The San Francisco call., 1909-06-27
NORFLLI,S SINGING
IS hit OF SEASON
Irand Opera at the Princess
Has Artist With Interna-
tiOnaI Fame
Some Names of Members of
Other Lyric Casts Which
Will Long Be Recalled
By WALTER ANTHONY


one Of the .pleasantest episodes of
the opera season at the Princess has
grown out OF the success which Mad
anne Jennie Norelli had made in her
hne coloratura roles such as Lucia
II the Donizetti opera.
Out OF every Italian opera company
which visits US there remain in mind
one or two in each cast whose fndivid-
uality and art are not to be forgotten.
The memory cOnjures quickly such
names as these; Tetrazzini, Salassa.
AvadsnO. when he first sang and was
not too stout; Adeberto, Collamirini,
who. while we may differ about her
merits. is not an easy Carmen 10 for
get; Ferrabini. the sristOcratic; Ber-
tossi, demure and still with US; Lom-
bardi, the redhOt Mephisto; Pimazzoni
and PadOvani-aH are in our ron of
honor This season Norelli, at least,
VIII leave us like memories 10 cherish.
and she is not the only one in the
company who will be recalled CRATE
fully.
IT is always pleasant to have our
judgments confirmed. and so II Is re-
assuring TO know that Norelli has i'm
pressed her art on larger art centers
than this. and that she has won the
approval Of the most exacting The
Metropolitan opera house has been the
scene Of some OF her successes, and she
has sung with great artistic effect
many times at Covent Garden, London,
where her voice was hkened TO that
Of Christine Nilsson, that other great
singer from Sweden.
The Musical Courier of recent date
gives this account of her career. which
is interesting at this time:
AS girl Of IS she captured the
scholarship TO the Royal Conservat tory
Of Music in Stockholm, for which so
other eager applicants had tried: but
all declared that the professors did
right in choosing Jennie Norelh. the
youngest. handsomest and most gifted
among those who aimed for the prize
King oscar. himself. took deep per
scnal interest in the young singer.
When il was settled about sending her
70 Paris Count Halcoyl. a friend Of the
king. offered TO assume the financial
obligations.
once in Paris Jennie NorelH was
accepted by Dele Sedie, who was the
teacher OF Nilsson and who was the
FIRST 10 call Jennie Norelli Christine
because her voice and presence -
strongly recalled 10 him the youthful
Nilsson. After her vocal studies under
Dele Sedie. the young Swedish singer
studied repertOry and French diction
under Crfticos. This provided her with
= big range Of operas. and il was not
long before mana gers and artists in
France were discussing the wonderful
Young Swedish prima donna whose
French diction was as pure as that Of
native born singers and who could sing
Gilda in RigolettO" as successfully as
Marguerite in Faust.
The French people. always so loyal
10 their own artists. treated Nine. No
reu- quite as effusively because they
the feat OF mastering their own Ian
gusge. as well as cultivating her voice
10 perfection.
Convent Garden. in London. which
has proved either the artistic throne
or tomb Of many operate aspirsnts. re-
ceived Jennie NoreIIf with enthusiasm
when she made her debut as Gilda.
MeIbs, long an idol OF the British pub
lic had been billed TO appear the night
that Norellf made her bow, but indis-
position on the part Of the older prima
donna afforded the newcomer her op-
portunity, and when the final curtain
fell on the somber scene with Rigo-
Ietto alone with the hideous bag which
held the murdered body of his be
loved daughter, Jennie Norelli had
scored q big triumph To substitute
for singer like Melba is severe test.
but NOrelH. brave and prepared for it
conquered and won the night. Nat
urally. after such artistic victories in
London and France. New York wanted
her Nine Norelh came TO America
the year after her last season in Lon
don. The late Heinrich Conried heard
her sing and Immediately engaged her
for the Metropolitan opera house. and
here she repeated her European sue
cesses- She was particularly i'm
pressive as Juliet Gilda and MichaeIa
in Carmen.