The San Francisco call., 1908-12-14
NORDICA'S LYRICS
THRILL AUDIENCE
Famous American Singer Proves
Democracy of Art in Pros
gram at Van Ness
Prima Donna Receives Great
Welcome From Assembled
Throng of Music Lovers
By Walter Anthony

AS regal as a queen and gowned
like an empress, Lillian Nordica, the
American singer, stepped upon the Van
Ness stage yesterday afternoon and
proved the democracy Of art. Every
body applauded her splendid voice and
thrilled with the power of her lyric
bursts of song.
The prima donna was given a splen-
did welcome. 1t was little over a
year ago that we last heard her great
voice. She sang for us then with the
San Carlos opera company, and the
memory of her art and voice led many
to the theater in Van Ness avenue yes
terday. They were not disappointed.
She sang a superb program superbly,
and renewed her conquest of other
years.
SINGING DELIGHTFUL
There is about her singing a weav-
ing of thought to melody and a furtive
suggestion of acting which lends to
the ensemble a persuasiveness alto
gether unusual and delightful. Her
Interpretation Of Schubert's "Erl King,
was an illustration of this. The song
became a tragic tone drama, in which
the startled cries of the boy; the in
sinuating tempting voice of the Erl
King and the soothing, firm tones of
the father, blended with the clatter
of the horses hoofs in Schuberts ac-
compartment. made thrilling effect.
The house was sold out or nearly so
There were no seats left in the balcony
or gallery, and but scattered few
downstairs. Thus far the Nordica con-
cert is the big event of this season in
San Francisco.
Such a perfect control of the mezzo
voice as Nine. Nordica possesses is a
marvel not to be missed with impunity
by students of the art of singing or
lovers of perfect voice HerSinter-
pretation of Walter -RummeFs song,
twilight" was perfect in its beauty;
and Bizets syielle Chanson' was a
miracle of whispered tones-each one
rounded and full and clear. with the
suggestion Of silver bells In the issu-
ing notes.
WELL EARNED APPLAUSE
She sang a little song by Andre
Benoist, her accompanist. "A Theme
it is called, and she added to the inter-
esting melody an archness of facial
expression that brought well earned
applause. Benoist, by the way, is a
sympathetic accompanist and an ex-
cellent pianist.
The narrative and curse from Wag-
ner's Tristan and Isolde" was some
what disappointing. The rich orches-
trail garb could only be limited at in
the pianos tempered tones, and the
support of the singer in the clashing
climaxes was not weighty enough to
pose the taxed voice upon securely
Neither did find the arrangement of
the Chopin nocturne an agreeable ex-
pertinent, though the embroidery of
the piano melody was wonderfully
sung by Nine. Nordica, and was as fine a
bit of lacework as could be found in
Italian songstresses' baskets. The
mystic note, the twilight effects of
Chopin's music We're lost when the
melody was welded to concrete thought
and printed words.
Wholly delightful was her singing
of Richard Strauss eCacille," the Tschai-
kowslSy song and Brahms "Mein Liebe
ist Gruen." Faure's Nell" with its
tricky accompaniment, was a triumph
for the man at the piano. as well as
for the singer and was worth the en-
core 1t received.
HAS TWO BEGINNERS
With Nine. Nordica are two begin
ners, both promising. Miss Showers
is miniature pianist, frail, fair
girl, in pink who played with amazing
strength, in view of the performers
size, and wide awake apprehension of
musical truth. Her "Polonaise" in A
fat which Chopin wrote for wrists of
steel, proved too large for her as vet.
Like children's shoes, she will grow
into its measure. Better was her
Grieg's 'Papillon" and her encore.
Paderewski's ''Minuet."
Frederick Hastings made a very fa-
vorable impression on his indulgent
audience. His tones have musical
quality and he has musical brain.
but his voice lacks foundation II is
of the throat, throaty. Apparently he
has no diaphram. Lessons are what
he needs, not too much indulgent an
plause. He sings with spirit and un-
derstands the impulses of his music.
and he has a voice to do big things
with. He is appearing prematurely.
and his tones already show the effect
of effort and muscular vocalization. He
was literally encored.