The New York herald., 1874-08-18
inpatient Sigh at the result Of such folly succeeded


AMERICAN MUSICAL STUDENTS IN PARIS.
There are between nlty and nty-hve American
musical students of both sexes at present going
through the usual course OF education In Paris.
MISS BLANCHE TUCKER,
OF Chicago, . charming young lady OF great per-
sonal attractions, Is one OF them. She was so kind
as to grant me an interview on card of introduc-
ton given to me by the United States Legation
here, and entered at once with pleasant Irankness
into the business OF her profession. viii endeavor
to record the subjects Of our conversation.
s.Parts" said MISS Tucker, 'is the best place Tor
learning to sing. Italy is best TOR the language OF
singing. Tacre are better masters in Paris than
in Italy. The greatest teacher OF singing IN the
world Is Nine. Viardot Garcia, sister Of Maibran.
Her style 10 simply perfect Her terms, however,
are very high, and sne will only give lesson OF
half an hour TO q pupil; for this she charges
from fifteen to twenty francs to professional
singers and from twety-hve to forty francs
to amateurs. The money Is we'll spent
Ihave studied with Nine. viardot Garcia since
last october and am now going to Italy, shall
return, however, to Paris. The advantage OF
studying under Nine. Garcia is that her pupils &C.
quire on absolutely faulress intonation and
method Of respiration. She is so kind and delight
ful that we call her the iascinator.' She gives
lessons to The Countess OF Paris. young musical
student could not do well in Paris with less than
$1,500 year, and would then have to practise
strict economy. Sne could live, however, much
cheaper In Italy. The greatest mistake Americans
make is that OF wanting TO 90 everything too much
in hurry. thought should nave been almost
through with my studies Dy this time. l find
have only Just commenced.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
''The advantages OF o residence in Paris are very
many, but there are disadvantages One is apt to
Oata nch ia nnr for
Italian singing; and then an American girl has
often to learn two languages-one for conversation
the other for music Still, Paris is more cheerful
than the Italian cities, and here there Is every
thing that can encourage o student 1t is abso-
lutely necessary, however, that she should study
in Italy, II only or the language. ind the winters
in Paris very damp. Chicago Is q very damp place.
but In Paris there Is peculiar sort OF 0fnumidty which
is very distressing found 1t also dsagreeable not
to hear good Italian opera while studying. Last
winter the Italian opera was not ht to 60 to-; am
afraid there were only one or two real Italians in It,
Zuccnini was alone worthy oil note. This is not
like hearing an opera always well. The general
characteristic OF French-Italan opera Is me-
diocrity. There Is, however, very fine orchestra
in Paris; taat OF last year was the best ever
heard, and the choruses were particularly good,
the singers In them being mostly Italian. Upon
the whole, think may venture to tell you tnat
Paris is the best school of musical art in the world;
and though it Is lficut to find time for the study
OF the two languages requisite here, neither the
time nor trouble are thrown away. You ask me
what advice l should give q sister of mine who
might be coming to study music In Europe. will
answer you plainly. should tell her to go to Italy
in the first place and take lessons from Lamperti,
who taught Emma Abani our American prima
donna; she should stay there, learn the language
thoroughly. study solfeggs for year or eighteen
months and then come to Paris and finish with
Nine. Garcia. The expense OF this course of study
would be about $4,0OO and the time necessary lor
it at least three years.
success In singing Is purely q matter Of the
throat and OF time; no talent can avail 1t re.
quires at least three years to make the throat
know what 1t must do. To be a successful singer
you must know q little harmony and be a good
musician. 1t is not mere question Of using your
voice for two or three hours at time; it Is the
regularity Of well directed studies and the doing
Of little careful WORK every day which
leads to perfection. No money can be
prudenty made by student during her musical
studies previous TO her debut II she is fl to sing
at all, she is ready to come out the stage in
concerts, but until she sing 1t Is not advisable
for her 10 try"
made my bow to Miss Blanche Tucker after re-
ceving this information, and almost felt that II
had been fve-and-rwenty should have left my
heart behind me. But nothing which is not fresh
aud perfect would be fit Offering to so much
grace and beauty. heard after / had gone away
that MISS Tucker Is not only remarkable as
singer, but that her witty and agreeable writing
has lately given q charm to the columns OF Chi
cagO journal.
MISS NITA GAETANO
is o young lady with mezzo.soprano voice of
high duality. She has both great deal Of voice
and great deal OF style, and is a great success
Her appearance is pleasing and her manners de-
hghtul. She has, as have said, succeeded in her
profession, and Is now making both fame and
money but she said, "If young women had the
fainest idea of the difficulties they would have to
encounter to attain any position IN the musical
world they never would think of entering on the
career. OF oil those VINO started with me to make
name in the profession am the only one VINO
has ever sung upon the stage; and If had ever
dreamed OF what should have to go through
should have reuounced the idea OF it.''
MISS EMMA ABBOTT, OF OAK CREEK WIS.,,
Is musical student i'll Parls studying with NJ.
Wartel She has voice Of rare pathos, with u
great amount OF genius, and Is one OF the few sure
TO succeed Ii her health holds out. All she wants
is a little more ply seal strength and few notes
in the upper register OF her voice. Her operas are
"Marguerite," ''SODnambula" and the "Barber.n
MISS ANNICE MONTAGUE, OF SAN FRANCISCO,
Is studying under NJ Bear Spanish teacher OF
eminence. She has remarkably pure and bird
like voice of good compass and wonderful agility.
She expects TO come out early in the fall. she Is a
charming singer, but would be even still more de-
llghttul If she put more warmth and animation
into her art Her operas are "Lucia," 'Rgo-
letro,' "Marguerte" and "Dnorah."
MR.. LANG
is young American tenor OF the highest promise,
with voice capable OF singing both light and
heavy opera l had the honor OF dining with him
yesterday, and found him so courteous so oblig-
Ing and so well informed tnat veutured to in
qure into the particulars OF his career rs musi-
cal student in Europe.
''The French are sometimes good singers. said
he, 'but they have not often fine voices. Nine.
Carvalho Is the only French soprano who has made