bined with the multitudinous sequins in the
most artistic fashion. The neck of the
bodice is low and garnished with beautiful
lace. while the brilliant embroidery Is re-
peated. Another beautiful gown is of rose
colored satin, also embroidered in the same
rare fashion. but according to a different
design. The sequlns are green. In various
sizes and shapes, but placed with such skill
that the entire garment Is a marvel of
workmanship. Still another is or mauve
satin. also embroidered in silver sequins.
i'm a variety of devices. and varied from the
other gowns by immense panels of rich
point lace: and still another Is of sky-blue
fashion and sprinkled all over at intervals
of about an inch with imitation diamonds
diamantee. as they call II in Paris. where
these marvellous dresses were made. AT a
distance the satin seems TO have been
painted by a clever hand in the most bril-
liant colors Imaginable
After reciting Miss Russeirs earlier sue
cesses abroad the Post continues:
Prague. ST. Petersburg. Moscow. Berlin
and Paris. delighting large audiences. WIN
ming marked attentions and receiving many
Interesting souvenirs from crowned heads.
Her next interesting event was a tour
through Spain. with the famous tenor,
Tamberlick. At Lisbon. Madrid and BARGE
Iona she won MANY SnpppSSpc and 1mnnp
her attentions at the latter city was n
breakfast given i'm her honor by the adj
miral on the flagship of the English squad
ron anchored in the harbor, at which his
Royal Highness. the Duke of Edinburgh.
was present. who. as everybody knows, is
an excellent. Vlollnist and an intense lover
of music. The Spanish fleet. not TO be out
done, paid her the same distinguished at
tention.
Again Miss Russell made a tour through
Russia. where she became such a popular
idol that ii was a frequent occurrence for
the enthusiastic people to take the horses
from her carriage and bear her in triumph
themselves to the hotel. In 1856 she made
her debut I'm London at Covent Garden.
and established herself as a popular prima
donna. In the following year she made a
tour through England. and returned to her
cred the successor to Nine. Aibini' who it
must be ember is also an American
singer who took her name from Albany.
Ne one is more beloved by English audi
ences than Ella RUSSELL says an English
paper. and they have had ample oppor-
tunity To test her qualities. for during the
last five years she has appeared in the
principal soprano parts of at least thirty
operas. Her favorite part is that of Juliet
i'm Gounod's setting of Romeo and Juliet
Next 10 this rank Elsa in 'Lohengrin.'
Elizabeth in 'Tannhauser' and Senta in
The Flying Dutchman.' She has also sung
the leading roles in the 'Nibelungen Tril-
ogy.' No. | did not find Wagner more try
ing than any other composer she replied
when | asked her this question. which is
so much discussed at present. of course
she continued. every part is eXhausting If
one does not know how to save ones self:
but If you know when TO save your energy,
and when TO give il out. why Wagner
make no greater demands on your voice
than any other composer
Miss Russell has also sung at Bucking-
ham Palace in the famous concert room
where so many celebrities have appeared.
Her programme at the White House will
include Liszt's beautiful 'Lorelei.' set To
the old legend of the siren whose singing
from her rock upon the Rhine east a spell
upon the boatmen who heard the fatal
music. and a national song of Spain. which
Is new I'm this country Miss Russell often
introduces this song into the music lesson
in RossiniS Barber of Seville. where the
heroine may select anything she pleases."