The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14

Of the concert-March 2. Ee says that the
tour has been an uninterrupted success
through the West and that Nine. Patti has
not missed a single concert. Her health
is most remarkable" said Mr.. Grau to the
writer. when you think of the many
great prima donnas who are never to be
relied upon on account Of trifiing indispo-
%sitions, real or imaginary, you realize that
Patti is a most unusual singer. Only once
during this tour has she felt in the least out
of sorts. That was in Atlanta when she
suffered from a Sigh cold, but she APP
peared at the concert and sang just the
same. She really enjoys s~inging-there's
no doubt of that-and she loves to please
an audience. AS the indianapolis concert
will be her only appearance in Indiana, and
positively the last opportunity for people
hereabouts TO hear her sing. L look forward
to a very successful visit IN this city.
A song recital will be given next Wednes-
day evening at the studio of Mrs. Mary
Jeffery Christian on Ashland avenue, most
of the participants being pupils of Mrs.
Christian. The following singers will be
on the programme: Miss Ada Salmon, Ed
win Hicks. Clyde Long, Arthur Long, Miss
Annabel Day, Miss Gertrude Wilmington,
Miss Lula Robinson, Miss Clara Peckman,
Miss Fay Fulmer, Miss Helen Egan, Miss
George Holland, Miss Edna OVerman, Ben
jamin SwarthOut, Miss Addie Plumme and
Miss Lola Long.
Hern2pS no IllSl d tNtT DScn 1T =
cipient of a more amusing and unexpected
compliment than that paid by the late King
of Holland to Mr.. Augustus Van Biene, the
famous '%cellist, when he gave a perform
ance before the Dutch court some years
ago. Being under the impression that the
King had a great liking for music of a
vigorous and dramatic character, Mr. Van
Biene gave q selection which required more
than the usual energy and effort TO play.
At the conclusion the 'cellist was warmly
thanked by the King, who, after express
ing himself as highly delighted with the
music. added: ''Of all the '~cellists l have
heard, and they include Patti, DavidOff,
Pepper and other great artists, you, here
Mr.. Van Biene politely bowed naturaly
expesting 10 be told he was the greatest
you. Mr.. Van Biene, perspire the most
One great piece OF fun, i'm which EdOuard
de Reszke and 1 were wont to indulge for
the especial amusement of Jean, was an
imitation of the later declamatory style of
Wagner. At the same time neither brother
knew by heart two consecutive bars Of any
more advanced score than that Of "Lohen-
grin" Edouard, however, shared the Won
derful initiative faculty of his elder
brother, and had a sufficiently good no
ton of the character of Wagnerian reci-
tative TO be able 10 caricature it with IA
cility. Accordingly, | would impTOvise up
on the piano a fearful and wonderful
series of leitmOtiVen, varied by strange
d~issonahces and startling modulations.
which Edouard for his part would follow
from KEY tC key with marvellous a~lertness.
declaiming the while the most unvocal
phrases I'm an impossible g%utteral language
which might easily have been mistaken
for Chinese as for German. The effect of
this absurd improvisation a deuX was GER
AAI Ia
il evoke heartler laughter than from the
artist who was ere long 10 portray in ideal
fashion the noblest of Wagner's heroes.
From Thirty Years OF Musical Life in
London"