Last year the Drury Opera company gave a performance of Mascagni’s
“Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” at the Lexington
Opera House for the benefit of the Home for Colored Musicians. Mme.
Clough’s magnificent conception of the character of “Nedda” in the opera
“Pagliacci” won immediate recognition. Her rendition of this role was
marked by the display of intense emotional power, coupled with telling
vocal capacity and expression.
Mme. Clough recalls with interest the singing tour recently made in
Baltimore and Washington with the S. Coleridge-Taylor Choral society of
Washington. Our artist sang the soprano roles in S. Coleridge-Taylor’s
“Hiawatha.” There were 200 voices in the chorus and the music was rendered
by the United States Marine band, under the direction of the composer of
“Hiawatha.”
We have taken a rather extensive review of work far and near, but now we
come home to ask the question whether or not a “prophet hath honor in his
own country?” The proof in the affirmative is a matter of so recent date
that hundreds of Worcester people are still discussing the marvellous
ability of our accomplished musician. Concert by Mme. Estelle Clough.
Mechanics’ hall, Worcester, Mass., Thursday evening, May 4, 1905, assisted
by a number of talented artists: Mr. Paul C. W. Dufault, tenor, New York;
Miss Marion Ward, violinist, Nashua, N. H.; Mr. Ernest S. Valva, flutist;
Miss Blanche Kenerson, pianist and accompanist Miss Gertrude Gallagher,
pianist; Mrs. Emma La Bonte, alto; Mr. C. Sharp, tenor; Mr. W. Ryan,
basso, and a chorus of 40 ladies.
[Illustration: MME. ESTELLE PINKNEY CLOUGH]
More than 1500 persons listened with pleasure to the program so well
arranged and including some of the most ambitious numbers which are
included in the repertoire of a soprano.
In referring to this concert, the Worcester Post says: “Mme. Clough
achieved a distinct success. Her high and resonant tones, flexible and
sweet, were heard to advantage in every part of the hall. Her selections
were: “Ocean, Thou Mighty Monster,” from “Oberon,” Weber; “Indian Bell
Song,” from “Lakme,” Delibes; “The Nightingale,” from “Les Noces de
Jeannette,” Masse, and “The Sea Maiden,” Smart.
Her handsome stage presence, her stunning gown of black velvet cut
decollete and en train, with necklace of rare pearls and crimson roses in
her hair, made a most attractive picture as she stood and received the
prolonged applause that is seldom accorded even to a festival singer. She
was presented many beautiful bouquets and was forced to return again and
again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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