New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-24
INDfSPOSf y.


4 trouble from which 10 opera troupe long
c4jo,, exemption bci,ll the company at Booths
Theatre duIlug il, first week. \ priIna donna toOA
c.it. baritone offered lylcarouSlyi his APOLOGIES
10 the public. Performances were changed; and
We dare say that half the actors aud actresses
are ont OF temper with the weather. MIR.
NaDirson md even worse luck at tine Aca-
denny OF Muse, and it pursued him to Boston.
There is q bad fashion OF railing At the whlms ot
prima donuaS aud J,crIb NJ ali their Iit;ie ailments
10 caprice. If Il popular singer l. placed on the
sick-liSt a tnOughtcSs pubic decide, that she Is
only in pet; and if an opera must be
put of on account of the condition of her
throat. people resent the misfortune as an
lntcrf renee with their amu. ,mcntS. Few stop
10 think what a delicate instrument the voice Of
a public singer is. and with what extreme care
IFS miserable pr,,es.or Is Obliged 20 treat it, 4
tuAIng loar,cuc-s to which The rest of uS would
never give a thought. becomes Tor Lucia, ard Car
men, and EiNInO an affair o. supreme moment. IL
l., not because Tie quality of the tone Is peIccptIbiy
affected that Lcy VIII not sing. but because the 'r-
sitive organ MAJ he ruined forever, as many pre-
ciouS voice has been, il 1t Is strained wien 1t Is
rot in u.rroct order. 50 one artist will live
o.ly in close rooms. and suffer martyraom from
wraps and shawls, and another will shiyer with
a.
Only once in while shall find sturdy and
hearty young artist-ke 4 certain famous tenor
that We know-wh0 strengthens bis throat by fear
ing neither wind nor weather, and going where ne
peascs.
The public performances of great singer. and
players call into Use a variety of muscles which
other people do not employ in the same way, and u
variety of powers, both OF mind aud body. which
arc easily thrown off their balance. slight
ndSpostion Is enough to disable them, because
II is oalv bv keeping their powers at the highest
tension that they are able to accomplish the very
IRVING tasks imposed upon them. violin concerto
is ruined by "A little stiffness IN the players left
fingers or a twingc in his right elbow. 4 planoforte
fantasia difficult enough under the most favorable
circumstances, bccOmcS lmpractlcab!c II bad
cold Ia, given the pianist sore bones aud a head
ache. And how can the Queen Ol the Night carry
her voice along those phenomenal runs on the
perlou. topmost edge of possibility If there IL ever
20 little inflammation about the vocal chords We
once witnessed an unpleasant scene at 8 concert
where "a cOrnet player refused to repeat popular
solo. The artist aud the conductor were both
severely criticised for " boorish incivlhty 10 the
publIc" The truth was that the performer
had LITTLE fever sore on his lap; it
was with the greatest difficulty that
ne GOT through his piece and il was physical I'M
possibility TO repeat II. Bat thS could not well be
explained to a clainorols audience. The public will
do we'll 10 treat the lndisp0-tious" of artists
with benevolent consideration. Perhaps even man
ayers might bc little moro kindly than they
often are tow ard the disabled without any sacrifice
pfdignity OF Justice.