The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-04
Great Praise For
Miss Florence Macbeth

Inc lOlloWlHS peTSoudl sfieIler lIohl
Mrs. Lillian Helms was received FRI.
day by a Lincoln friend, and pubs
lished in. a newspaper at Lincoln;
This has been SUCH full day
for me / wonder if you would care
to hear about it. Well, SILENCE gives.
consent This morning was just
prosy practice. My lesson with
Herr yon Zur-Muhlen came at half
after twelve. A very noted, throat
specialist with poor, misguided
tenor in tow was at Herr zur-Mn hl-.
ems, so was. obliged to, wait until
the poor chaps larynx was discussed
and, the proper exercises, for longest
ed vocal chords decided upon Imag-
inc consulting a singing teacher for
such a condition. He had sung him,
self III; O. suppose he is expected to,
sing himself, we'll again. In due.
time 1 did my work, and was re,
wardedy by You have done ridicu7,
lously we'll" Now, was that com
pliment? 4
From my lesson / hurried, to
very proper English luncheon, given,
by a beautiful, whitehaired old lady,,
supposed to very much resemble
Queen Victoria, Indeed she did look
aueenly in her white cap, sitting at
the head of her beautiful table. Al
most all of the guests could discuss
Group remedies and many were
proudly talking of grandbabies, so
all could lend to the occasion was
an oyer-grown appetite. Let me try
to tell what my hostess Scotch
coachman said to her when, she went
up to her summer, home in Scotland
summer before last Indeed, Mrs.
Williamson, isn't it sad he said,
there's King Edward and Lord Suth,
erland both gone Mrs, Williamson
laughed as she thought of it. She,
said, You would have thought we.
had here coy little party of four
From the luncheon | rushed to-.
Queens hall. The event was the.
debut of. Florence Macbeth, a Mime
sofa girl, born at Mankato. She was
tried out before the London critics,
a couple of. weeks ago., and; pro,
nounced by them as one,of the most,
wonderful voices of the day. She
made her first public appearance in
England. with Mr.. eBeecham and his
orchestra this afternoon. TettraZzini
will do well to take out her solfeg-
gios. and. make up right early This,
twentytwo-yearold American-shall
/ say, it after one hearing well, it,
seemed the most beautiful coloratura
soprano / had ever heard, (0f
course | didn't hear Patti in her.
primer Miss Macbeth has a range.
of three octaves, which she uses,
there were a few not so perfect as,
she is capable of doing, but marvel
ously. few for a debut Indeed she
was most composed and thoroughly
engaging. She sang musicianly, too.
as a matured artist would be eX-
pected to do; One little slip-she-
started to make her attack for one
aria before the orchestra had fin
ished the introduction. Mr.. Beecham,
stopped her and she looked up at
him and bit her lip. 1t, showed her
lack of experience, but it won her
audience. She had large audience,
and certainly an appreciatiVe one..
She was recalled four and five times
and encored after each of her three
numbers. She sang Rosinas aria
Una voce. POGO ia Tin Italian, Ros,
mi; 'Martern aller Arten' Tin. Ger
mani, Mozart; Bell Song from, LAX,
me- (in French), Oelibes. Surely
three, that gave her q, severe test in
almost every demand, that could be
made upon the coloHatura singer. /
felt she would be able to do Lieder
beautifully, also, but. presume she .ex-
poets to go. into opera. Surely she
will be tremendous, success. 1t
possibilities.
In this case the orchestra also
played Mr. Beecham chose modern
symphonies. The. first was 'Antar,
by Rimsky-Korakoff, very beautiful
and interesting number. The second
was new suite by Debussy This
was the first London, performance.
He calls it Spring really he
makes, one feel it. Oh; the birds,
the budding trees, the flowers
Everything throbbing with life! The
second movement with it's fascinat
ing rhythm ends in an almost bae
chic. finale that is thrilling. 8, The
third, was Symphony No. Z, by Sir
Charles, Stanford. 1t is beautiful and
rather unusual in form, l wish he
had played it for our Irish program
I'm sure the Matinee Musicale would
have been more enthusiastic. /. thar
the audience this afternoon. But
this was Florence Macbeth's day
and certainly triumphant one.
Think of it! What if America
produces the greatest colorature
soprano! Italy has almost cornerel
that market for centuries.
Mrs. Helms is a prominent singe1
of Lincoln, and personal friend. o
Mrs. Theodore Williams of Mankato
to whom she sent the newspape
clipping. Mrs. Helms has had NJ
acquaintance with Miss Macbeth ant
wrote entirely as one disinterested
but recognizing the great accomplish
ment possessed by the Mankato girl
Letter From Mrs. Macbeth.
Charles Macbeth received q lette