The San Francisco call., 1897-01-22
BALDWIN RAJ TERS
RING ONCE AGAIN
Another Evening With
Madame Nordica and
Her Troupe.
Preliminary Numbers More.
Warmly Received Than
Scenes From Opera.
The Last Act From "Il Trovatore"
Well and V ry Effectively
Rendered

The second Nordica-Scalcbl concert took
place at the Baldwin Theater last night
and brought together an even larger au-
dience than that of the opening concert.
there was larger number of people
standing who were unable to procure
seats. There was almost as much toilette
display as on Monday and the big theater
hat was delightfully."- conspicuous by its
absence.
A rather singular feature of these con-
certs is that the audience manifests in
finitely more satisfaction and delight over
the miscellaneous portion of the pro-
gramme than over the operate act which
brings them to close. This is the more
rema rkable as both Nordica and Scalchi
are remarkable for their skill as actresses.
The miscellaneous part of the pro-
gramme last night opened with the over
ture by Cherubini, "The Water Carriers" :"
which was agreeably played by the orches-
ira conducted by Isadore Luckstone. All
through the concert M. Luckstone did
unostentatious but very efficient service
by his sym pathetic accom- mpaniment.
J. c. Dempsey, the baritone basso OF the
organization, was the first vocalist to ap.
pear and was very warmly greeted.
He sang HandePs Honor and Arms" I"
which abounds with that forid vocaliza-
ton with which Handel delighted TO tax
the abilities of a singer. Mr.. Dempsey
was equal to the occasion, however, for he
performed all the runs and turns with a
smoothness and ease which did credit to
his act. There was lack of the breadth
and ma jesty of true oratorio style about his
Interpretation of Honor and Arms" but
it is only a carping public that demands
every hing, and the public last night was
so pleased with Dempsey's finished vocali-
zation that it gave him quite an ovation
and would not be satisfied till he had sung
again. The singer gave quain. Irish
ditty, "Off to Philadelphia, and sang it
in the daintiest possible way.
Nine. Scalchi, who was rapturously re-
ceiyed sang the recitation and aria from
Gluck's "Orpheo," in which Orpheus
laments over his lost wife.
Her Interpretation of the beautiful reci-
tation, "Sposal EuradiceP' was a mag
nifcent piece OF dramatic singing, and her
rendering of the aria, ''Che Faro Senza
lovely air which age and constant use
never seem to stale. Here and there
Scalchi's notes sounded worn in the 'che
faro" but this effect was only momentary
and was more than atoned for by her ar
tistic Interpretation and by her rich low
notes.
Of course the audience would not let
had sung Gounod's "Mandolinata" charm
ingly, still another encore was demanded
and she gave "Annie Laurie" with repe-
tition of Monday nights success.
Barron Berthold, the tenor, has evil
IDENTIFY not studied those mods ana beeks
and weathed smiles" and other littl
mannerisms wherewith lyric artists so
frequently seek to enhance their popular
ity with the public; in fact, his platform
manner is almost brusque.
He dashed on the stage in way that
caused a politely subdued little litter last
night, and when his aria from Verdfs 81
Lom bardP brought him a decided en-
core be seemed surprised and a little
aggrieved, though he responded gracefully
enough with Clays ''Pll Sing Thee Songs
of Araby." 1t is pity to see 80 much
voice going to waste, SO to speak
for want of more intelligent
way of using it. The voice is
there, and good teal of dramatic in
stinct are there also, but Berthold' 8
throaty way of producing his tones mars
what would otherwise be good work. One
can pardon even throatiness, but for q
tenor to indulge in unmixed falsetto, even
though it be but one note, is unpardon-
able in lyric artist of Berthold's fame;
and that is what he did at.the end of 'I'll
Sing Thee Songs of Araby."
Nordica received great ovation on her
appearance. All through the performances
the numbers she sang were better calcu-
lated to win her applause than those she
gave on Monday-the dramatic qualities
of her voice were more in evidence and
the thinness OF her upper tones was not so
apparent. Nordica deserved every hand
clap and every 'bravoP she received for
her rendering of ''Dich Theure Halle"
from "Tannhauser.'
She was magnifciently dramatic in her
interpret alton, and her voice rang out
rich and clear, and without the straining
and effort that marked the Hungarian
aria she gave on Monday.
OF course, an encore was demanded, and
Nordica sang Foerster's "1ch Liebe Dich''
in a broad and spirited style. The audi
ence was not satisfied then, however, so
she obligingly reappeared and sang robin
Adair" as effectively as ScaIchl had sung
"Annie Laurie"
The last act of I'll Trovatore' closed the
performance. As Leonora, Nordica was
much more in her element, vocally speak
ing, than she was on Monday as Mar
guerite. The miserere scene was most
dramatically sung and acted, and yet,
strange to say, the audience took it all
coldly. Dempsey as the Count di Luna
was not in his element: he was rot dra-
matte enough, and showed absolutely no
ability for singing recitative.
In the prison scene Scalchi and Bertnold
were clamorously encored for the duet,
t.Ai Nostri Monti," though truth to say
It was ScaIchi's dramatic singing that won
the encores.
The next concert will be tomorrow
afternoon, and the farewell concert will
take place on Sunday night.