WOMEN WE HEAR ABOUT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 42

WOMEN WE HEAR ABOUT.

Madame Adelina Patti. Twelve thousand guineas for 12 performances was the astonishing sum which the distinguished prima donna was recently offered for a tour in Russia. This would seem to beat the record, even of tbe " spoilt child of the century," as someone has called the brilliant Italian songstress. It ia just 33 years ago that, in her 18th year, she made her successful debut in London. On that night she sang for nothing, though the result of her wonderful performance, which amazed and electrified the fashionable and critical audience at Covent Garden, was that 6he was immediately engaged by Mr Gye to sing twice weekly for £150 a month ; that is little less than £17 a night. Possibly Bhe recollected this with a smile when she was offered 12,000gs to sing in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

The life of Adelina Patti reads like a fairy tale. She has remained the favourite of a generally capricious public, and the eagerness to hear her wonderful voice is as intense now as ever it was. Her remarkable career has falsified the early predictions of those who supposed she was not destined to last any length of time. Patti is not a celebrity merely of to-day. Eversinoe she was eight, the wonder child, the musical prodigy of eorne 40 years ago, we have heard about her. Her magical voice is as fresh and lovely, as flexible and brilliant, as at any former time, her unrivalled powers of execution show no falling off, her superb acting still holds great audiences spellbound. People have tried to describe her singiog, but have found it a peculiarly difficult task. Artemus Ward, who went into raptures when he spoke of " little Patti," said that " when she opened her mouth an army of nightingales, bobolinks, canaries, swallows, mocking birds, &c, burst forth and flew all over the hall."

As some great poets are said to have lisped in numbers, bo Patti may be said to have cradled in song. Her first cry after she was born, says an admiring biographer, was

Fin alt. From morning until night she was humming, whistling, singing, even as a little thing of three. A noteworthy fact about this remarkable woman is that she has always neglected that patient study and persevering work which made Jenny Lind and which have been the schooling of other great singers. She Beams now, and always did seem, to get words and music by heart without learning them. She herself says that her real master is le bon Dieu.

Her life has been one long series of brilliant triumphs. She has never once failed in what she has undertaken. No singer has ever before achieved such magnificent successes ; emperors, kings, queens, have worshipped at her feet. The critical and the untutored have been intoxicated by the fascination of her genius. Potentates have showered honours upon her, the wealthy have loaded her with jewels, all her life she has been almost daily the recipient of costly presents from ardent admirers. As instances of the numerous hovimages, it may be mentioned that at each of the 12 performances in Berlin the Emperor was present. When she sang in Italy, Victor Emmanuel, the King, did not miss a tingle opportunity of hearing her. Qaeen Victoria is a great admirer of Patti's voice.

But all this homage and adulation does not seem to have spoilt her. She knows and claims that she is the first singer in the world ; but that has not made her prudish or haughty. She has still a great deal of the child left ; her manner is singularly unaffected and simple. She is kind to all, and never happier than when engaged in some act of charity.

She lives an ideal happy life in her castle in Wales. The peasantry adore her for her many good deeds, and the Welsh are proud that the Queen of Song has chosen a residence in the principality. The castle is a veritable palace of delight, and a great storehouse of wonderful and costly things. Adelina Patti is evidently fond of jewels, for last time she was in New York she wore nearly £100,000 worth of diamonds.