The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-11
HGckett And Aida
Sing Selves Into
Memphis Hearts

Any doubt that might arise in the
.llhd et one daring enough to hazard
the opinion that Memphis is not a
music loving city that Memphis given
SHS opportunity, with an auditorium 10
sotd me crowds, would equal any other
Southefn municipality in patronage Of
sHe pest That is in music. would have
been dispe!led as the morning mist had
Lnat person witnessed the triumph of
Sharies HaCkett, Metropolitan opera
mouse tenor, and Mime. Frances Aida.
metropolitan soprano, at the Lyric the
alter Monday night.
swept from reserve and convention,
tle brilliant a~ssemblage to a person
rose as the last strains OF the duet
from La Boheme" died away and
called again and again for the reap
ptafance OF the artists and another
encore that did not come.
Inc Joint recital, the opening one Of
the artists course, presented by An
Eeio n Joseph Cortese, was a bril-
Ilant success, Society was there, all.
or nearly ALTO the members OF musical
organizations were there, and a goodly
number of o~ut-uf-toWn pepnle. attracted
by the fame OF the singers.
Could a line Of demarcation as TO the
reception given the two artists be
drawn, and it is doubtful If il could be,
HSNENANu EiNtil MI I1dtktII EDTODa
ally was the more spontaneous from
tue opening aria, Che Gelida Mamma, "
from La Boheme,'' to the finish. His
rendition Of this haunting melody
caught the audience from the start and
an through ballad cycles and through
some of the more heroic numbers of the
program, his clear tones and syinpa
thetic interpretations were encored
again and again.
A series Of lighter songs of the mod
ern school served to introduce Nine.
d engaging personality and dra-
matte soprano to her hearers, "Je Ne
Suis Qu'ne Bergere," a French ballad,
pronabiy brought out the lyric qualities
OF her voice 10 best advantage.
Her Interpretation Of the aria, I'm
pei pl," from Madame Butterfly,
lacked in ingenious sadness and disap-
polnted youth, perhaps, OF a ounre
singer, and in the middle register her
tones lacked the ringing brilliancy Of
her upper notes, but when she swung
INTO the Mutations Of the finale OF
n Cho Sans plant, and ended the
cry. OF a love-torn soul with a clear
3 nat any previous imperfections, II
such they were, faded, and the thunder
or applause which followed equaled
audience.
1t was In her final group, however,
tnat Alda's real triumph came. The
victory OF Aurora yer the pail Of night
IN tonal exultation re-echoed to the
dome of the theater in Leonfs Birth
OF Morn" and the singers wonderful
range and dramatic potentialities OF
her voice in the lower register were ex-
hibited in The Star" by Rogers. Her
whole pent-up soul, however, poured
composition written by Maxwell and
dedicated to Nine, Aida herself. Her
easy accomplishment of the wide range
this composition requires again swept
away reserve and the number had to
be repeated.
With an infectious humot none but a
Southern girl could interpret, Miss Erin
product, gained a ripple Of applause
with the first notes of a darby song by |
Guion, then humorously and feelingly
rendered by Nine. Aida. Smiles were
turned into tears when the golden voice
the diva cried out a single verse OF
odd Folks at Home" and the duet
from l. Bohelne,' which closed the
alter re-echoed with braves until the |
bow was taken by both Mr., Hackett
and Nine Aida
Mr.. Hackett's choice Of ballads ana
lyric passages from La Boheme'' won
Tor him plaudits earlier in the program
nan ms companion. Ills voice Is not
o robust one and does not compare In
timbre and volume with that of Ait
house, heard last week in Memphis, In |
flexibility, however, in resonance and
easy transition from bell like notes,
which suggest Mccormack, to essays at
more heroic passages, Mr.. Hackett ex-
celled. His masterful control of his
voice in the florid measures of Puccinl, |
with flute-like strains which at times
suggested Fra Diavolo, carried away
the hearts of his auditors. The more
somber minors OF Grieg were given an
sympathetic reading. AS an
encore to his second group, MI, Hackett
sang Somewhere a Voice Is Calling"
which perhaps marked the climax Of
his efforts and again In his final cycle,
the song poem Minnetonka was givei,I
with such finish and sympathy that it'll
had to be repeated,
Miss Erin Ballard, accompanlst. Of
Tupelo, Miss, was at all times in SYM
pathetic touch with both Mr.. Hackett
and Nine. Aida, She has been studying |
in New York for several seasons, hay-
ing been discovered by accident BY a |
teacher Of the metropolis. AL
brilliant future awaits her as a pianist, |
well as accompanist. Her work |
Monday night whetted the desire in the
1earts Of many present to hear what
she could do herself in concert.
NED COURTNEY.