The Washington herald., 1907-01-11
NORDICA AT THE NATIONAL.
A Varied Musical Programme That
Excited Various Emotions.


The sixth Of the series Of concerts by
the Washington College Of Music was
given yesterday afternoon at the National
Theater with Mime. Nordica as the bright
particular star. She was assisted by
Charles Anthony. pianist, and Z. Ro-
mayne Simmons, accOm9anist.
Nine. NOrdica's appearance here has
been so long expected. so many times de-
layed, that when she did come at last,
the feryor Of Washington music lovers
yESs at height. and the result was chat
the theater was crowded in every part
with an audience fairly representative of
the musical circles Of the city. That the
concert was much enjoyed goes without
saying, and throughout the applause was
generous and the admiration unstnted
But t. SOY that there was no disappoint-
maUt would be untrue. for IN some
sea ecely defnable way the Nordica o.
to-day is not the Nordica Of Old; some
thing, perhaps, Of the old magnetism has
gone, or the voice, still WOndrOus in its
quality is not. as it was in the old days,
superlatlKe. At any rate. while the ap-
plause was generous throughout all the
concert. and tne singer herself was
gracious with her encores, there was
hardly a moment during the afternoon
when the enthusiasm rose 10 the heights
that the magic of her presence, the
wonder Of her voice, used TO evoke.
The programme was a most varied one.
Nine Nordica was down for eleven num-
bers-a generous programme enough,
surely, but she added three encores 10
these, making the total Of songs four
teen. They ranged from ''Jitania s
Cradle" Of Liza Lehman, to the
"Gnomenreigen" Of List.
In the first period she sang Now
Sleeps the Petal of Quiiter, and In the
Month Of May" by Hammond. and for an
encore she sang a simple ballad that was
the best Of all The three French songs
Of the second period were all charming.
but limited in range, and gave her little
opportunity for the display OF those
powers which have won for Nine Nor
dica a position second 10 none on the
concert platform All one can say Of the
"A Toi'' of Bernberg, the Ia Rose Of
Webber, and 'ArigtJe' by Vidal, were
that they were rendered prettily and
sweetly, adjectives which would have
been entirely inadequate 10 apply 10 any
part OF d Nordica programme a few years
ago.
In the last period she showed at her
best by far II started with "Im Kahn,
by Grieg, and then came "Caecilia,' by
Richard Strauss. in which The singer
really rose 10 those heights Of magic
harmony which few but her have reached
( This one number in itself was compensa-
tion for the whole afternoon. Very
simply and sweetly she sang Handel 5
Angels Ever Bright and Fair and the
period ended with the Song Of Solomon,
by Peter Cornelius, in which the glory
of Ter upper tones matched, fifty, the
wondrous beauty of the words and senti-
ment. The last number on the programme
was the aria from "Laslos,' by Erkel, 4
/ feat Of vocal gymnastics Of which the
singer acquitted herself with honor.
/ But though people enjoyed II and ap-
pIauded and demanded encores, there was
during the entire afternoon only one trace
( Of the old enthusiasm she was wont =
coniure up, and that came after the
/ -'Caecilia."
/ The piano playing Of Charles Anthony
while technically correct. lacked man
/ |ner." individuality-that subtle something
/ that distinguishes the really great pianIStS
I from the people who can play correctly.
/ During the progress Of the concert Mr
/ How'd Wrightson took occasion To an
uouuce that he feared that Miss Gertrude
/ PeDpercOrn. VINO is the star Of the elgntr
/ concert OF this series, might not be able
. 70 appear