Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10

ana lOi Win lull melOdlOuS roil-
With wondrous cadence borne along
4 Sprang forth the glorious gift Of son.
-Mrs Ellington uIIo-lSls).
<nEAUTIFUL as daughter OF the
gods. with a voice as heavenly
~ as that OF an angel and as
hainty in her youth and freshness as a
newy rose. Mrs. Ellington took all Lon
don by storm when she made her debut
as Rosetta at Drury Lane. when barely
Is years DID," says Fremont.
Her voice was of that exceeding rich
nnd fiute-like quality that lends itself to
the most ornate style of execution Gas
they called in olden time a voice with
decoratons) as well as possessing power.
pathos and dramatic fire. Combined with
all these she is said to possess the genius
of imagination, unequaled by any song
atress of her time. The simple, homely
ballad became in her setting gem of
exquisite beauty, and the forid style was
enriched with a splendor dazzling in Its
finish and purity. The simplicity and no.
bility Of her Interpretation of Handel's
oratorios were marvellous and carried the
hearts of her hearers in tumultuous
wave Of delight to her feet as she stood
before them unaided by the glitter and
glamor of the sage, robed only In th5
modest and becoming garb BETTING the
sacred themes of oratorio. What lesson
to some of our singers of today who do
not know the difference In dressing for
an operatic performance and sacred
oratorio. Georgeous vagaries of fashion
are out of place when lifting the voice
in prayer, or in singing the glorious
words II know that my Redeemer
liveth." A great artist would as soon
think of going to church In low cut
gown and diamonds as to present herself
overdressed in ballroom costume when
singing the grand oratorio. Mrs. Billing
ton came of a musical family. Her father
was the famous Weichsell, hautboy of the
Italian opera. Her mother was also a
singer at Covent Garden Her husband
was an accomplished musician and
member of the Drury Lane band. Haydn,
the great composer, was most enthusias-
tic admirer of Mrs. Ellington and said
s'She has a voice of a seraph, the soul of
a goddess and the smile of an angel" Sir
Joshua Reynolds painted Mrs. Ellington
for the Cecilia of his famous painting of
ST. Cecilia" Haydn saw the painting and
stood rapt in thought for moment, gaz-
ing on the charming model, surrounded
by the choir of angels, and then said:
''Yes, 1t is q masterpiece, but you have
made one great mistake, Sir Joshua.
'.You have painted her listening to the
angels. You ought to have represented
the angels listening to her"
Mrs. Ellington retired from the stage In
the zenith Of her powers. The London
papers said her last notes were as rich.
5impid and thrillingl as when she first
uttered them from her girlish lips. She
died at the age of 43 years. How
wonder what we would think and write
of these famous singers of so long ago
could we hear them now.
The next Sundays article will be one of
the first among the queens of song-177a.
5S49. Angelica Catalani"
s.
While the present concert tour of
Madame Emma Calve, the great soprano.
is not being announced or advertised as
a farewell tour, there is very good rea-
son for the belief that 1t will be. Calve
does not enjoy the delights of railroad
travel and has given indication of her
desire to once more appear in opera. 1t
Is extremely probable that before the
present season Is over she will sign O
long term contract calling for her ap-
pearance in opera in both New York
and Paris. and that very few cities in
this country will ever hear her again.
She is announced to appear at Simp-
con auditorium in this city on Tues
day evening, December II. when she will
be assisted by specially selected con-
cert organization of great excellence.
Jean Gerardy the great 'cellist. ar
riverd Wednesday last in New York,
ready for his coming tour.
Gerardy comes to this country to tour
the American cities in concert for the
fifth and last time. His manager, r. e.
Johnston. will next season direct the
young artist in a tour through Australia.
Gerardy was born December Z. 1877, In
Liege, Belgium. a city famous as the ma
of ofo I;nrx
Leonardo, Vieuxtemps. Servais. Ysaye,
Thomson and Marsick. He entered the
Belgian conservatory at the age of and
six months later he captured a prize In
with young men of twenty
years and more. 1t was an unheardof
achievement. The wonder child" made
his first public appearance at the age Of
D. at Liege. and at II he went forth, the
graduate of the conservatory
and performed in the great music CEN
ters in conjunction with Paderewski
Ysaye and other noted musicians.
s.
Savage announces that his company.
which closed its engagement at the
Garden theater this past week, will leave
with Madam Butterfly" their only
opera.
Paderewski opened his American tour
at Bridgeport, Conn, October 80. The
house was packed. and the welcome given
by the audience to this great artist was
most enthusiastic. His own composition
played for the first time In America, was
most eagerly awaited. Variations and
Fugue OPP %" is a long composition,
taking fully twenty minutes in its play.
Ing. and before fourth of this time had
elapsed the discerning knew that the
Polander had lost none of his old charm.
his poetic glamour. his brillance, his
Imagination, even as they had realized
on his entrance that his stage presence
Is still as alluring and inspiring as of
old. And nowhere abroad could he have
greater assurance than here
that his composition is a success.
He was compelled to repeat one of the
Chopin etudes, as well as the Chopin
valse, and the unquenchable applause at
the end of the listed numbers brought
him back to play in his inimitabIe way
the "Spinnerlied" from Der Fliegende
Hollander." He did not play his rninuet.
The lack Of fatigue he showed at the
finish of the exacting evening bore out
all reports Of his return to perfect health.
In the same program Mr. Paderewski
In Baltimore on Tuesday and
Will be heard in New York Saturday af-
ternoon next.
Miss Goodson. the English pianist re-
t..