The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-04
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the recital It was a swagger audience,
an unusually prompt audience. an appre-
ciative, but at no time wildly demon
/ strative, audience
/ Even Society arrived early last night.
Gorgeous cloaks were in evidence. Pre-
slimably those coats covered gorgeous
gowns. But the gowns were not display
ed last night, for the church was decid-
/ ~ cold. Unfortunate early arrivals shiy-
| cred in their furs. Even the late corners
did not venture to dispense with all their
wraps. But. fortunately, this is season
OF gorgeous el0aks, so, in spite OF the
chill that pervaded the auditorium last
night, the lower floor, at least, present
ed a brilliant appearance. By half after
/ 8 every scar in the big auditorium was
/ occupied, and rot few people found
standing room in the rear of the church.
Exactly at half past 8, Secretary Grace
ordered the doors closed. and over 2.000
! pairs of expectant eyes Immediately be-
| came fixed on the stage
There was little rustic toward the
right OF the stage, near the plano An
| answering rustic pervaded the audience.
Finally, imposing, beautifully gowned,
/ richly jeweled. Nine. Nordica appeared,
| led by her accompanist. Mr.. E. Ro-
/ mayne Simmons. The great artist bow
ed graciously and smiled-not a prima
donna smile, but warm, human sunny,
irresistible smile Richly gowned in white
| satin, which was completely covered with
| shimmering and spangled net. a diamond
| tiara on her blonde head. diamond
necklace clasped about her white throat,
diamonds in her ears-Mme. Nordica pre-
scented truly gorgeous stage appear
| ance. The aecomranist played the OPEN
| ing bars to Elsa's Dream. The prima
| donna glanced at her programme, then
| looked about her irresolutely, smiled,
| then shiyered. 1t was the merest suS-
| picion of a shiver but it seemed to COM
municate itself to the sympathetic Mr..
Simmons. He stopped playing, and Nor
! dlca, still smiling. leaned over and whis-
! pered a few words. Instantly Mr.. Sim
mons rose and disappeared behind the
| piano. The, audience breathlessly watched
his ting figure. The prima donna
| alone looked unconcerned. In less than
| two minutes Mr.. Simmons was back, and
| the women in the audience gave a little
| gasp of admiration. For the gallant ac-
companist bore the merest trfhe In the
way of fluffy white wrap. Snilingly
| the prima donna received it and wrap
| ped it about her shoulders. Then she
! glanced at either door which leads to
| the dressing rooms behind the stage.
| Plainly Nine. Nordica had no intention
| by exposing it to any stray draft. But the
| doors were satisfactorily arranged, and,
| at length, the audience settled down to
| an evening of enjoyment, pure and SIM
| PIE.
! Nordica's programme has been much
discussed. 1t proved a satisfying one for
| last nights audience, however. Evident
| ly the prina donna has no intention of
| Using UP her voice on her present con-
cert tour. With the exception of "Brunn-
| hides Call from Wagners 'sWalkure, :"
and Allitsens Song of Thanksgiving, >
| there was no number on the programme
| last night that called for special effort
| on the part of the singer. There was alb
solutely no display of vocal pyrotechnics.
Instead, centented audience listened to,
| for the most part, simple songs, often
familiar songs, sung faultlessly by a
great artist. A register that is perfectly
even and of velvety smoothness through
out, superb tonal qualities, remarkable
elasticity and suppleness-these most sa-
lient characteristics of Nordica's beauti-
full voice have been commented on again
! and again. That final note in Hahn
Isl Mes Vers,' and the closing one in
'Brunnhilde's Call, suggest the wide
range Of an artists soprano Her voice is
like a ruby 1t is rich, glowing, alive
with color, responsive to every ray of
light thrown on it from composers
genius. One forgets the polish and the
brilliancy in admiring the '.hGmanness'' of
the voice. .Elsa's Dream the first
number on the programme, was delight
| fully sung, but not until she had finished
the group that followed did the singer
completely arouse the enthusiasm of her
audience. Hakns Isl Mes Vers," a
plant of restrained passion EidaTs
'Ariette' and Delibes' whimsical Les
Files de Cadix''-all revealed some new
and delightful quality in Nordica's voice
A tender lullaby, sung with simple wom-
AMY tenderness, rewarded a persistent
encore. Mozart's 'Voi che Sapete'' was
the excuse for another encore from the
audience and graciously the prina donna
responded, this time singing a German
ballad. A group of English songs was
sung next, Rogers "At Parting Ham
deFs Angels Ever Bright and Fair"
and Allitsen's Song of Thanksgiving.
Always a fayorite, it is doubtful if this
last named song has ever been sung in
st. Paul with finer effect than it was
sung last night by Nordica Two German
lieder, Grieg's Itch Liebe Dich,', and
Francs "Stille Sicherheit," and a sere-
made by Strauss were followed by a bit
of nonsensical rhyme set to good music
When Love Is Kind And last of all
was given the call of that war maiden.
"Brunnhilde." The wonderful drama tic
power of Nordicas voice was well dis
played in this Wagner number. She
made her audience forget the woman in
evening gown and jewels. That audience
saw only the warlike maiden on her
horse. the flame woman from the
North.
Especially fortunate has Nine Nordica
6een IN the choice of an accompanist
So fine an artist is Mr.. Simmons that in
his accompaniments he effaces himself
altogether-the audience is only conscious
of the complete harmony of piano and
voice. Mr.. Simmons had an opportunity
in his solo work last night of demon
strating how gifted a pianist he is. The
audience enthusiastically testified by a
vigorous encore its appreciation of his
playing.
The patrons of the Metropolitan opera
house have the opportunity of enjoying
genuine dramatic treat in Her Lord
and Master, in which Herbert Kelley
and Effie Shannon have scored a great
triumph. 1t is a play that depends SIM
ply upon its merits and on the manner in
which it is produced for its success; the
co-stars are supported by splendid
company, and the performance is enc of
the best of the season. The engagement
will close with matinee and night pe.-
formances today.
The serious interest in Sweet Clover"
which is announced for the Metropolitan
tomorrow night, is sustained by quar-
.tette of actors spoken as being an I'M
usually well balanced and talented Iot.
Miss Adelaide Thurston plays the star
part, that Of Lois Holcombe, a young
girl who gives up her real love to marry
the man of her fathers choice Otis q.
Thayer will play Jerome Holcombe, Al
bert Slade, young artist. will be played
s by Francis III. Hope, and the husband,
Eldridge Gresvenor, is to be acted by