Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 8.djvu/262

 378 ARTISTS AND AUTHORS ADELINA PATTI By Frederick F. Buffen (born 1843) A consensus of opinion places this distinguished an tiste at the head of all her compeers, for it may be truly said that she is the brightest star which has daz- zled the musical firmament during the past half century, and, is still in the very zenith of her noonday splendor. Regardful of the transcendent beauty of her voice, enhanced as this is by her other natural and attractive attributes, one might almost believe that nightingales have surrounded the cradle presided over by Euterpe, for never has bird sung so sweetly as the gifted subject of my memoir, and while the Fates smiled on the birth of their favorite, destined to become the unrivalled Queen of Song throughout the civilized world, fanciful natures might conceive a poetical vision, and behold Melpomene with her sad, grave eyes breathing into her the spirit of tragedy, and Thalia, with her laughing smile, welcoming a gifted disciple by whose genius her fire was to be rekindled in the far future. In the year 1861 there arrived in England a young singer who, accom- panied by her brother-in-law, took apartments in Norfolk Street, Strand. The young lady, then only seventeen, sought Mr. Frederick Gye, who was the lessee of the Royal Italian Opera, for his permission to sing at his theatre, volun- teering to do so for nothing. The offer was at first absolutely declined, but sub- sequently the young artiste succeeded, and made her first appearance on May 14, 1 86 1, as Amina in Bellini's opera of " La Sonnambula." Unheralded by any previous notice, she was then totally unknown to the English public. Not a syllable had reached that country of her antecedents or fame. I remember being present on the occasion when this youthful cantatrice tripped lightly on to the centre of the stage. Not a single hand was raised to greet her, nor a sound of welcome extended to encourage the young artiste. The audience of Covent Garden, usually reserved, except to old-established favorites, seemed wrapped in more than their conventional coldness on that particular evening. Ere long, however, indeed before she had finished the opening aria, a change manifested itself in the feelings of all present. The habituds looked round in astonishment, and people near me almost held their breath in amazement. The second act followed, and to surprise quickly succeeded delight, for when in the third act she threw all her vocal and dramatic power into the melodious wailing of " Ah non credea" with its brilliant sequel, "Ah non giunge" the enthusiasm of the audi- ence forgot all restriction, and burst into a spontaneous shout of applause, the