The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-17
BESSIE ABOTT IS
 WARMLY RECEIVED
GRAND CONCERT COMPANY IN A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LAST NIGHT. MANY FINE ARTISTS.

The concert by the Bessie Abott com pany at the High school auditorium last night was a delightful entertainment. It was indeed tone banquet that will long be remembered by those who at tended. Taken all in all it was the best grand concert performance ever given in Birmingham.
 Miss Abott was assisted by nine artists and there was not a single weak place in the organization. The house was not filled, but the audience was spontaneous if the charming prima donna comes again next season standing room will be in demand.
 This was the programme:
 overture-"H Heimkehr," (Mendelssohn), string quintet with piano.
 Aria--"Cielo Mare from La Gio- conda." (Ponchielli. Signor Ed Castellano.
 Harp Solo-(a) "Gavotte," (Bach); (b) An springbrunnen." (zabeD. Mile. Ada Sassoli.
 Mad Scene from Lucia de Hammer moor," DonizettD, Miss Bessie Abott
 Intermission.
  sky)-String quintet
 Aria-"Una Furtiva Lagrima" from ''L' 'Elisir dAmore, Donizettf-Signor Ed Castellano.
 Harp solo, (a) L'Aurore, (Bizet) (b) Valse De. Concert, (Hasselmans)-Mlle. Ada Sassoli.
 ''Caro Nome" from Rigoletto, (verdD,- Miss Bessie Abott Flute obligato by MT. Louis F. Fritze.
 (a) Passe Pied. tGillet) (b) Minuet, (Boccherini) String quintet Cello obli- gato by MT, William See.
 Grand duet, "Rigoletto," (VerdD-Miss Bessie Abott and Signor Ed Castellano. Supported by string quintet, flute and piano.
 Miss Abott is 1.-the and beautiful. Her soprano voice is singularly pure and musical, and combines rare tone color with strength and lyric sweetness. Other great vocal artists there are, but with advancing years they must depend upon art to make the audience forget that the natural voice Is passe But Miss Abott has all the art of vocalization, and with it youth The very freshness of her voice is one of her finest charms In tempera- ment, grace of manner and operatic style she has. at the age of 24, achieved a tri- umph second, perhaps, to none of the famous prima donrlas. When the director of the grand opera in Paris exclaimed that she was 'as fine as Patti herself" he was within bounds. It will not be long at any rate before the whole musical world accords her the rank that Patti held on the opera stage 25 years ago.
 Miss Abott sang for her first encore. ''The Last Rose of Summer" and after her second programme number rendered Ardittis Valse song. Being forced to the footlights again, she sang with charac- teristic spirit old "Dixie''
 Signor Castellano has robust voice and handsome stage presence. He is one of the best of dramatic tenors and was enthusiastically received last night. For one of his encore pieces he gave we'll known, sparkling song from "Rigoletto." The string quartet, led by Felix Frank, was in excellent form; the futist, Louis Fritze, played with finish; the pianist and director, Arthur Rosenstein, proved himself a high-cless musician, but the instru mental artist of the evening was the harpist, Mile Sassoli She was in Bir- mingham with Melba a few years ago. A vituoso then, she simply surpassed herself last night. She played the Bach gavotte with an insight and dignity that made it a revelation and all her other work was above criticism. Mile Sassoli had many recalls. One of her encore pieces was Les Fo1lets," by Hasselmans.
 Miss Abott's concert tour ends just before the Metropolitan opera season begins. The prima donna Is one of the principals of Conrieu's company She made a splendid impression at the Metropolitan last season, but even greater achievements are predicted for her this winter.