The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-16
NINE. MELDA GREETS
CITYS MUSIC LOVERS
Heard Enthusiastically by Fashionable
Washington-Voice Void of Emotion,
But Superlatively Trained.

Nine. Nellie Melba appeared yes
terday at the National Theater to sing
three songs. In anticipation of
her coming, fashionable Washing
ton flocked to the building, chiefly
in carriages, and filled II to
overlooking. Then for two hours and
a half these people sat entranced by
one of the most marvellous voices in the
world, developed to approximate per-
lection. but as void OF sentiment emo
ton. and power as the shrill treble OF a
child. With Nine. Melba appeared
Charles Gilbert, baritone; Ellison Van
Hoose. tenor; Ada Sassoh. harp;
Llewella Davies. at the piano; c. K.
North, fiute-a supporting company of
much strength. The concert was due
10 the enterprise Of Miss Wilson, and IL
is pleasant to record that her energy
was alphabetically and substantially
rewarded.
The estimate of Nine Melba's vocal
accomplishments set forth above is now
accepted by the foremost critics in
every city where Nine. Media has sung.
1t justihes itself invariably when the
artist undertakes works like the mad
scene from Ambrose Thomas Ham
let"-which was performed yesterday
afternoon in characteristic style-when
wild emotions, extravagant expressions
of sentiment, and uncomfortable i'm
pulses are all pronounced like the words
of a serenade or the grooming of
lullaby.
But that estimate ought not to blind
one to the many and superlative merits
of MeIba's art. Her singing today re-
fleets the most successful methods of
voice culture applied to voice of ex-
traOrdinary quality and range 1t IS
an experience long to be remembered
merely to note with what consummate
skill her notes are formed. how aptly
and intelligently her songs are phrased.
and how marvelously her breathing is
controlled TO hide all the effort and yet
to give her singing unequaled evenness
and unfaltering sustaining power.
In this sense her performances yester-
day afternoon were an unusual delight,
and ought to be productive Of much
good. There has been so much writing
of late in favor of soul" and ''senti-
ment'' in music that our students bid
fair to underestimate the need for thor
ough technical training and the advan-
tages of complete mechanical equip
ment. No one. surely. who heard Nine.
Melba yesterday could doubt the value
Of either uuality-a contamination for
which Washington voice teachers ought
to be deeply grateful
Her selections reflected her limita-
lions exactly. They were the aria
"Ardor glIncensi" from Lucia; the mad
scene from Hamlet" and the valse
| from the Romeo and Juliette' OF Gou-
nod Not one Of these belongs with
what the Germans classify as genuine
music" But all three permit the use
| of the singers full resources and the lis
play of every adornment of her voice
But the result was as empty OF human
sentiment as the sound Of the flute
| which accompanied the performance OF
the aria from Lucia" Two encore:
and much bowling and kissing of thu
hand acknowledged the rapturous ap
plause with which her several appear
ances &are rewarded.
Mr. ibert disclosed rather a mod
erat, ce admirably trained and con
tIol Mr.. Van Hoose proved to be
tendRof much voice and not overmucl
training Mr.. North, with the flute, an'
Miss Davies, at the plano, gave full
satisfaction. Chief interest in the sup
port. however, rested with Mile. Sas
soil, who played the harp with a tech
meal skill and fine musical sensibilit,
welcome indeed in a concert Of -four
ishes and ornament A. d. A.