The Washington times., 1904-01-15
NINE. SEMBRICH SINGS
IN WONDERFUL VOICE
Distinguished Prima Donna Gives Large
Audience Unqualified
Pleasure.

Nine. Marcella Sembrich appeared IN
song recital yesterday afternoon at the
National Theater and performed a Sc
ries of compositions for the voice which
reflected many different schools Of music
and displayed her matchless art to great
advantage. She was heard by an audi
ence which filled the parquet and bal
cony and crowded the gaIlery-a fact
significant of many things TO those who
plan and conduct our popular" con-
certs. At the close Of her regular pro-
gram the great prima donna seated her
self informally at the piano and her
self played the accompaniment to
Chopins Chant Polonaise." thus sug-
costing her skill as an instrumentalist
which is now almost as widely known
as her voice.
Her program included group Of three
songs. the weil-known aria from "Trav-
iata.' five Sls.vonic songs, and the
''Voce de Primavera Valse." by Johann
Strauss. These works were separated
into groups by four piano numbers
performed by Rudolph CAM, Of Chi
cago. On the whole the selection
and arrangement were as artistic as
could have been expected. They mani
festly gave Mime. Sembrich's auditors
the greatest pleasure.
It is much to be doubted. however
that anyone present listened to the
songs as songs. Their interest depended
rather on the display they afforded for
one OF the most beautiful voices which
has ever been heard in America Nine
Sembrich Is something more than a
vocalist. Her singing bespeaks not only
a fine ability to form tones. enunciate
phrase. and shade but a temperament
sufficient TO grasp the deepest meaning
of her songs and, rarer still. a splendid
facility to disclose that deeper meaning
10 all her hearers. AS a eliminating
charm her voice has retained through
all its development quality so distinct,
so individual, that il can be described
only by manufacturing the phrase of
voice personality. In more than one
OF these virtues a voice like that Of
Nine. Melba-whose recent singing in
Washington evoked so remarkable
demonstrauOn-is decidedly lacking
but the chief difference between genuine
vocal art as displayed by Mime. Sem
brich yesterday afternoon and highly
developed vocal craft as displayed by
Nine. Melba several weeks ago. lies in
this element Of voice personality"
detailed criticism OF each song in
yesterday program Is not necessary
at this time. One number, how
ever, merits exceptional attention-the
aria from Traviata." The selection
has often been given here. 1t is dis
unetly music OF the less dignified or
der, a composition designed rather to
exploit voice culture than TO express
serious musical purpose. But at Mime.
SemDrichs hands its pyrotechnics Rlis-
tened with beauty. and the composition
gave so much pleasure that she was
interrupted more than once by spon-
taneous handclapping from all parts OF
the theater. At It's close she bowed her
Acknowledgements to an ovation Of sur
prising enthusiasm and finally repeated
the closing division of the aria begin
ming with a long cadenza.
She began this encore without the
plane. and for several bars sang alone
When finally the accompanied found his
place and Joined the notes of the piano
with her voice, the audience perceived
with the satisfaction only a true artist
can create. that she had sung the en-
tire cadenza exactly on the key.
In the light of such n triumph and IN
view of the great pleasure her coming
has given Washington music lovers, II
may seem ungracious to suggest a word
OF adverse comment. II ought 70 Il be
said. however, that Nine Sembrich
seems 10 have sung too much Of late
Her voice is too precious a possession
to be overused. A. ID. A.