Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-02
ADEL|NA PATTI
DIES At AGE OF Is
Queen of Song Reigned for More
Than Forty Years-Last
Appearance at II


voice thrilled her greatest contem-
porares when she reigned for moro
than 40 years as queen of singers.
was born in Madrid, Feb. 10. 1913. the
daughter of Salvatore Patti and Cath
crime Barli. Both her parents were
singers, her father n tenor of some
note, who came to the United States
when Adelina was four years old. Sal
vatore became interested in the man
ngement of Italian opera at Palmo's
Opera House in Cha .esava street, and
when he had gained a oo-.,ly oxper-
fence there he found employment in
the position of second tenor in Max
Maretzeks company at the Aston
Place theatre, where his engagement
tasted from 1S49 to 1862.
HER OPERATIC DEBUT AS LUCIA.
From 1852 until 1861 she sang in
public frequently and was engaged in
concert tours with Gottschalk, Maui
rice Strakosch and Louis Moreau.
1t was here on Nov. "a, 1859. that
she made her operate debut as Lucia
under the management Of Messrs. Ull-
man and Maurice Strakosch at the
Academy of Music She later sang in
various cities and afterward part
nership was formed between Maurice
Strakosch. Salvatore Patti. and
Adelna, in which operate perform
ances were to be given by Adelina in
the West and South. shortly after
Adelina sailed for England with her
father. where she appeared under the
management of Gye at the Covent
Garden Theatre in la Sonnambula,
the result of which was success
heard round the world
PATHS career in Europe was re-
corded by Louisa Lauw. an intimate
friend. who published a volume Of
'Recollections." After her London en-
gagement Adelina sang in Germany.
Holland and Belgium. in each country
scoring triumph after triumph. to
such an extent that French curiosity
was aroused and Calzado, manager Of
the Theatre DIES 1taliens, engaged her
Enthusiastic audiences heard her as
Amina in la Sonnambula" in the
fall of 1861. and other roles. but SINH
lar successes were made in Vienna
Madrid. Petrograd, Moscow and many
of the lesser cities of Europe.
The popularity of Patti soon became
unbounded. though she did not sing in
Italy until some years later Kings
and Queens We'd in doing her honor
and the musical world, led by Ros-
SIM. Meyerbeer and Auber. was at her
feet.
She took part first in n series OF prof
table concerts and then was heard
in opera at Wallack's Theatre under
engagement to Colonel j. II. Mapleson
Later she sang under the management
of Abbey Of the Metropolitan Opera
House. For each performance, it was
related. she received $4,000.
MARRIES MARQUIS DE CAUX
The private life of Nine. Patti was in
teresting to the public at this time be-
cause Of her fame Particulars concern
ing her marriage to the Marquis de
Caux, her abandonment Of that gentle
man. and her marriage to Signor Err
nesto Nicolini, tenor, are supplied by
Fraulein Lauw. She had met the Marquis
de Caux at a soiree in her Paris house
in 1867. He was a good dancer and
horseman, and one of the Empress Eu-
genies equerries. He tracked the Patti
family to Homburg, Baden Baden, and
over the continent generally. When his
court duties compelled him TO accompany
the court to Biarritz he carried on a
correspondence with Adelina. When he
returned to Paris his engagement to the
singer was formally announced. The
match was opposed by Maurice Stra-
kosch, Sgnor Salvatore Patti, and de
on July %, 1865. Many Of the nobility were
present at the ceremony.
At Homburg the singer had become
acquainted with Signor Nicolin, where
the TENOR with his wife and Ave children
had lived close by. In Petrograd they
met professionally once more and
Adelina, who had. according to the
biographer, taken a strong dislike to the
tenor, strove to avoid appearing with
the "unsympathetic tenor in Romeo
Giulietta." The opera was given and 1t
was reported that the lovemaking in the
balcony scene was particularly vivid,
and that the Marquis de Caux was one
of Nicolini's warmest admirers. Nicolini
reappeared in Vienna, where Patti $
antipathy to him seemed an the increase,
as on one occasion when they had both
heen invited to the same dinner she tod
their hostess that she might choose be-
tween her and the tenor az guests.
letter of Nicolni's to her fell into
the hands of NJ. de Caux and he sued
for divorce which was granted to him in
as regular form as the law Of France
admitted, and Patti transferred her al
legiance to the tenor. from whom Nine.
Nicolini was also separated by the courts.
They were united in matrimony according
to the rites of the Greek Church.
RECORD AS BOX OFFICE STAR.
Nine. PATHS last American tours were
made within the present century. She
held the record in operstic circles az q
box office star. For instance. when she
appeared In matinee at Mechanic's
Hall In Boston In 1888 she faced an audi
ence which had paid $4,000 10 hear her.
During single tour through South
America she received in salary and
bonuses moro than 100000. II was ssti-
mated that she earned more than 5000 =
900 in her lifetime.
1t was said that Patti never had u
childhood; she wss A primn donna when
she was 30 small that II was necessary
to put hor on table that she might
be seen. and Ut eight she was singing
with fro and passion IN tho role Of Nor
ma, revealing Its tragedy Of love hstray.
ed, OF Jealously ali consuming, and OF
maternal sacrifice compiste, So It was
IN her old ago said of her that years had
not dampened hor spirits The tall, dark
Baron Cederstron, a sweds, when sha
married in her fifty-sixth year, much
younger. was a perfsot specimen of phys
teal development and athistio manhood
but, although he was young enough ia
have been her son, Patti looked young
beside him.
At Craig-y-Nes, hs# hsnas In Wales
which she occupied after she became q
British subject. In 1895, they went faI
ingsts thsir fFiehda, like the athlete hs
IL.