OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13306, 12 October 1906, Page 5

OBITUARY.

♦ By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright .London, October 10. Madame Adelaide Ristoei, the actress, is dead, aged 85. Madame Ristori was born at Friuli, iii Italy, in 1821, and was the child of strolling actors. She appeared on the stage when but two months old. Her first instructress was her grandmother, Teresa Ristori; but having made her debut as Froncesca da Rimini, 1835, she joined a year later the Royal Sardinian Company, where Carlotta, Marehioni, perceiving the genius of the young actress, trained her as her own successor in the leading parts. A romantic love affair, followed by her marriage in 1847 with the young Marquis Capranica del Grillo, .caused Ristori to relinquish her profession for a short period, but fortunately the objections of her husband's family were overcome by an exhibition of ; her genius at a charitable,performance, and she returned to the stage. Caroline Internari gave her lessons in tragedy, and having established her reputation in Italy as* Myrrlia, Rosamunde, Ottavia, Antigone, Mary Stuart, and other characters, she went in 1855 to Paris, where she made her debut as Francesca, while Rachel was at the zenith of her fame. In spite of the severe nature of the test, Ristori s genius triumphed, and her acting was praised by Lamartine, Dumas, and other celebrated critic. *, nor was she less successful in England in 1858. Fresh laurels were gained in every European capital, from Moscow to Dublin, and her travels were extended to Egypt and Constantinople. Nor was she less successful in the New World, where she visited' not. only the United States, but also the principal countries of South America. In 1873 Ristori revisited England, and gave ; her farewell performance at the. Queens Theatre, Manchester. Her grand impersonate!) of Lady Macbeth, despite the inadequate support accorded to it, was received ik <-'. enthusiasm by London audiences durin. a short season in 1884. Twice (in .Spam, 1*37, and in Chili, 1874) the enthusiasm 1 aroused by her acting enabled her to plead successfully for the remission of a £* nce of death. "She retired about 20 years ago.