The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-07
NINE. HEMPEL AS JENNY LIND
AT GALA CENTENNIAL CONCERT
Anniversary of Artists Birth
Commemorated With Songs
She Sang.

ITO crown the local celebration OF the
historical fact MAT Jenny Lind was born
on October 9, 1920, the concert ut wnich
she made her American debut in Castle
Garden under the direction OF II. Il.
Barnum was enacted last evening III
Carnegie Hall with Nine. Hempel. inc
berlin nightingale. in the title role. The
programme was said TO be the same as
that given in Castle Garden on Septem-
Der 10, 1850. This is q matter OF no
great Importance especially since the
AIRS ehanted by Miss Lind have survived
tho wear OF time and remain In the
repertory even OF some Aeolian Hall
fledgiings.
Nine. Henpel reprodvc.t also the cos
tune OF Jenny Lind nad the Swedish
diva's associates In the concert were
unprecedented with gravity even to the
operator OF the kettle drums. The cos
tunes seemed 10 interest the audience
deeply and Miss Lind-Hempel was a
vision OF delight with her flaxen locks
and her voluminous skirt of white satin
decorated with roses.
The programme consisted of the over
ture to "Oberon,' conducted by Ole
Windingstad, representing Julius Bene-
dict: an air from Rossinis "Maometto
Secondo," sung by Arthur Middleton as
Signor Bclietti; "Casta Diva" beauti-
fully sung by the Miss Jenny Lind OF the
evening a duet for two pianos played
by Conrad Bos and Daniel Wolf repre-
senting MeBsrs. Benedict and HOFFMAN, !;
o. duet from Rosslnis I'll Turco In
Italia" by Mile. Lind and Signor Bel
ietti: Benedict's Crusaders" overture; ;
the famous trio for voice and two. flutes
from Meyerbeers Camp In Siiesia."
written for Mile. Lind; the Largo al
Fattotum." sung by Signor Belletti; the
old echo Song" sung by Mile. Lind
with her. own accompaniment played on
the genuine Jenny Lind piano used at
the 1850 concert, and Bayard Taylor's
Greeting to America" with Benedict's
nuEic, sung by the prima donna.
Too Much of Rossini.
The general impression made by the
concert. except when Weber's overture
was played and Mile. Lind sang from
Norma" was tedious. There was too
much Rossini and altogether too much
Benedict. But the affair passed Off
fairly smoothly except In the first air OF
Signor Belletti, the performance OF
which suggested that he. NJ. Benedict
and Rossinj had met just before the
concert for the first time
As to the need for such a celebration
little need now be said. When Mile.
penditure of much trickery TO arouse
the interest of the musical world. The
accomplished Chorley found himself
unable TO share the stimulated raptures
of the London public. He perceived
that Mile. Lind's voice was divided into
two distinct parts, the lower range being
yelled. even husky and prone to be out
of tune, while the upper register was
powerful and rich and most brilliant at
l,aI arlf1 N n n
support and by cunning use of 1t
managed to conceal some of the dis
proportion between the upper and lower
portions of her voice.
Her colorature was dazzling, her trill
true and taste In ornament original.
She sang q ventriloquial pianissimo. Her
expressive power moved her auditors.
but Chorley found himself satisfied only
at Intervals He felt that she labored
with the tests. all in languages foreign
10 her, and that this made her style too
heavy for real expression. But she was
q very jealous artist and never sighted
a phrase from the beginning to the end
Of an opera. Her fame has rested on
the quality of her voice. her pathetic
eloquence and her skill in forid pas
eages. According to Chorley. only the
last was truly OF the highest rank.
Mime. Hempel's voice and singing need
not now be analysed. She may not be
as astonishing in colorature nor as
touching in pathos as Mile. Lind. but
che has an excellent art of her own
and need not essay to win Fictitious
celebrity by posing as a belated replica
Of singer whose astute managers
manufactured notoriety for her In Lon
don even before she had left the Con-
tlnent and before Barnum had engaged
her.
Greeting From King.
To the record of last night should be
added the facts that 1t was announced
from the stage that the prima donna
had received message of congratula-
ton from the King OF Sweden. that tho