The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-24
AND CALVE SANG.
Great French Diva Appears in
Topeka.
Audience Gradually Warns I'm
der Influence of Her Voice.
HER PERSONAL CHARM
People Were Soon Under Its
Magnetic Spell.
Two Accompanies Also Please
Music Lovers.
HER PERSONAL CHARM

''It was a dark and stormy night"
the stage was draughty and the audi
ence was not warm enough to make up
for 1t. A beautiful woman, used to
admiration, adulation. in whose ears
the plaudits of the worlds capitals
have sounded was singing before a
comparatively small audience in the
Opery house in Topekar Kansas"
As chill blast swept in from the
wings she shivered. put a jeweled hand
to her wonderful white throat. hunched
her shoulders, hideous word for those
perfect shoulders, but it was certainly
not shrug. like the Carmen shrug. for
instance, in her Habanera-cast ii
glance of mingled annoyance and de-
spair at her accompanists-kept on
singing And as she sang, melodiously,
mellifiuously, the audience gradually
came out of it'-forgot that they
were the creme de la creme OF local
fashionable and high-browed circles,
that they had paid from one to two and
half dollars for their seats, that they
were there to see and be seen and to
be able to say that had heard Calve-
forgot everything in fact except the
one momentarily vital thing that a
marvellous woman, of rare gifts and eX-
ceeding attainment, was singing to
them across the rapidly narrowin 2
chasm that separates the people be-
hind the footlights from the unsympa-
thetic or coldly curious out in front.
until finally when she had finished her
first number. there was no chasm at
all. Queenly capricious disdainful per-
haps and maybe partly because of all
this, for it is our hungry human way
to want the unattainable, she had
bridged the chasm and touched-their
hearts? Hardly. But she had, ap-
pealed to their imaginations, their
senses. They paid her the homage due
a beautiful woman and a galvanic per-
sonality, and. if the stage was
draughty. the temperature of the audi
ence was rising to fever point
The next time Madame Calve came
back she was wrapped in a gorgeous
cloak of crimson velvet lined with pink
satin worn in addition to the splendid
fur stole she had on when she first
appeared. Was 1t a subtle hint at the
chillness of the house figuratively as
ence was aroused and greeted the
diva with the enthusiasm to which her
fame had entitled her from the first,
all other considerations apart. How
absurd for us barbarians out here at
the jumping off place to pretend to ST.
in critical judgment on an artistic like
Calve Surprising il had turned out
that she squawked her first appear
ance deserved an ovation. We accord
II to any fat man whom the chances
OF politics nave thrown INTO q race TOT
office. But here was SUGGESTIVE
American ideal-typified in a woman
compelling charm and astonishing
beauty whose name has echoed around
the world. Her very presence was an
honor and a privilege, yet her audience
greeted her with scanty enthusiasm.
However, Madame Calve didn't squawk
She sang gloriously, as she must do
everything because she Is a glorious
woman who has had every gift the
gods can bestow and, in a full and rich
experience, has reached the heights and
the depths and found all good. all nee
essary to the complete development Of
her powers, all thrilling episodes of
the wonderful human drama in which
she was called to play conspicuous
and puissant role.
We do not often see a notable who Is
as much of a parsonage considerations
of genius aside, as Madame Calve. She
IS the sort of woman whose person.
atty would make itself felt under any
conditions, even If you had never
heard her name and did not recognize
her as the famous diva, the greatest
Carmen of her day. And this tribute
she commands Is not to her beauty.
alone. any more than to her genius,
and her success. One is compelled
again to make use of that overworked
and much-abused word temperament,
and attribute her peculiar charm and
fascination to that gift-the greatest,
perhaps. in the artists native DOVER
ing.
Madame Calve herself seemed not
sure of the impression she had made
nor the work she had done, last night.
81 did the best / could" she said after
the concert as she stood in her dress
ing room with her maid and her secre-
tary. She whispered the words in
French. her hand at her throat, holding
the rich furs and laces of her wraps
closely about her. But she shook her
head slightly and if you can imagine
a queen apologizing. Calve apologized
to Topeka, Kansas. because she WASH
in better voice. Il have been Ill., she
said. II am far from well tonight.
could sing no more"
At that she was gracious and oblig-
ing about encores and gave four. Two
she sang in English, Suanee River and
Dixie, the others all in French. AL
though she speaks English very little
and her secretary acts as her fnterpre-
ter she sings her American encores
without a trace OF accent. After the
Habanera from Carmen. her last num-
Der, the audience remained seated and
demanded another encore but the sing
er only came back to bow and shake
her head appealinginy with a gesture
toward her throat
Two finished artists. Mr.. Brahm Van
den Berg, pianist, and Mr.. Carl Klein,
violinist, accompany Madame Calve and
complete her concert company. They
play all her Accomplishments and &C
ceptable solos beside. Both are artists
of uncommon attainment and Mr.. Klein
is one of the most promising violinists
who has appeared in Topeka He looks
under %. and has those vital gifts OF
personality which make women rave
about him. Safe to say all the girls in
the audience went home and dreamed
about him last night.
There were a number of changes in
the printed programme. Madame
Calves numbers were. in order Air du
Mysoli, David; Serenade. Gounod; Wis
ion Saint Saens; Lisette, DIndy; lie
Printemps, Massenet and the Habanera
from Carmen in addition to the encores
in English.
II your head aches your eyes may be