The New York herald., 1922-06-11

was much talk of the newspaper
gossip about her. Now in those days
no edition appeared. morning or after.
noon, without the name of Lillian
Russell and, therefore, the audience
| rocked with laughter, when, with q
face as vacant as blank page and q
voice of artless candor. she said
II never read what the newspapers
say about me-"
Who remembers 1.-The Silver Line
the charming waltz song from "Loro
Bateman," by Edward Solomon, one
of her husbands, a song which Miss
Russell made essential to every Sun
day night concert in which she ap-
peared for years? 1t was delightful
comic opera number and doubtless
would be popular to-day. For many
months Miss Russell had to sing it al
every concert before her hearers
would permit her to retire.
Owed Much to the Singer.
But the song owed much to the
singer, for it perfectly suited her voice
and style 1t can be said without
much likelihood Of exaggeration thai
Miss Russell was the best soprano
who sang in comic opera" since her
debut till her retirement, and no one
has surpassed her since that time
For years after she had achieved sue.
cess and pecuniary prosperity she
continued to study singing. She be
came a genuine vocal artist.
Ut may be said once more that ner
voice was of exceptional beaut 1t
was one of those fine. rich, ,ellow
voices which had velvety texture
throughout and brilliancy in '.ie upper
tones. AS already noted. it vas not an
organ of varied quality or color as
it is usually called. Nor vas Miss Rus
sell at any time in the course OF her
career an interpreter of distinction
Her musical tempe dment was cool
and perfectly poised. Her acting be-
trayed a singular lack of initiative.
She walked in glory. garbed in glitter
ing raiment, ard the splendor Of her
voice was like the crowning aura OF
her golden ke.ir. But it was not hers
to thrill WITH the passionate utterance
of the unrremeditated tone that in
stinctively alters it's tint to suit the
moment.
Nor was she an interpreter by right
of profound insight or analysis. These
NAY seem portentous terms to apply
to the art Of an operetta singer. but
to sing Patience or GtrofIe well de-
mands both insight and understand
ing. Perhaps the reader will pardon
the use of the personal pronoun in the
following quotation from an article
published by the writer in 1897. IT
sums up Miss Russell's art and per-
sonality:
"Queen of Comic Opera"
"She has frequently been described
as the queen of comic opera and no
doubt she fully deserves that notable
title. for she has her merits and they
are of a kind that dazzle the populace
In the first place Lillian Russell has
voice far and away more beautiful
than that of any of her would be
rivals It Is not dramatic voice, and
is absolutely without the note of pas
sion. But so is that Of the queen OF
lyric opera Melba. Miss Russelrs
voice is a pure, vibrant, flexible So
atoned for to some extent by its fresh
ness and brilliancy 1t is pleasant to
note how well the voice wears. Back
in the early days Of her career said
she would preserve the beauty of her
voice IL she preserved her method, for
she knew how to sing. She still knows
how and the result is that her voice
is still clear and strong"
1t was said near the beginning of
these remarks that music critics no
longer "cover" the Broadway comic
opera performances. When they hear
of something especially worth while
they try to get night of TO hear II
and enjoy themselves. IL is not there
fore a snap Judgment which prompts
the assertion that Miss Russell might
have carried her royal title queen Of
comic opera" several years longer than
she did.
with her noteworthy career since
she left the stage. her rise to a posi-
ton OF national Importance. her con-
tributions to periodical literature and
her patriotic services the present
writer need not deal They have
spoken for themselves; newspapers
all over the country have recounted
them the semi official character OF
her funeral appropriately and with
solemn ceremonial closed the cover OF
the full and splendid volume Of her
record.