The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-21
MISS RUSSELL AND ROYALTY.
commanded" to Sing Before Queen
XtctOrin u Number of Times.


A successful prima donna knows many
golden hours, but her greatest honor comes
when she is commanded Ito sing before
royalty" No matter how much the press
and public praise her, she is still climbing
the ladder until she receives this royal in
dorsement.
This honor has come into the life of Ella
Russell number of times in her brilliant
London career The first occasion was
January, 1889. when she was commanded by
Queen Victoria to sing at the state concert
at Buckingham Palace. In all the long his
tory of similar affairs there never was one
so brilliant on it's social side or whose music
was as pleasing. These state concerts are
always late functions, and they are marked
by elaborate ceremonies. The Prince and
Princess of Wales, accompanied by mem
bers of the royal family, conducted by the
Earl of Latham lord chamberlain, and
attended by the great officers of state, the
mistress of the robes, and the ladies and
gentlemen in waiting, entered the ballroom
of the palace, shortly after IL o'clock. when
the concert Immediately commenced. Her
Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales,
wore dress of black satin and MORE an
tique stripe, trimmed panels OF tinsel Jet
embroidery, with silk trimmings of Brus-
sells tulle dotted over with jet tasSels; cor
sage to correspond; headdress, a tiara OF
pearls and diamonds; ornaments, pearls ana
diamonds. She wore the following orders:
Victoria and Albert the crown Prince OF
India; ST. Catherine of Russia, st. John or
Jerusalem, the Jubilee Commemmoratlon
Medal and the Danish Family Order.
Miss Russell was especially signaled out
for the royal favors, and her singing was
the most brilliant feature of a concert that
was of superior excellence accorolng 10 me me
papers of the next day. At this GonceTt the
Princess of Wales came to Miss Russell ana
congratulated her on her great success ana
also upon her performance OF IraVldI5a
at the opera two nights previous. me
Prince of Wales attended Miss Russell
first performance in rRigoletto ana was
1ali cd with shortly u
a request" performance was given for the
entertainment of the royal family:
The Hartford Daily Times said OF MISS
Russell, at her recent appearance there:
But, after ALL we knew something or the
festival orchestra. We knew nothing OF
Miss Russell. But not person present
Yesterday afternoon who does not to-day
class her with the great singers or the
world. very large, clear soprano voice;
by the severe vocal tests of yesterday after
noon who reached their heights and depths
with seeming ease ana reserve, she pos
sesses a dramatic tone color ana a grand
method that at once assign her to heroic
parts There is not much lyric quality and
only a measurable emotional expression IN
her broad firm tones But the dramatic is
in every vibration And when she sang the
magnificent Oberon aria, and in turn eX-
pressed horror grief, rage, then hope ana
JOY, it was demonstration OF power and
of dramatic expression which Appealed 10
every one, and the response or the audience
was overwhelming. Applause without emu
shouts of Bravo, the most tumultuous man
ifestations followed the close of the song,
and Miss Russell was forced to appear
again and again. and finally to sing once
more. 1t was a Scotch song, and rendered
with much charm-but the grand style suits
the lady better When she sang Liszts
beautiful dramatic picture of the .Lorelei'
she was again at home, and, WONDERFUL 10
say, rendered that lyric, dreamy music with
an intonation and expression that fully car
ried IT'S spirit. This was the loVehest num-
Der of the concert. Moreover, the enuncia-
ton of Miss Russell is SO clear that one one
does not lose a word of her song The
'Tannhauser' number, Elizabeths greeting,
Torrance. The Joy and the love-thrill of
the text were ringing in the notes of the
singer, and one was completely fascinated
sDlendor of her Vocalism. Miss Russell,
once for al, won the hearts of her audi