Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-23
f A U r e,
The Finest Baritone i'm Europe

a correspondent thus describes Faure,
the baritone: The Grand Opera had
lost its last attraction by the absence of
Faure, the finest baritone and the most
admirable artist | have yet heard in
Europe or America. This artist is now,
| should think, about forty, now no
longer in his premier :eunesse, but a
sedate per de iamllle. | do not know
if he would be generally considered
handsome but he is enthusiastically ad-
mired by the Parisians, gentlemen as
well as ladies, and | have heard that on
the day OF his marriage a young lady of
very high family committed suicide in
despair for him. | have learned re-
Gently some very interesting details of
his early life Madame Faure, his
mother, was ielt widow in extreme
poverty, with three little children to
educate and support. Her eldest boy
having a fine voice, attracted the atten-
ton Of the chapel master of the Made
leine, where he was 5000 engaged, and
became the pet singer OF the choir.
When however, his voice commenced to
change, and he could 10 longer retain
his position of choir boy, he was for a
time thrown into despair. So great
was his love for music that he could not
think Of trying any new vocation, and
yet be would not consent to be sup
ported by his mother S toll
One day he asked Madame Faure to
make great sacrifice for him-to spare
him from her scanty means three francs,
which would aid him TO support him.
self for the future. This was indeed
difficult for the poor woman to do, but
she succeeded in obtaining the money,
and with it Faure hired contra basso
for a month With his knowledge CT
music, weeks practice sufliced to fit
him for the new position he had obtain
ed in the orchestra of the Sunday balls
of the working classes at Batignolles
aud Courcelles. So every Sunday he
played waltzes and quadrilles till long
past midnight, and then returned on
foot, carrying the heavy instrument all
the weary way, to his home near the
Cathedral of Notre Dame. This life
continued until his magnificent voice
returned and he then became the FAM
GUS artist, admired of all Europe. Two
or three months ago his venerable |
mother died, after weary illness, dur
ing which her son attended her with
the greatest devotion. Often | heard
that after returning from the theatre, I
although weary with the excitement of
the "Hugenots," "Faust," or William
Tell" he would pass the hours until
dawn watching by her bedside with the
most touching filial tenderness
Immediately after the funeral, Feure
obtained severel weeks leave of alb
sence from M. Parrin, the director of
the opera, and went to retired water
ing place in the Pyrenees, to take that
repose that was necessary after his grief !
and fatigue. Last week, however, all
Paris was put into hutter Of excite
ment by reading on the Boulevards,
"Rentee de M. Faure a LOpera," and
Immediately the ticket office was throng-
ed with eager admirers of the great az
fist. "Not single seat lelt,'' we were
informed when we applied, but fortu-
nately some one gave up q box at the
| ,st moment. We went earl in order
t. hear the overture William Tell), and
found the house crowded, for in addi-
on to the interest of the public in their
baritone, Madame Carvalho, and a
young tenor of much promise, were to
sing for the first time in France in this
opera, and as it was the fortieth ami
versary of the first representation of
civilian Tell it was altogether gala
night. The moment that the hero of
Rossinis greatest opera appeared on the
stage, the orchestra was completely
drowned by applause and cries of
'Faure, Faure u" He appeared at first
much affected by such an ovation, but
he soon recovered himself and | never
l,aord hin, sinp bettar