The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-05
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NINE. PATTI SINGS AGAIN.
Her Voice only "a shadow of What
1t Was, But it is Wonderful
Shadow.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Nine. Adelina Patti, sometime the
worlds greatest singer made her re-
appearance in America last night at
Carnegie Hall after an absence of a
little less than ten years. That a
large audience would be present to
greet her was a foregone conclusion.
There has not been a time within the
memory of men now approaching sec
ond childhood when the name of Patti
would not attract to an opera house
or a concert room hundreds of per-
sons who could not be induced to visit
such places in other circumstances.
Nor has there been any time in TWEEN
ty-f1ve years when there were not
some who went to revive old and beau
tiful memories and to look once more
on the face of the acknowledged Queen
of Song.
1t would be idle to discuss at this
time the actural gifts and artistic &C
complishments of Nine. Patti. For
more than forty years hers has beeen
a name to conjure with, and this last
ing fame has not been groundless. II
M. Maurel in a burst of adulatory
enthusiasm was justified in calling the
vocal organ of Tamagno 1.-The unique
VOICE Oh the WOIiu, what Snail De SdlQ
of the voice which was tuneful at 10,
capable at 10 of delivering with match
less brilliancy and beauty the music
of Lucia" and which to-day at the
age of 60, retains little of its old
tiutelike quality and not a little of its
power?
I The exhibition of Nine. Patti on the
public platform in these days has chief
| ly a historic interest, yet there is
70 s,f.,
| People who are unacquainted with the
| art will, of course, learn nothing, for
Nine. Patti sings, as she always did,
| without apparent thought or prepara-
| ton. Those who know what singing
really means will discern the perfection
of an art which is almost wholly con-
cealed, and will drink in fountains of
information about breathing and tone
production.
Nine. Patti knows as much about
singing to-day as she ever did. and
she always knew all that was to be
known, though it may be true that she
was never able to impart her know
ledge.
And now what sort of an impression
did Patti make last night? Well, she
carries her go years lightly. Her face
Is lined, and the most generous make
up will not hide the ravages of time.
,
which was always a wonder, is still In
the prime of life and bids fair to out
live the face. The gown worn by the
famous singer was a stunning crea-
ton, to be described only in technical
terms by an expert in the art of fem
mime draperies.
Suffice it to say that it was fluffy and
sprinkled with extraordinary flowers,
which might have blossomed in King
4 xlD.- hot Is..I
lace things and fal-lals around the
neck and shoulders.
When Nine. Patti made her first
appearance on the platform, after the
concert had been dragging along for
about three-quarters of an hour, she
was welcomed in the usual manner.
There was a long round of applause,
then a silence. They had come to see
Patti and they saw her.
Those who had preceded her on the
programme had been accompanied by
the orchestra, but now Conductor Ro-
mualdo Saoio sat down at the piano
and played for Nine. Patti while she
sang Luce di quest anima." Many
time and oft had the graybeards in
the house heard her sing that. For
an encore she sang THE Last Rose
of Summer" Then she disappeared,
only to be called back and cheered
and laden with roses.
More long and wearisome numbers
followed, while the audience, the
quintessence of polite endurance, wait
ed and applauded. Finally, at ten
minutes after 10, Nine. Patti appeared
once more and sang her ancient fav-
orite. III Baco.' composed by her
old friend and conductor, the now
dead Arditi. For an encore to that
she sang Home, Sweet Home" in
the style of long ago, if not with the
same voice. and for a second encore
something called THE Last Fare
we'll"
There was nothing by Schubert,
Schumann, Franz or other such people.
Nine. Patti has never been guilty of
posing as an interpreter of standard
lieder. The voice? Swift said he would
die at the top. This unique voice Of the
world is dying at the top and the bot
tom. What Is best of it now is the up
per middle register. In other words 1t
is taking the course of nature; 1t Is
not suffering from i'll usage. I'll treat
ed voices usually get holes in the mid
die. Nine. PATHS voice is still good
there.
Let not this be misunderstood The
voice has certainly lost the freshness
of youth and has taken on slight
acidity, but at the same time 1t is far
and away the freshest voice that has
been heard from 50 old a throat in our
time. Some of the tones heard last
night were those of a woman in the
fulness of her power. But some others
showed signs of wear. especially after
the singer had sung twice.
To those who know what Patti was
twenty years ago it is saddening to
hear her to-day. We shall all wish
that her final season with Col. Maple