The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
GADsKI AND BIsPHAM.
Their Work in Tannhauser Captures
the Chicago Critics.

Chicago is at present having her season
of grand opera, and it seems from a perusal
of the musical columns Of the METROPOLIS
journals that the reigning Auditorium
heroes and heroinesc are SURPRISING artistic
ally many of the Vtriumphs that have set
Chicago music lovers wild in past years.
Two Of these singers achieving so much of
the passing laudation are stars for the In
dianapolis May music festival-Mme, Cad
ski and David Bispham. Last week Cad
skis role of Elizabeth in 'Tannhauser'
brought down brilliant shower of en-
comiums from the critics. Amy Leslie,
writing Of her in the Chicago News, said:
mime. Gadski sings Elizabeth very beau
tifully, with majestic. force and keenly in
Dictated dramatic instinct. She has none OF
the sullen monotony of Eames nor the regal
tall and a mistress of simple gesture and
pose. Her voice is intensely dramatic and
delightful in quality. With equal elegance
and breadth of style she delivers the brill
liant aira of the second act and the doleful
prayer of the last. In the ensembles with
Wolfram, the Landgrave, Walter and the
great interpreter of Wagner. She sings
with almost lyric charm of tone, coming
from her training in the French rather than
the German school. She is one of the most
graceful and easy ElizabethS of a brief but
memorable list of them. There is no pump
ing for high notes nor yelling of the lower
ones, no stamping of sandaled feet nor wav-
ing deliriously Elizabeth's desirable hand
for the purpose Of extracting strength
neither in the throat nor the mind of the
singer" als4a
OF Bispham, the great high basso, the
same writer has this to say:
Mr.. Bispham was in excellent voice. but
skylarked considerably with pitch in the
recitatives. although Wolfram's magnificent
and fidelity to Wagner Mr.. Bispham's
voice is resonant2and sympathetic, and his
dramatic talent is always evident in the or
namental though exclusive fashion,.
The Inter Ocean said of her work: "a
better Elizabeth than that of Nine. Gadsh
is seldom heardaa Her tone, pure and of
penetrating sweetness, would of itself have
carried the story to sympathetic hearts.
AS it was, the action suited the words, car
RED forward on a plane of high dignity
never 10 exaggeration of sentiment. Not
even in the climax of emotions, when Tam
hauser reveals his true nature, in the con-
test of song scene, was there an unnatural
or forced expression. She sang the prayer
IN the third act with exquisite delicacy and
feeilng- Her tone was 'subdued, to a whis-
per at times, but it carried we'll"
The Tribune's musical critic said: 1.-THE
point first requiring mention would seem
the quite notable advancement made in her
art oy Frau Gadski, not heard here in the
iase two years. On the occasion of her for
mer visit she made, indeed. an exceedingly
pleasing impression, chiefly, also, in the
role which she sang again last evening
hIt she comes to US now with 1ar ruler de-
velopment of powers, not only as a singer,
but in her action, The manner in which
she delivered the Elizabeth music last night
was frequently distinguished by great vocal
beauty and finish. The prayer and the clos
ing portion of the second were the por-
tons. OF the work demanding special com
bued her action so fully in keeping with
the part, Went far toward heaghtening the
impression At the conclusion Of the prayer
she received in the absolute silence of her
audience the trueSt tribute.