PATTI'S ONE FAILURE

Shannon News, 30 October 1928, Page 4

PATTI'S ONE FAILURE

The failures of many artists who remain unknown come from the fact that they do not know in what direction their power lies. The failures of great artists nearly always come from their lack of knowledge of their own limitations. Few can. indeed, go on for long years with a record like that of Atadame Adelina Patti, of whom it is said that she had but one real failure in her artistic life. She was over 50 years old, and had been a leading opera s.nger for over 30 years when, attracted by the opportunities which the role of Carmen gives, she undertook to sing it at Covent Garden. With her voice still beautiful, her stage technique at its strongest, and her immense popularity, even she i-ould not adkpt herself to a role that was conceived for a different type of voice and a different type of person. She, the greatest" singer of the century, failed to do what scores of lesser artists were doing well; and what had proved the inspiration of some of those who were nearest to her in greatness.