National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-26
SINGERS AND SALARIES

HEARsAL.
writer in the Home Journal, who recently
attended q rehearsal Of the strakosh Italian
Opera Company in New York, thus gossips
about what he saw:
"Albini was going through her part Of Gilda
in 'Rigoletto." The big house was shrouded
in gloom, and only two or three jets Of gas
were burning before the orchestra to light the
musicians. Every few moments Muzio would
break out in torrent Of choice Tuscan aimed
at the head Of some Of the unfortunates be-
meath his baton. Here and there sat some of
the artists of the eompany-the majority on
business, others on pleasure. Carpi, the ex-
cellent but not appreciated tenor, was on the
stage with the Diva, going over and over the
extremely difficult duet Of the second act. She
was introducing lot of JtioTitEre which Verdi
had not dreamed Of and which It was no easy
thing for the chez u oFchcstrs 10 seize, CarT
looking pretty and happy, sat in the balcony
chatting animatedly with Cooney; the charm
ing Donadio was with her mother-a pleasant
old dame, not st all like the traditional stage
mother. Behrens, the business manager, was
running in and out, full of business; Ferdinand
Strakosch, brother Of Max, was sitting with
and launching heavy wit at the pretty He'll
bron, who did not attempt to conceal
her admiration for, or to recognize her supe-
rior In, Albani, who, by the way, was singing
with her full yoice-a thing not often done at
Tehearsals. But che Is young and knows moth
ing of the necessity of saving her power vet.
eye, the son Of the London opera manager,
who came over with Albani, was sitting alone
in corner. Albani appears to the commits
sioner as charming and pretty little woman.
While her features are not precisely regular
(she has the large mouth Of great prime
DOME, she has most expressive and fasci-
mating expression Of cOuntenance, which wins
sympathy at once. She is entirely free from
md haare al har IL,
girlish pleasure. She is in one respect the on
posite of Nilsson, who, in her private life and
business matters, was full of Whims and ca
prices. Albani has nothing Of all this, does
her business in a straightforward manner, and
succeeds in making herself popular with every
body in the company: SO that, strange to say,
her associates are not jealous of her. She
lives at the Clarendon, in q somewhat plain
suite of apartments, with her father, who has
accompanied her in all her peregrinations
through the world. She is not engaged di-
rectly by Mr.. Strakosch. Mr.. eye, the London
manager, has an engagement Of several years
with Albani, and for that period her
her out to Strakosch at $50 gold per night,er
$3.50. Albani receives of this $50 gold per
night, or $500, so that she really pockets
less than half the sum she earns. Il is for the
purpose of looking after this business that Mr..
eye, the younger, is in New York, and there ia
no truth whatever in the reports which have
been circulated, that she is engaged to be mar
ried to this gentleman. She herself says that
she has nOidea of marrying anybody at present,
and there is no reason to doubt her word.
Strakosch is obliged, according to contract, to
let Albani sing eight times a month, but this
may lie extended TO twelve, if he so pleases, at
the same terms of ESQ in gold for each time.
Thus far she has only sung twice week. be-
cause the manager must utilize his company
on off nights. Albani is at present engaged in
studying the roles of Juliet, in GOunod's
"Romeo ct Julietta,' and Elsa. in Wagner's
"LOhengrin," and what with rehearsals almost
daily, and the programmes, her time is pretty
well occupied. The best portion of her tri-
umph here has been her social welcome. After
her singing on the first night the upper ten in
the boxes went down and waited patiently at
the door Of the dressing-room of the great
singer until she was ready to receive their
greeting. It was pleasure to see this triumph
Atlantis engagement lasts until April. Max
has made no arrangements for next season
with her as yet. He says he'll be lucky to get
through this year.
The most prominent member of the Stra-
kOsch company, apart from the star, is the
tenor, Carlo Carpi, who is possessed of
splendid voice, good physique and magnetic
presence. Carpps salaryis 10000 francs, gold,
per month, and he must sing as often as the
manager requires him, to the extent of four
times week. Carpi is unmarried, pure
Italian, and, until this engagement, never sang
out of Italy. There he is great faTorite and
Q "star'' himself.
For several years We have not had better
primo donna drGHlGticg than Madame Poten-
TIM. In the line of business which includes
the heavier operas OF the repertoire the ladies
shine with great brilEancy; her Queen, in
''Ruy Bias" and her Aida have obtained
great applause. Her salary is 81 200 in gold
per month for twelve performances. She is
married and has her husband with her. She
is twenty nine years old.
Mile. Hebron, who was first introduced to
us in "TraYiata," and who has made most
pleasant impression by light, ringing voice
and brilliant gocGlisc, began her career as an
opera bouffe singer, and played in the Varieties
in Paris very often. Maurice Strakosch had
her educated to 4 better standard, and pro-
duced in opera at Paris. She succeeded in
winning the applause of the most conspicuous
public in the Old World, and when Maurice
failed to get the Italiens' for 4 second year,
he sent his pr0tsge here. The success of He'll
bron here has been quite satisfactory. She Is
very pretty, stylish, aged twenty-five, dresses
very beautifully and in taste, and is a Jewess.
der father and mother are with her; she has
lived much in Paris, but no breach of scandal
has dimmed her reputation. Hebron receives
81 500 per month to sing ten times. Mile.
DOnadiO, the next prima donna, is a French
girl, very pretty, charming and graceful. She
is only nineteen, and lives alone with her
mother. Maurice brought her out in Paris
last year, and she is under contract to him
some years for 5000 per month. Maresi, the
last of this numerous list Of prime dome, re-
ceiyes the same as she did the year previous.
Miss Cary, whom Max Strakosch calls "the
greatest of American contraltOs," with some
reason, for she cannot, in spite of want of
method, he easily surpassed, has now been
with the manager for five seasons, and she in
creaseS each year in popularity and voice. To
be sure she has increased also in bulk, andwe
are afraid. in u short time, will have lost her
youthful proportions. Cary is now paid 81 200
per month. She lives in good style at the Ey-
erett house, in Union square. Marriage is a
thing which does not seem to have entered her
head. At all events the story of the engage
ment of Max StrakOsch and her was all mC1n-
shine, and without foundation.
Benfratelli and Dc6assiEi are two young ten
Ors, both Jews. They belonged to the Maurice
Strakosch company in Paris. Benfratell has
a fine voice, but an indifferent stage presence.
has 4 peculiar organ, which is
and nothing. He vOlcalizes in a
wonderful manner, almost like woman, and
has a couple of notes which sound something
like tenor's. But wouldn't swear that they
are tenor notes. Bcnfratelli is paid 81 200 per
month: Debassini, $500; Fiori, the bass, is paid
$500; Scolara, 500.