The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-06
People Greatly Pleased With
Sembrich Concert.
Great Singer Heard at Audi
torium by Delighted Audience.
SONGS WE'LL CHOSEN
Bring Out Wonderful Qualities
of Her Voice.
Supporting Company Made Up
of Finished Artists.

when one speaks of her. one speaks
OF something that happened only once
was what Madame Sembrich said OF
Patti, and the same. thing might De
spoken of herself with equal truth 1t
is seldom that Topeka enjoys treat
like the offering Saturday night at the
Auditorium to more than two thousand
people.
During all of Sembrich's career she
has chung to the old style of Italan
opera, with it's long, elaborate arlas'
pleasing in melody, sensational in CHAR
acter, and full of technical difficulties
for the display of the singers attain
ments in vccalization. The first num-
Der she gave was Verdis "Ernam In
volami," and the certainty, the bril-
liancy. and the deep musical character
of her rendition of this great aria gave
her audience a new idea of its beauty
and its possibilities. She then sang
''Fore1le" by Schubert, the creator "t
the German art song, followed by ne
Walnut Tree" and THE spring Nlsnl
by Schumann. and Arne's popular song
"The Lass With the Delicate Air. her
program was representative of the class
Of music she always chooses she GOES
not sing the heavy German operas, anu
though her program included selectlons
from two OF MOZdTl OpCldo, tAOy
hardly be called German works; for MS
operas. while German words are useo'
have only a quasi-national character
as the music is modelled after the
Italian form.
In fact, all of her numbers were OF
the sort that require beauty OF tone
combined with f1orid execution, and IN
addition to this, she possesses in hlgn
degree the dramatic instinct and that
peculiar magnetic quality which at
tracts and captivates an audience. Ihs
register of her voice is phenomenal,
ranging from 6 below the treble to +
above. Her notes go up higher and
hisher until you catch your breath IN
wonder; then way up there Wnere ing
atmosphere is thin she thrills ana
MARBLES while you try to 90 some oesp
breathing for her. and at last when she
gets ready to STOP she still has some
breath left over, and all the while she
throws In superadded notes that Hash
like spray above the waves OF mar
mony.
Generous With Encores.
She responded to encores hummer or
times, first by Nobody Saw II: tnen
Comm Through The Rye which she
ssng twice before she could quiet the
crowd. and after the last number she
tucked up her gloves sat at the piano
and played her accompaniment whlle
she sang "Maiden's WISH
the company, was enthusiastically ap-
plauded after his solos. His voice was
solendld his enunciation perfect ana ms
r.anners of the steel ramrod variety.
The pianist, Mr. Frank LaForge, is one
of the best heard in Topeka for long
lime He played a Nocturne and an
Imrron,ptu from Chopin that shcWeo
his Interpretation OF that great master
to be particularly strong. He also save
a STUDY in Octaves" that was US
to- ,rN< n1ItR1Q CSed
the Fourth of July celebration.
The audience Saturday night appar-
emily started out to be pleased Inc
enthusiasm was genuine, even II IL was
| trif1e indiscriminate. as II appear
| ed to be when the janitor or the valet,
| or whoever it was, came out on the
| stage to adjust the piano cover, and
| q vigorous hand-clapping commenced.
| Did the audience mistake him for some
body else, or was he artlStcaliy PROM
| Gent in lowering the lid? don't know.
Anyhow, it would seem to detract ut
| file from the sincerity of the compl1-
r,entary applause to the artists.
What Sembrich Wore.
One is expected to say what the prima
donna wore and what she looked IKE,
of course. Her dress was dark red
soft silk draped by an overdress of red
chiffon that reached to the fowered
border of the skirt. She had black
aigrette in her hair that emphasized her
mods and bows. She has wavy brown
hair and face that has been beauti-
full and in a way is still beautiful,
though she looks her years, and lines on
her brow speak of life of earnest ef-
| fort ard unceasing endeavor. On the
stage her manners are trifle free
| and easy. and she acts a little like a
romp. She leaned on the piano while
| she sang, made eyes. at the audience,
| threw kisses, and trotted off the stage
after each appearance, and while the
running stunt was probably done as
gracefully as it could be done, still the
great Sembrich is somewhat too portly
for that kind of freshness.
An account Of the Madame would be
Incomplete without the statement that
she has had but one husband. one
would think that matrimony ar.ong ar
lists is a game of sDatch-grab and that
it is a circumstance to marve' at that
a woman of Temperament should seize
her affinity at the first trial. Anyhow,
we like Sembrich for her fidelity.
People who have heard Sembrich in
her palmiest days tell US that her voice
is beginning to show wear and 1t
would be a miracle if this We're not
true, considering that she is past so and
has been singing in grand opera for
more than 25 years. But even II she
has reached the topmost note of her
greatness and is now on the descending
scale, I doubt if there was a person
who heard her sing Saturday night that
would rather he had his two dollars