The Washington herald., 1911-01-17

The greatest soprano yet on the Amerf-
can stage is Nine. Nordica, who was
heard in concert at the Columbia Theater
yesterday afternoon. She was greeted by
an audience which filled every seat and
every inch of standing room. not only on
! the first floor. but in both galleries. Sew
eral rows of chairs had been added where
! the orchestra belongs, and people were
| seated above the upper boxes and hung
eagerly over to catch every sound and
glimpse Of the prima donna.
Nine. Nordica. the great Brunnhilde,
was never in better voice throughout her
woaderful career than she was yesterday
All the severe strain of hard work and
wear, which was noticeable on her last
visits here, has entirely disappeared, and
her tones are as fresh. pure. ard free as
they were when she made her name great
in the world of art and opera
Nine. Nordica was assisted by Myron
w. Whitney, who has ceased to shine in
the reflected glory of his father and shines
now with his own art. which is grea. and
quite worthy If the great singer whom he
assists. Romaine Simmons, who has made
the art of accompanying a great one, was
in his best form and did some wonderful
work on the piano.
One Of Great Beauty.
The programme was one Of great beau
ty and without an uninteresting number.
Mr.. Simmons opened it with the POLO
naise. No. l." Of Chopin. which he played
with much skill. Mr.. Whitney followed
with Koechlin's "Lethe," and the serenade
from Berlioz's "Damnation Of Faust"
with which he made a very pronounced
hit, and justly so, for it was given with
much art, originality. and abandon. He
graciously repeated it. He was accom-
panied with great skill by Mr.. Marx.
Nine. Nordica's appearance was greeted
with rounds of applause, for she was
never more beautiful or more radiant, and
is much more slender than a few years
ago. Her first song was the trying aria
from Puccinrs Madam Butterfly"
which she sang with great success. al
though it suits a lyric soprano voice far
better than Nine. Nordica's splendid dra-
matte solo organ
In appreciation Of the enthusiasm Gre
ated by this number. Nine Nordica gra-
ciously sang Mrs. Beach's fresh little
song, "At the Spring. in which the fresh
ness Of her voice was even greater. The
rest of her programme was made up of
lieder. both great and smaller. in each
The most striking of these songs were
Itch Grolle Nicht," a song which few
women would attempt. and fewer have
accomplished. and which she sang with
such dramatic intensity that even Dr.
Wullner. whose performance OF it was
so weird. might we'll take notice of her
work, and which she was obliged to re-
peat: Sir Edward EIgar's wilt Thou
Come Homeward;' Leoncavallo's Mat
ina fa ch fdd
wonderfully beautiful songs. Omaha In
dian Tribal Melody and STANCES
Damon" which were quite the gems of
the afternoon. Both Of these songs were
repeated. The Indian song was sung
with especial grace and beauty Of tone,
and with an intoxicating rhythm.
Encores Are Numerous.
Mr. Whitney's other songs were Glasses
ITO You, Dear Heart Valente's Mon
Canto Per VOL (which he repeated: Turn
bulls when Love Is Done" a gem,
which was repeated, and Tirendelli's
"Amore! Amor" which he repeated the
second time. Mr.. whitney's encores were
beautiful composition. and the 'Sicilian
Folk Song" which he had to sing the
second time. He made a great impress
sion on the audience with his really great
art. His diction in all three languages.
French. Italian. and German. as we'll as
his own. is almost perfect, and his enun-
citation likewise
Nine. Nordica closed the programme
with a wonderful rendition of the f'Eri
King" in which her voice depicts all 1.-THE
emotions, and at no time exaggerates
them. nor does she force or strain her
voice. She received an ovation at the
finish. and the audience stood and
shouted to her until with her arms full
of flowers received. she returned. after
many recalls, and sang the most exquis-
ite number, "Titania's Cradle" Of Liza
Lehman. Her thrill and her dainty
shading and toying with her voice were
a revelation. Her other encore was
Hahn's Isl mi vers Avaient des Allies"
The afternoon was a triumph for Nine.