New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-12
MME. NELBA'S FAREWELL
Closes Her Season at the Manhattan
Last Night.

In choosing "RigoIetto' for the vehicle OF her
farewell at the Manhattan last night. Nine Media
provided herself with peculiarly felicitous back
ground for her personality. This opera offers op-
portunity for the exploitation OF every phase OF
feeling and Of art within her range. In 1t she
may ravish the OF those who love singing for
the sake of singing. and there are moments Of a
deeper more dramatic significance. OF which, hap
PLY, she took upon this occasion fullest ad-
vantage. The great interest OF her performance
resided in fact, in the delicacy and authority with
which she developed her different scenes. passing
easily from purely lyric passages into the rich
emotional vein which makes Verdfs appeal
potent and lasting. The house. OF course fully
aware OF the sentimental aspect Of the evening.
aoundanty lavished its sympathies upon the de-
parting prna donna There were numerous bursts
OF applause-indeed. some OF them were gen
erous than Observation-Disclosures 70 impede the
progress OF the opera One could hardly regret
them, however. for Nine. Nelba took her leave OF
US for the season. giving with both hands from
her hne resources She made a winning and SEEM
ingly artless Gilda, but one could divine beneath
the spontaneous effect achieved essentially con-
scientious and well pondered conception
IL was Nine Melba's evening doubt yet she
would be the first to express appreciation OF the
fact that without NJ. Renaud and NJ Constantine
the picture OF which she formed a part would
scarce have suggested as II did, veritable
scene from the romantic past. VI Renaud
as the Jester is figure such as VeIasque5
would have loved 70 paint he has the true note
OF the butfoon OF old court days
sinister and pathetic. His acting. like his sing
ing, in this opera, is beyond praise. With COL
leagues like Nine. Melba, NJ Constantine. VI
Arimondi and N. Gilbert he is not left TO
carry the piece his shoulders; but he leaves a
impression that he could do this II he chose. He
seems central spring of passion, dramatic
force dominating every in which he appears
He, too, like Nine. Melba, splendidly hailed
by an enthusiastic house. The warm reception ac-
corded NJ Constantine justified both by the
beauty of his singing and the dignhed grace Of
his demeanor. A certain reserve about his move
uents. a certain simplicity of gesture, served but
to heighten the charm Of voice now ringing. now
tender and always used with artistic Judgment
The subsidiary artists and the chorus moved with
admirable harmony and nicely moduated weight
through their appointed episodes Behind all this.
as more obviously in the work Of the orchestra
IL was easy observe Canpaninfs firm hand IN
short capItaI performance. through which Nine
Media leaves fragrant memory, and the FORCES
Of the Manhattan have placed US once more neaVly
in their debt
For her farewell Nine Media could have nsn no
larger audience in the Manhattan All the salaole
standing room in parts Of the house was TANNED
with eager humanity before the rise OF the curtain
There was wild demonstration OF enthusiasm IN
riot at the close OF the third act In whcn NINE
Media was. of course, the central nSure- AI'eE
taking repeated calls. she finally SUCCEEDED IN
dragging the shrinking Mr. Hammerstein TO tne
footiights The impresarto has been taxing MS
voice of late cities however. and resolutely
declined to make a speech. although oetore an, an
sat and stood applauding, the record breaking
crowd Of his present season