The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-20

Adelina Patti. who is now nearing her
siXtieth birthday. will make tour of
the United States this season and VIII
give at least two concerts in St Louis.
Probably no one in the United States is
better acquainted with Adelina Patti and
her family than William Pruett-Signor
Pruetti-who appeared at the Olympic last
week with "A Chinese Honeymoon" MIR.
Pruett made his DEBUT twenty years ago
in PATHS company and previously he had
studied in Rome with his half-brother,
Ettori BartilIi. himself a great barytone
and a greater instructor.
1t was Barilli whom Mime. Patti must
thank for her musical education When
the great diva was a mere girl in short
dresses her half brother saw the posi-
bilities in her voice and he began to cuIti-
yate it.
Nine. Patti was born near Mount Yer
non, y. Y. and later went with her pa
rents 10 Philadelphia 1t was there that
BarIlIi heard the girl sing for the first
time. He took charge of her and when
she was l3 years old began the labor of
cultivating the voice of the miss who was
in later years TO amaze the world with
the wonderful qualities of her vocal or
gans.
Adelina did not take kindly to the in
structions of her half brother She didn't
like his system. He insisted that she de-
vote her time to exercises. Adelina want
ed TO sing songs.
'Barilli had a hard time with the girl
said Pruett. and L remember on several
occasions when he locked her in a room
and told her that she would not be re-
leased until she had practiced for enc
hour. at least. on her exercises 1t was in
a locked room that Patti was made TO
exercise the voice that afterwards made
her famous.
The family of Adellna Patti was
strictly musical. continued Mr.. Pruett.
"A greater barytone or "a greater vocal
instructor than her brother has never
lived. He also had the unusual distinc-
ton of having taught his own mother.
Mime. Barilli, about all'that she knew of
music Nine. Bar1lli WAS one of the great
est dramatic sopranos of her day and
she achieved many successes in Italian
grand opera.
''Nicoli BarilH full brother of Ettore.
was great bass singer and made tri-
Rome. Genoa and other cities in Italy.
Carlo Patti. a full brother of Adelina and
Il half-brother of Ettore. was a great
Violinist and was heard in concert in
many American. cities in the early seven
ties. He was a particular favOrite I'm the
South. and his instruments are among the
valuable relics shown in a famous col
lection in New Orleans resort at the
present time.
''Adelina Patti had two sisters. who
voices. One of them, Carlotta Patti, was q
cripple, and is now dead. The other Ame-
liza. also dead, Is d sister of whom little
has been written In fact. there are few
people in this country or in Europe who
now know of Amelia Patti. yet she was a
famous soprano and achieved nonors in
grand opera long before Adelina PATHS
day.
I Joined PATHS company in Chicago. 1t
was time when the great diva was at
the pinnacle of her fame The opera was
Romeo and Juliet l remember the night
of my debut. as if it were yesterday. l
Paris. was only 20 years old, and
hadn't even learned the art of making
Up / was so young and so youthful in
appearance that a little grease paint was
Italian who made me ready for the stage
put lot Of black on my eyebrows dec |
GRATED me with a heavy black mustache |
and drew dark lines across my forehead |
play or the opera know that Juliet. upon |
the first appearance of Paris, is supposed |
TO look startled; As walked down the |
stage. Patti JulieO. with her back turned. |
upon me. She knew me well and was
expecting in the Paris of the stage TO see. |
in reality. Bill Pruett. Instead she saw |
the hideous Paris that the Italian had |
made of me. and the expression upon her |
face was one of absolute amazement
The audience. understanding the piece, |
thought that PATHS acting was the great |
est bit of realism that had ever been wit |
followed.
''As a matter OF fact. Patti was really |
startled, and it was a minute or two be- |
fore she regained her composure
1t will be a great many years. in my |
opinion. before the world ever sees an |
other Adelina Patti. She is undoubtedly |
the greatest singer the world has ever |
heard and her place will not easily be |