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life of hon. phineas t. barnum-第38章

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 tones; every one of them; and the whole air had to take the law of their vibrations。 The voice and the delivery had in them all the good qualities of all the good singers。 Song in her has that integral beauty which at once proclaims it as a type for all; and is most naturally worshipped as such by the multitude。

〃Of those who have been before her we were most frequently reminded of Madame Bishop's quality (not quantity) of voice。 Their voices are of metal somewhat akin。 Jenny Lind's had incomparably more power and more at all times in reserve; but it had a shade of that same veiled quality in its lowest tones; consistently with the same (but much more) ripeness and sweetness; and perfect freedom from the crudeness often called clearness; as they rise。 There is the same kind of versatile and subtile talent; too; in Jenny Lind; as appeared later in the equal inspiration and perfection of her various characters and styles of song。 Her's is a genuine soprano; reaching the extra high notes with that ease and certainty which make each highest one a triumph of expression purely; and not a physical marvel。 The gradual growth and sostenuto of her tones; the light and shade; the rhythmic undulation and balance of her passages; the bird…like ecstacy of her trill; the faultless precision and fluency of her chromatic scales; above all; the sure reservation of such volume of voice as to crown each protracted climax with glory; not needing a new effort to raise force for the final blow; and indeed all the points one looks for in a mistress of the vocal art were eminently her's in Casta Diva。 But the charm lay not in any POINT; but rather in the inspired vitality; the hearty; genuine outpouring of the wholethe real and yet truly ideal humanity of all her singing。 That is what has won the world to Jenny Lind; it is that her whole soul and being goes out in her song; and that her voice becomes the impersonation of that song's soul if it have any; that is; if it BE a song。 There is plainly no vanity in her; no mere aim to effect; it is all frank and real and harmoniously earnest。

〃She next bewitched all by the delicate naivete and sparkling espieglerie; interchanged with true love pathos; of her duet with Belletti; from Rossini's I Turchi in Italia; the music being in the same voice with that of his 'Barber of Seville。' The distinct rapidity; without hurry; of many passages; was remarkable in both performers。 But perhaps the most wonderful exhibition of her vocal skill and pliancy and of her active intimacy with nature was in the Trio Concertante; with two flutes; from Meyerbeer's 'Camp of Silesia。' Exquisitely her voice played in echo between the tasteful flute…warblings of Messrs。 Kyle and Siede。

〃But do not talk of her flute…like voice; the flute…tone is not one a real voice need cultivate; except where it silvers the edges of a dark mass of orchestral harmony; the flute's unmitigated sweetness must and should contrast with the more clarionet and reed…like quality of a voice as rich and human as that of Jenny Lind。

〃Naturally the favorites of the evening were the two national songs。 Her Swedish 'Herdsman's Song' was singularly quaint; wild and innocent。 The odd musical interval (a sharp seventh) of the the echo; as if her singing had brought the very mountains there; were extremely characteristic。 This was loudly encored and repeated; and when again encored was of course answered with her 'Greeting to America;' the National Prize Song; written by Bayard Taylor; and set to a vigorous and familiar style of music; well harmonizing with the words; by Benedict。 The greeting had a soul in it coming from those lips。

〃We have but now to acknowledge the fine style of Belletti's Largo al Factotum (though the gay barber's song always requires the stage) and the admirable orchestra performance of Weber's Overture to Oberon。

〃We are now sure of Jenny Lind; the singer and the artist。 Last night she was herself; and well accompanied; and gloriously responded to。 But we have yet to hear her in the kind of music which seems to us most to need and to deserve such a singerin the Agatha of Der Freyschutz; and in Mozart and the deep music of the great modern German operas。

〃At the close the audience (who made no movement to leave till the last note had been uttered) broke out in a tempest of cheers; only less vehement than those which welcomed her in Casta Diva。 She came forward again; bowed with a bright; grateful face; and retired。 The cheers were now mingled with shouts of 'Barnum!' who at last came forward; and with some difficulty obtained sufficient order to speak。 'My friends;' said he; 'you have often heard it asked; 'Where's Barnum?〃 Amid the cheers and laughter which followed; we only caught the words: 'Henceforth; you may say; 'Barnum's nowhere!' '

〃Mr。 Barnum; after expressing his gratification at the splendid welcome which had been given Mdlle。 Lind; stated that he would disclose a piece of news which he could no longer keep secret; and which would show how well that welcome was deserved。 Mdlle。 Lind on Monday morning informed him that it was her intention to give her share of the net proceeds of the present concert; amounting to considerable more than 10;000; to the various charities in the city。

〃The announcement was a signal for another storm。 We did not count the number of cheers given; but we never witnessed such a pitch of enthusiasm。 Mr。 Barnum then proceeded to read the list of her donations; interrupted at every name by a fresh burst of applause:

 To the Fire Department Fund 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3;000

     Musical Fund Society。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。2;000

     Home for the Friendless 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Society for the Relief of Indigent Females。 。500

     Dramatic Fund Association 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Home for Colored and Aged Persons 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Colored and Orphan Association。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Lying…in Asylum for Destitute Females 。 。 。 。500

     New York Orphan Asylum。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Protestant Half…Orphan Asylum 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Roman Catholic Half…Orphan Asylum 。 。 。 。 。 。500

     Old Ladies' Asylum。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。500

               Total 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。10;000



〃In case the money coming to her shall exceed this sum; she will hereafter designate the charity to which it is to be appropriated。 Mr。 Barnum was then about retiring; when there was a universal call for Jenny Lind。 The songstress; however; had already taken her departure; and the excited crowd; after giving a few more cheers; followed her example; and slowly surged out of the castle door; and down the canopied bridge; in a glow of good…humor and admiration。 A few disorderly vagrants collected on the bridges leading to the Bath Houses; hooted at the throng as it passed out; but everybody went home quietly; with a new joy at his heart; and a new thought in his brain。

〃Jenny Lind's second concert was in every respect as complete a triumph as the first。 The audience numbered upward of SEVEN THOUSAND; filling the vast amphitheatre to the topmost circles of the gallery。 The sight of that dense sea of heads; from either extremity of the balcony
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