The San Francisco call., 1901-11-17

- another story where a singer is
concerned. Not Wagner at his
a u mightiest, not the first night
excitement, not Sembrich the
glorious, nor the regal Eames, drew such
a house as greeted Sypn Sanderson last
night down on Mission street The crowd
overhowed the seating capacity and stood
three deep round the edges of the house,
TO do honor to the former Sacramento
girl on her debut here after sixteen years
absence.
All the gauds were out, the swellest
gowns, and. the house was an unforget-
able picture in itself. 1t was q. sump-
tuous greeting to the errant native
daughter, and a rather fine thing in the
way of patriotism.
There was applause a-plenty flowers
raining over the footlights, and all the
accustomed machinery of welcome work
ing overtime to greet the fair Californian.
Naturally she was nervous, but respond
ed in gracious and apparently self-con-
ta1ned fashion to the friendliness of the
audience, and as an arrangement in well
comes the evening must be voted a bril-
liant success.
The opera chosen for the singers debut
here was Massenet's chocolate creamy
''Manon Lescaut,' Opera comique" as
they call it in Paris-than which nothing
more startling in the way of contrasts
from 'Dies Walkure' of the evening be-
fore could have been devised It's light
some loves and airy sorrows came with an
almost profane comicality after the very
serious business of the weeks grand opera
and it left one with that curious feeling
that the average person has after swal-
lowing a vegetarian banquet.
There is nothing to- the opera, as the
phrase goes, and it has no place on a
grand opera programme. Still we had to
have Sybil, and the opera was written
for her. She has sung it some ESQ times
in Paris and st. Petersburg, and she was
drilled to its exigencies by Massenet him
self, as Leslie Carter was Belascoed into
shape for ''Zaza-" Nine. Sanderson GER
ta1nly knows "Manon" upside down; yet
she was nervous enough last night to
need the assistance of the prompter sew
eral times. so perhaps certain leeway
must be granted to her.
But, judged from her work in "Manon"
last night, Nine Sanderson cannot sing
now, whatever she may have done once
The voice has gone, the control has gone,
and only once-in her duet in the chapel
at st. Sulpice with Des Grieux-did her
song give any evidence of the kind of
thing that drew Paris and St Petersburg
to her feet but few years ago. There
she was at her Best vocally, but, though
she is "of ours." it must be regretfully
owned that SybiI Sanderson has no place
in grand opera, and that even "Manon"
overweights her so far as voice is con-
cerned.
@ 49, + + + ! ! ...--.-l
lish novelist, Charles Dickens, or his
works. Mrs. Meynell's father and Dick
ems were intimate friends and the lee
turer has many personal anecdotes to tell
of the great writer. The public is cordi-
ally invited to attend the lecture. No
| cards Of admittance will be necessary.
|
On Tuesday, November 26, society will
have a chance to greet the famous singer,
Madame Sanderson-Terry at tea, to be
given in her honor by Mrs. Boardman. at
her home on Franklin street
The Misses Loughborough will give a
/ large tea Tuesday at their home on
OFarrell street. Another large affair for
Tuesday is the lunch to be given by the
Misses Harrington at the University
Club.
The tea Mrs. Henri Martinez will give
on Wednesday aftefL.f7n in honor of