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The general public applauded her as vehemently as ever, but the judicious grieved that the greatest of contraltos should forsake a realm in which she blazed with such undivided luster. It is difficult to fancy why Alboni should have ventured on so dangerous an experiment.
Rumors had reached England, of course, concerning the beauty of the new singer's voice, but there was little interest felt when her engagement was announced. The "Jenny Lind" mania was at its height, and in the company in which Alboni herself was to sing there were two brilliant stars of the first luster, Grisi and Persiani.
Her final concert was given at Metropolitan Hall, New York, on May 2, 1852, the special occasion being the benefit of Signor Arditi, who had been the conductor of her performances in America. The audience was immense, the applause vehement. The marriage of Alboni to the Compte de Pepoli in 1853 caused a rumor that she was about to retire from the stage.
But her memory was dethroned from its pedestal when the gorgeous Alboni became known to the European public. Thomas Noon Talfourd applied to a well-known actress of half a century since the expression that she had "corn, wine, and oil" in her looks. A similar characterization would well apply both to the appearance and voice of Mlle.
Alboni, when she burst on the European world in the splendid heyday of her youth and charms the face, with its broad, sunny Italian beauty, incapable of frown; the figure, wrought in lines of voluptuous symmetry, though the embonpoint became finally too pronounced; the voice, a rich, deep, genuine contralto of more than two octaves, as sweet as honey, and "with that tremulous quality which reminds fanciful spectators of the quiver in the air of the calm, blazing summer's noon"; a voice luscious beyond description.
When Donizetti revisited Paris in 1840 he produced in rapid succession "I Martiri," "La Fille du Regiment," and "La Favorita." In the second of these works Jenny Lind, Sontag, and Alboni won bright triumphs at a subsequent period.
But see! our friends have returned from the concert." Alboni had excelled herself; and they were so sorry Gertrude did not go. "But, perhaps," whispered Netta, "you have enjoyed yourself more at home." But Gertrude, as she stood leaning unconcernedly upon Mr. Phillips' arm, looked so innocent of confusion or embarrassment, that her manner refuted Netta's suspicions.
Such are the things, indeed, I lay away with my life's rare and blessed bits of hours, reminiscent, past the wild sea-storm I once saw one winter day, off Fire island the elder Booth in Richard, that famous night forty years ago in the old Bowery or Alboni in the children's scene in Norma or night-views, I remember, on the field, after battles in Virginia or the peculiar sentiment of moonlight and stars over the great Plains, western Kansas or scooting up New York bay, with a stiff breeze and a good yacht, off Navesink.
Alboni's request, Sampson joined them; for there was something in the words which he had uttered, that struck upon that gentleman's ear; and yet, what it was, was not clear to his mind. "You have spoken of some noble lady," remarked Mr. Alboni; "pray tell me if you have never met with but one whom you could distinguish by that title, in all your travels?"
Alboni, on the concert stage, had recently achieved an unmistakable and brilliant recognition as a great vocalist, and on the night of her first lyric appearance before a French audience a great throng had assembled.
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