New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-07
'FAREWE YELL TOSEMBRICH
FINE TRIBUTE TO SINGER.
Honored By Public, Colleagues and
Metropolitan Directors.


pearance in opera in New York, some twenty-five
years ago last October, Mime. Marcella Sen9brich.
as she is best known to a music loving public
whose number is legion sang and said last night
her formal farewell opera singer 70 Glen
tele which, 20 say nothing Of It's numbers, in It's
admiration and affection is of kind that other
individual singer in the history OF opera in New
York has ever succeeded IN attracting 10 her or
.his standard
It was OF October a. 1883 that Nine sembrich.
OF, she is known in private life. Mrs William
Stengel, made her first appearance the Metro
potan stage in the title part Donizettts Lucia
d. LaHmermoor.'' It was the second night Of the
season-Mne- Christine Nilsson had been the Mar
guerite IN the opening performances of Faust
but the young Polish singer made claims the at
tention OF her audience that have made themselves
felt more and strongly since. Since that
night twenty-five years ago last October the singer
has seen dEnasties of impresarios and manage
uents come and go. but those who love the finest
exemplar OF good singing IN this generation have
observed and been thankful the steadily increas
ing growth IL her popularity.
TO Marcella Sembrich, If she could have looked
BACK last night on her career in New York's op
cratic history Out It is altogether probable she
found time for such "reminiscences LAST nights
doings at the Metropolitan Opera House must have
furnished plenty Of matter musing over least
IN the contrast afforded TO her first appearance
quarter Of a century ago. Then she the COM
PaTatively unknown singer from Poland, treading
the same stage where only night two before
'-'C VI Nlle IIlOSL renowned and most popular so
pranos OF Europe had been welcomed with all the
gayety and enthusiasm that an audience Of New
York's most favored knows how 10 lavish upon a
singer OF whose position in the galaxy Of
there can he no question.
HER FIRST APPEARANCE
Marcella sembrich may have won her audience
at her first appearance. twenty-five years ago but
II was no such gathering as was assembled last
night at the Metropolitan when Francesca spetrjno
led the complete orchestra Of the opera house IN
Ta-ao
doubtful whether the entire complement OF the
seats in the Metropolitan had been sold out at ad-
vanced prices a week ahead that four hours
before the performance to begin a line OF hun
dreds stood and waited patiently in the hope buy
tickets Of admission to hear the prtma donna
Of the evening. For such the case yesterday
afternoon.
The Metropolitan Opera House, spacious and
roony theatre-has held large audiences but it
was admitted early yesterday that except for the
provtdent care Of properly minded public officials
all records for attendance would have been beaten.
Suffice It 10 say, the opera house has never held
larger gathering since. several years after the
IroQuois Theatre fire in Chicago. the custodans Of
the public welfare rightly placed a limit upon the
number OF admission" tickets that might be
sold for a performance.
OF the complexion Of the gathering itself all that
need be said is that It included fine delegations OF
her admirers, from those who sit in the seats Of
cOmpa rative comfort and ConspicUOusness to the
more obscure but less sincere th0usar is Of
have taken their unequaIled examples Of IL be!
canto" from the dizzy heights OF the family circle
the foot and eye and straining positions be
hind the velvet clad rail that separates the or
Chestra circle from what IS behind-so much be
hind
Record Of Nine. sembrich's part and that OF her
companions in the singing of the evening is given
elsewhere; but II the singing of the artists
that the feature Il Nine Sembrich's
night and Incidentally It may be remarked it
brought no financial loss TO the management
After the act Of La Traviata,' in which all the
artists of the company assembled to do honor
70 the retiring artist the curtain was rung down
for few moments. and then raised upon the same
scene During the lowering OF the curtain table
bearing the gifts 10 Nine. SeTnbrich had been
brought upon the stage There was a thunder OF
applause Nine. Sembrtch was led on 10 the stage
by Mr.. Gatt-Casazza, the general manager OF the
Metropolitan Opera Company. and 10 seat under
a canopy fanked on either side ny masses Of palms
and the many fora tributes from the singers
friends and admirers
TRIBUTE To NINE sEMBRICH
After repeated acknowledgements Of the applause,
Andreas DippeI. administrative manager Of the
opera company. stepped forward and read the fol-
lowing address:
February s, 1909,
After listening for SO many years 10 all ne oeaq
voice and wonderful Intelligence, il is hard for US
believe that We are not again 10 nave TINS great
We cannot let the occasion pass without ex-
cded TO relinquish the operate life at time wheq
10 your friends. you seem 70 be stu IN the zet-h
OF your power and charm
Ma v9u entov a wen earned rest. and let
hone still 70 near the matChiess tones OF the voice
great masters with their varied enChantment-
Of health and happiness wish In which / am
sure. thousands would be glad TO jotn-l beg TO
Fsi''''''' GEORGE F BAKER, President
Then, taking from the table which the gifts
to Nine sembr1ch were displayed. large silver
punch bowl having this Inscription: To Nine. Mar
celia senbrich The Board Of Directors Of the Met
ropoIitan Opera Company Nj Dppel presented IL
to the singer. &C accompanying It with the following
address:
r Is especially appropriate that 7 should nave
the honor Of presenting TO YOU these resolutions
Of the board Of directors Of the Metropolitan Opera
CaDaCiry q manager hut colleague and friend
I have often stood with before 90 this stage
LaI-e lrn0v-r Won IN ali the relations that exist
So nobody understands better than / how true the
words Of these resolutions are, and how much
tain I ca truJhfUly say that your fellow artists
agree with me cordially in all I say Your col
Is g7Iae also dare to hope with me that although
Won have formally ended your relations with the
Me+-oDGlltan ODera House as q regular member
- its company its stage will again In the future
be honored by your presence take. deHSH{, dear
Nine Sernbrich. in reading TO you the resolutions
OF the directors the Metropolitan Opera Company
RESOLUTIONS OF DIRECTORS.
Whereas Nine sembrich after having been cen
nected with the Metropolitan Opera House TOT many
years has announced her determination 10 retire
from the operate stage. and,
Whereas, Nine Sembrlch has been universally
recognized Of the worlds foremost artists.
s model OF conscientious devotion 70 her work and
the highest artistic Ideals whose beautiful voice
and splendid art, combined Win her gracious per
eoraltty, have made her object Of admiration
and affection to the patrons Of the Metropolitan
Whereas During all these years she has en-
bodied and represented the best and woTthlest ope
attic traditions, ana has been a most taltnfm ana
loyal member OF the Metropolitan company, ever