Daily globe., 1882-07-09
MADAME MALIBRAN.
The story OF a Gifted Singer.


If few among the "queens of song"
have commenced their musical studies
at so early an age as Maria Garcia, we
hope there are fewer still who have en-
tered on SO arduOus q career with so
much suffering and with such poor pros
poets of attaining success. AS we read
In Miss Clayton's admirable work of the
delicate, sensitive child" trembling
with fear in the presence of her terrible
father, whose ungovernable passions
urged him at times to rebuke her short
comings with blows, our feelings of pity
for the fragile victim and of Indignation
against the brutal Garcia struggle for
mastery, and we are tempted to wish
that our ears may never more be raw
ished by sweet sounds, if they can only
be produced at such fearful cost.
The sickly Maria, who was born in
Paris, March "a, 1903, was the eldest
daughter of Manuel Garcia, a Spaniard,
and member of q respectable Jewish
family. He was a man Of great talents,
and gained distinction as an actor, COM
poser, teacher and singer His wife was
professional, and had obtained celeb
rity in the great parts Of the Spanish
drama.
In the spring of 1918 the Garcia fam
lily went to London, and the little Maria
was placed in the convent at Hammer
smith, to be educated. She seems to
have been q most winsome little Great
nre, and what with being carried away
by her own willful temper and vivacity,
and being petted by her teachers and
schoolfellows, she was in danger of be-
coming completely spoiled. But her
father soon removed this danger by
Withdrawing her to commence her mu-
sical studies in earnest. She was now
10 years old, and of so quick an intelli-
gence that she already spoke with fuen-
cy ySpanish, French and italian, to which
she soon added German and English.
With such man as Garcia to direct her
studies, the poor girls griefs and
troubles began. He habitually treated
his family like serfs, roaring at them
like bull when he was displeased but,
as if to punish her for her weak frame
and sensitive organization, ne appears
to have reserved his most violent out
bursts for the shrinking, helpless Maria.
On one occasion, when his wife, son and
daughter, with himself, were singing
with some quartettes, she accompanied
every fault the child committed with a
cruel blow on the face"
1t seemed at first as if Maria never
could become a really good singer.
"Her voice was weak, her lower notes
very imperfect, her upper hard and
thin her intOnation SO uncertain that it
was feared her ear must be defective. At
times she would sing SO frightfully out
OF tune that her father rushed from the
piano in rage and despair, when the
child, trembling with fear at his anger,
yet having in her something of his in.
domitable will, would run after him and
entreat him with sobs and tears to re.
commence"
Though at this early age nature had
denied Maria good voice, Garcia was
determined she should become a great
vocalist. He resolved she should be
reared in thorough contempt for the
weakness of her sex. He never could
understand how any one could be over
come by doubt, Incidence or timidity.
Whenever he heard the words ! can
not. he uttered an expression of rage
and scorn, and his eyes flashed omin-
ouslv."
those fiery glances One evening, when
she and the Countess Merlin were study
ing duet, the child became discorr-
aged over certain passage, and in
moment of forgetfulness uttered the
fatal words. Barely had they escaped
her lips when her fathers eyes flashed
upon her, and he demanded sternly:
"What did you say?" Trembling, and
with clasped hands, she murmured, "I
will do it, papa" and she executed the
passage perfectly, telling the Countess
afterward that she knew not how she
did it; papa's glance had such an effect
upon her.
Maria had many excellent qualities
which endeared her to everybody. She
was "charming. frank, bold and orig.
inal;" her faults she inherited from her
father she was impulsive, obstinate,
willful and in temper a perfect little
vlxen." Like most men, Garcia did not
at all admire these faults when, to his
irritation, they exhibited themselves in
his own child. He said, Her proud and
stubborn spirit requires hand Of iron
to control it. Maria will never become
great, save at the price of suffering"
Garcla's systematic efforts, aided by
her own lively intelligence, resolute
frmness, and, above all, her marvellous
instincts for art. at length wrought de-
cided improvement in her voice, and at
Is "her chest notes had gained in depth
and richness, though the other parts of
her organ were still crude and veiled."
At this period she was in England with
her family, and made her first appear
ance as one of the choir of the Kings
Theater.
In 1926, Madame Pasta being taken
suddenly i'll, Garcia offered the mana
ger, MIR. Ayrton, his daughters services;
and she appeared as Rosina in "n Bar
biere di Seviglia," June IL. She was
only II, but she made such highly
favorable impression that the manage
ment engaged her for the rest of the
season at salary of e500. "Her pretti-
ness, pleasing voice, and sprightly, easy
action, gained her general favor"
Like her father, Maria was ambitious.