Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-10-31
ALICE NIELSEN AND
HER OPERATIC STARS
Elvin A. Young, Former Local Resi-
dent, Writes Interestingly
Of Company.

|
f is now editor Of the Kansas City
Journal, is the author of the follow
ing article from the Journal, the oc-
casion being the recent appearance
Of Miss Alice Nielsen and her oper-
attic company in that city. The ar
ticle has special interest from the
fact that Kansas City is Miss Mel
sons home and her recent visit was
made after several years absence
from that city. The article follows:
r. Fresh from the triumphs of sever
al busy and successful. years that
have passed since she sang last for
"the old folks at home" with many
evidences of the ripening OF her art
which has placed her firmly among
the first rank singers OF the grand
opera stage, Alice Nielsen returned
to her old home yesterday afternoon
ana honored Kansas City music low
ers and herself BY inaugurating the
regular series Of WIN. concerts at
the Willis Wood. She was assisted
BIZ several sterling artists from the
Boston Grand Opera Company. but
Of course interest chiefly centered
In Miss Nielsen herself and there
was a touching significance In the
fervor with which she sang, among
her numerous encores, Home, Sweet
Home," and into which she could
rot help putting just little more
than she does when she sings It else
where.
For though Alice Nielsen belongs
to the great world beyond the Dor.
ders of Kansas City, she cannot, ey-
en- If she wished, forswear the early
years she spent here, years that
were not all sunshine, but which ev-
en- then held the hint OF the golden
future that was before her. Alice
Nielsen deserves doubled credit for
all the victories she has won, for the
place she has made In the operate
world has been made through sheer
momentum OF art which IL intellect
ual rather than temperamental and
has therefore had to surmount oh.
stacles that were lacking in the pro-
gress Of other singers more temper
amentally endowed.
It was warm, an enthusiastic
welcome which Miss Nielsen recetv-
ed and she responded with added
verve to the whole-hearted cordial
ity which greeted her. Encores
were 90 numerous that one lost
count of them and they were called
for not merely perfunctorily, but by
reason of a gratified recognition of
very substantial growth in the sing
er's art. There is new warmth
and sweetness to her voice and a
certainty in her address born oil
both experience and understanding.
She still depends at times for added
effect on little artificialities and
tricks of vocal elocution but they
are always charming and are not
faults, certainly not in popular con-
cert. In bel canto effects she was
and all through her
work there is a warmer color in her
tones, even the most feathery effects
not being married by any wilderness.
Even If she had not been an old
friend, neighbor and townswoman,
she would have achieved an unQual-
fled artistic success on the merits tf
her art.
Her opening number was the
,eautiful Tosca prayer, which she
Iang with marvellous beauty Of tone,
hough, as has been noted, she is
rot a temperamental singer and
here was Mttle suggestion OF plea
or mercy. For an enthusiastic err
ore she sang dainty little French