The Washington times., 1902-01-01
Brilliant Audience GPe0tS
Great Artist.
MUSICAL WASHINGTON TURNS OUT.
Americas Loading Prima Donna,
in Admirable Voice and Spirit,
Renders a Delightful Programme
of Songs, German, French, and
English, Before Crowded House.

a
at the song recital given by Nine. Nordica
yesterday at the New National Theatre
A more brilliant afternoon or audience
has never been seen at the Capital
tout Washington" was there-at least
this is what l am told by persons who
oughl to know. And the audience was
as deeply interested in the work Of the
great artist as it was distinguished in il
self
It is a gratifying thing to know that
when such an opportunity as Mime.
Nordica granted The music lovers Of this
city presents itself. they are prompt 10
avail themselves of it and make the most
of il
Perhaps after all Washington is a
musical city: but the purveyors of good
music-or the people TO whom we look
TO purvey good music-have been indiifer-
ent in their offerings and disposed to dis
credit cur tastes and our culture. Mr.,
Maurice Grau or MIR. Charles Ellis of the
Boston symphony concerts also ought to
have been here yesterday afternoon at the
Nordica recital. 1t would have done them
So but it would have done them good. just
the same They would have learned a
lesson which they would not have soon
forgotten. They would have learned that
Washington's music lovers are multi
tudinous when they know what they are
going to get. and that they know how to
estimate the value of the art
III 1tr,fv arsl-.
Now for the recital.
Mere technical criticism is out of place.
! will leave that for our music teachers
and enthusiasts of the inner brother
hood" Of course. no one disputes the
fact that Madame Nordica is easily first
the greatest of American prima donnas.
Without cataloguing the many distin-
gulshed American sopranos. dramatic and
coIorature. each eminent in her specially.
it is no discredit TO them 10 say that in
Nine. Nordica American music has its
greatest vocal exponent.
\ woman and an artist who can thrill
you with the passionate power OF the
music of Isolde and draw your tears and
laughter with the pathos and humor OF
Nevin and Staunton's little coon song,
mighty LAX a Rose" and who can do
one as well as the other; whe can stir
you to the depths OF your soul by her
superb impersonation of Brunehilde
and charm you as she renders the BEL
Canto" of Mozart and Rossini-what can
be said of her if it is not spoken in ad-
miration of her wonderful gift of song?
Gift? Yes. to be sure; but anyone who
knows the career of Lille Norton, the lit
tie Maine girl, who told me herself that
she was raised in q little Maine town
that had never heard any better music
than the bleating of the village brass
band Cshe might have added until she
came back TO town. must know one
thing-that it was really hard work and
perseverance, and, best of all, brains,
that put her where she now stands-on a
pedestal by herself.
Yesterdays recital was n rare lesson to
young women and young men who are
students of voice culture. 1t is to be
hoped that they profited by it. They may
not have another opportunity TO learn so
much again uaJil Nine. Nordica returns TO
Washington, which let us hope will be
soon.
But what did she sing? Well, it was a
cleverly arranged programme. 1t was not
too light and not too heavy. a group of
French songs. group of German songs,
and a group Of songs in English. Take
her French songs first. A charming bit
was her initial number, Isl Mes Vers, .
by Hahn. A fine example of musical
dramatic diction was her singing of Web
ber's la Rose" It was almost an opera
in itself. The delicacy of her vocal
mechanism was capitally exhibited in
Les Files de Cadiz" But when she came
TO the German songs and sang Grieg's
impassloned "Ich Liebe Dich" with all
the ardor Of burning soul, before the
last note had died away every man in the
audience that wasn't stick felt like
rushing up and exclaiming, DO you mean
me, Nine. Nordica?" Then, too. she sang
Schumann's "Widmung," and his dreamy
'Lotusblume" with exquisite effect Next
came Franz's song. "Stille Sicherheit" "
BY the way, it is not the only lovely song
that Franz has written. If you do not
know them all. better get Franz's album
quickly as you can. You'll be well repaid
The English group of songs was in
troduced by "The Robin Sings" one of
MacDowell's delightful compositions,
What a pity it was that Nine Nordica did
not give US more OF MacDowell. Mac
DoweH is one Of the best of American
composers, and We cannot have too much
Of him. Witness his "Thy Beaming
them up, if you haven't them already
Rogers AT Parting" made a great hit
You remember it starts The sweetest
flower that blows" 1t Is simple and
melodious, and real heart music and
Nine. Nordica sang 1t as such. and well
deserved the encore. to which she re-
sponded by repeating IT. The ''Serenadc."
by Richard Strauss, also proved very in
teresting. 1t is good melody. and has
cieyerly characteristic and Illuminating
accompaniment.
The jollity with which Nine. Nordica
sang as an encore when Love Is Kind,
that merry old English ballad, was in
fectious, and as the audience caught the
spirit II reflected it back to the platform
and heightened the geniality OF Nine.
Nordica's Interpretation. The manner in
which our Brunehilde sang this song and
Nevin's little coon ditty convinced me
that she would make as great a hit on
the farce-comedy stage as the hitherto
inimitable May Irwin has done.
The recital closed with a brilliant aria
from Hungarian opera with a queer
name which it is unnecessary TO repeat.