The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-26

A GIRL stepped in C,ont Of an audi
n ence in the tabernacle last even
ing and sang. Greater music was
never heard in modern times.
She sang with the silvery bell-like
tones Of Melba, with the rich, golden
colorings and dramatic expression of
Calve, with the glorious depth and
power of Sembrich. And she was nei-
Their French. German, Spanish, Italian
nor Australian. She was a Utah girl,
born and bred Emma Lucy Gates.
granddaughter Of Brigham Young,
daughter of Jacob T. Gates and Mrs.
Susie Young Gates-tha same little girl
whom scores of that audience had seen
playing about in short dresses not so
Very long ago in Provo. It was hard,
perhaps, for those persons to realize
that little Lulu is a genius. Yet she
IS, and destined, if she lives and pre-
serves her voice and health, to be
known as the greatest singer in the
wide world
As she sans last night, she was in
at least one respect greater than
Calve, MeIba, Sembrich, Patti and the
other vocal stars. Her voice was equal
TO amy. Perhaps she lacked the ripe
ness, the maturity, of those superb vo-
Caiists before whom the musical world
pays humble homage. But she pos
sesses something which not one of them
has or ever will have. 1t is the inno-
cent freshness Of youth, the clear, nat
uTaI beauty that strenuous cultivation
can never gain. Her voice is in May,
H-err IL a
PTS Of spring. She is q years old, with
lie. growth and fame before her.
Homer tells of the sirens who sang
so sweetly that mariners forgot all
else and were drawn irresistibly toward
them, perishiLg on the rocks. There
was Eaught of such treacheTy in the
voice that sang last night, but it wove
subtle spell over all that heard. It
held them bound and euraptured until
one forgot the white-robed figure that
stood in front, forgot the crowd for
got everything except that voice.
An Immense Audience.
The tabernacle was well flIeo. The
galleries were not thrown open, but the
main part of the house contained an
audience that in a smaller building
would have been termed immense. The
Tabernacle choir was at its best under
the leadership of Professor Evan Ste
phens The great organ pealed forth
wcldr0us music at he touch of Pro
fessOr J. J. Mcclellan. The opening
chorus, 'Springtime." composed by
Professor Stephens, was rendered with
great precision and effect by the choir
accompanied with the organ. This pre-
lude brought the audience into the mu-
steal spirit. The sounds of the chorus
died away, and there was a ripple o.
expectancy as the audience waited fOI
the appearance of Miss Gates SOOT
she appeared, and there was a warn
greeting. She wore a simple white
dress and carried a bouquet of white
flowers. Twined in her hair were Z
few white roses. She tripped graceful
y forward amid applause and stepped
upon the rOstrum. There was a trace
of nervous embarrassment in her de
neanor as she tossed her bouquet upOI
the table, clasped her hands and stool
while the prelude came from the or
gan. The rows of bri ght-hued dresse!
and dark coats in the choir and tn
cOlumnar pipes in the old organ made
q striking background for the small
trim figure. From the organ came tn
rich ''vOx humane" tones, and then tn
girl began TO sing. Tt was the aria
Ave Maria" from Mascagnis Cper;
"Cavaueria Rusticana." Calve Ia
sung this many times, ard so hav
other famous singers. but no sweeUe
voice ever undertook it. As she sang
the lights at the summit of the Orgal
were turned on, blazing forth Wei
come and the star, and then Utah.
The aria begins with the sweet
dreamy music that is the spirit of tia
opera The spirit was in the voice
There was the ripping of a Clea
mountain stream, the light graceful
flight OF the swallow-now posing, nov
sOaTiug-and again a rich, resOnan
power that is without comparison,
iE that aria as IL vas sung.
The crowd listened in absolute 81
Ieuce. drinking in every note When j
was ended came applause-not perfume