The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-22
A TREAT FOR MUSIC LOVERS


Circumstance and good fortune afforded
seattle mustc-loyers an opportunity last
night 10 hear the greatest living contralto.
n large element OF the discriminating ones
awaited itself OF the occasion and literally
niied the Seattle theater TO listen TO Nine.
soma Scaichi and the members OF her
splendid company who render such ade-
auate support to her. II was the frs. time
,nat Nine. Scalchi has visited this city;
ana her reception was q generous one.
Inc audience Was particularly fashion,
abe. fulI dress prevailing In ali parts Of
the theater
Scalchi's first number was fifth on the
programme. and her magnificent voice
found expression In Meyerbeers cava,ina,
Nooii Signor." from Les Huguenois."
The marvellous tones rolled out and filed
the theater as had never a voice before.
and the audience sat spellbound until the
Close or the solo, Then the most enthusi-
astic hand-clapping brought her smiling
before her hearers again. and In response
70 The recall she sang the gsvotte from
Mignon." 6t.li the audience would not
be satisfied. and the diva exhibited her
Hmitless resources by q transition from q
number OF great briliiancy to the simple
Annie Laurie" which was piaintively
rendered without the slightest aYectation
or departure from the old-time score.
Scalchis technique Is facile and per-
vades the entire range OF her almost limit
less possibilities. There seems TO be some.
thing in her art that 10 not confined by
any restrictions. and her variety OF styles
ali partake OF a melodious fiuency that has
placed her a. the head OF the list of tho
worlds dramatic contraitos. In her facility
lies the secret OF her operate successes.
Seattle bowed down and worshIped at the
shrine OF art last night. and heard such
music as Is rare privilege for far West
ern audiences to hear.
In her company Is Sig. Albert, whose
frs, number was the toreador song, from
Carmen" which was sung with all the
swagger and braggadocio that the lines cali
for. Sig. Alberti has q splendid voice OF
wide range and great power. His presence
is particularly pleasing. and his rendition
OF his solo earned an enthusiastic encore,
to which he gave the ''Dl Provvenza" from
La Traviata." and followed another de-
mand with III Balen,' from III Trova-
tore"
Mile. Tou,inguet's aria. '"Fors a Lui."
from "Traviata." showed q soprano voice
OF great fexihilty and range. Her
cadenxas and the general technique en-
pioyed place heb in an enviable place
among the operate sopranos of the day.
For an encore she sang 1.-THE Last Rose OF
Summer" beautifully. earning q grateful
recall from the audience.
MT. Mcqueen mas q uTst-fate tenor voice,
particularly good in the middle register.
In his solo '"Then You'll Remember Me-"
from 1.-The Bohemian Girl" and in the
quartette at the close OF the first part OF the
programme he was disposed TO shade his
voice dangerously close to a sharpness that
was not agreeable. For an encore to his
solo he sang LA Donna 4 Mobile" from
"Rigoletto."
Mile. du Bedat. the mezzo-soprano OF
Nine. Scalchfs company, was brilliant In
her singing OF Una voce POGO Fa on
Barb!ere"), and to hearty demand for an
encore she gave RoeckeI's Number Two"
A second number on the programme allot-
ted 10 Mile. du Bedat was ''Staccato
Waltz by Mulder. and for a recall she
sang "Woman's Way" both being effect
i've. particularly the waltz. which was
fine exhibition Of her capacity 10 handle
the qualities named in its title.
Part two Of the programme was tho
fourth act OF II Trovatore." with the fol-
lowing cast:
Lenora ....-.-.....-.........Ml Mile. Tonlinguet
Count oil Luni. ..-,............... Sig. Alherti
The act was presented In costume, with
adequate stage settings and properties
I, closed a remarkable performance, which
win stand az one Of the musical treats in
xxstf e. g.