Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-01-28
HER AMERICAN DEBUT
Mrs. Pratt as Amneris with Melba
in the Title Role of Aida.

An Enthusiastic Reception and Several
RecalIs---The Critics are Harsh In
Their Treatment of the Performance,
but Mrs. Pratt Is Praised More than
the Others.
Mrs. L. r. Pratt made her American
debut in grand opera with the Damrosch
Il Ellis company at the Metropolitan opera
house in New York Monday night. She
had the part of Amneris the title role of
| Aida being taken by Melba. Mrs. Pratt
was received with great enthusiasm and
had several recalls. Her reception by the
large and fashionable audience was all that
any dGbutante could expect. The finicsl crit
les saw much to criticise and condemn in the
performance, however, and Melba and the
lesser lights were alike marks for their
diatribes. Although Mrs Pratts friends
believe that some of the criticisms of her
work were unjust, they find consolation in
the fact that what was said of her was
more complimentary on the whole than
the statements alb ut Melba or any of the
other artists.
The Springfield Republican had a special
despatch from New York, which gave the
following pleasing version of the p rform-
ance: "Stella Brazzi MRS Harriet Brazor
| Pratt) of BratteborJ, made her debut in
New York this evening as Amners in
| Nerdi's opera aida" simultaneously with
Nine. Melba's first appearance in the title
role. A large audience was present and
the boxes were well filed with society peo-
pie. The piece was in every way an artis-
tic success. Nine Meba was in excellent
voice and sang her part with much spirit
and expression. Nine. Brazil made a very
favorable impression. She acted superbly,
and her performance was thoroughly ap-
preciated by the audience, a duet with
Radames especially evoking much ap-
plause. All through the last act she dis
tinguished herself by fine Interpretation
of her part, and at the end of the first
scene she received several curtain calls.
Critics compare her favorably with Man
teli and Scalchi. In sweetness of tone,
she is considered superior to the former,
her voice approaching in that respect more
closely TO Scalchfs.'
The Mail and Express: "Mme. Stella
Brazzi, an American singer who has been
at Covent Garden for several seasons. and
who has sung also on the continent, made
her New York debut as Amners Nine.
Brazil showed herself competent and ac-
complished singer, and an actress Of much
power though somewhat conventional.
Her voice is Of large compass and its tone,
while not even throughout, is agreeable.
Occasionally, when forcing her notes Nine.
Brazil sang OFF the key, and again, her
voice seemed to flatten out instead Of hold
Ing together as a round stream of sound.
but beside her excellent phrasing and her
sincerity of purpose, these faults were
small"
The Sun was very harsh in its criticism
Of Melba, declaring that when she departed
from the colOrateur of the purely lyric
style her charm is entirely lost, while she
is described as childish and unmpressive.
awkward in gesture, and grotesque in cos
tune. OF Mrs. Pratt, however, the sun
has only words of praise: Mime. Brazzi,
however, gave her audience very agreea-
bic surprise by splendid mpersonation of
Amners. The voice of this ace omplished
artist is rich, sympathetic, and strong.
She made every point that could be brought
ont either vocally or histrionically, so that
her appearance in other roles must be Gag
erly welcomed"
The Herald and the Journal have only
brief review of the opera, but hu.h refer
omplmentariy to Mrs. Pratt. Tie Her
aid says; "Signora Brazil, who made her
New York DEBUT, was vOcally alrl dramat-
ically an interesting Amneris." The Jour
nal: "Mme. Brazil made fine Impression
as Amneris. She has a rich, resonant
voice and a good deal of dramatic ability"
The Times simply castigates each one of
the principals and Mrs. Pratt receives this
criticism: "Mme. Stella Brazil made her
first appearance with the company as Am
neris. Now, Amners is quite as difficult
part to perform well as Aida, and is more
difficult to fill because contraltos equal to
its demands are rare. Mime. Brazil was
conventionally acceptable in the part. Her
voice is by no means one of power fine
quality, or distinction, but it was at least
capable of uttering the notes of the part.
She phrased her music correctly, and show
ed herself TO be in a general way acquaint-
ed with the traditions of this opera and
with the routine of her business. OF in
spiration or dramatic force it was not easy
to find any evidence"
The Tribune regards the title role as un-
suited to Melba, and scores the other
members of the cast, treating Mrs. Pratt,
however, with more consideration than any
of the others, saying of her: "A newcomer,
Mme. Brazzi, enacted the part of Amneris,
and her performance, though far from per
feet Vocally, was yet the only one worthy
of being paired with Signor Campanari's
as an exposition of dramatic contents.
She is an American woman, with a good
presence, real warmth of feeling and cor
rect insticts. Her voice, however, is i'll
schooled and uneven, the lower register
forced and hollow"
The Commercial Advertiser "The Am
neris was Nine. Brazzi, an American who
sang the first time in this country. Her
voice in the lower and middle registers is
not of a pleasant quality, but she uses it
well, sings with taste and phrases with
judgment. Amneris, like all the roles of
the opera, makes great call on dramatic
ability, and it takes a woman of much
temperament to do justice to the jealous
fury, the unreasoning love of the daughter
of the Pharaohs. Brazil put considerable
fire into her singing and at times realized
the intensity of the music. She gave
good conventional Interpretation of the
part and was quite equal to the average