New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-01
MADAME KRAUsS.
HER RETIREMENT FROM THE GRAND OPERA


A CHAT WITH JHE CANrArRIcy-HER CAREER AND
CHARACTER-MADAME MARcHEsps OPINION.
fFnoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TRIBUNE
PARIS, Oct. 15.-Madame Gabrielle Krauss
few days ago rendered resignation az fret lady
singer to tho NM. RIFT and Gaiard, directors OF the
Grand Opera. As her contract has still three months
to and tho for this premature retirement
had been much commented on IN the Partisan
papers, sought to learn the true cause from the lady
herself
swas 1t really coup de Hte, your sudden departure
| from the Opera, madame r.
NO. not at all. Ritz and Gaiard, for economical
reasons, think, had no intention OF renewing my
tract, which expires at the beginning OF the year
aud suppose It was their idea to force to leave with
little eclat possible. They therefore wanted to
compel me TO sing Ac- Robert 10 Dilble one OF my
minor roles for my rcntrte. I soon perceived their
scheme, and not wishing to play into their hands and
thereby damage my reputation In other places I
decided to leave the Opera at once
"Yon are financially loser by the operation ~
"Ob yes; made them present of $4,000, my salary
for thee months it may do them some good in their
pecuniary embarrassment. They very much
afraid that the Partisan public would proclaim their
regrets In too loud If left the stage ought
to have done and would have been becoming to the
chief support OF the house, which have been for
many years. and tina: they would find themselves obliged
to re-engage me"
Is there any truth IN the report that Carsaho wans
to engage yOn to sing Elsa In L0hengrin ~
"No, that is simply rinor; officially know nothing
about it. think will make arrangements for tour
in the provinces have never been heard 10 France
outside of Paris"
why not go to America r.
am afraid OF the can't bear the idea Of
being the water for any time. think oae OF tho
never London was the fear Of crossing
the Channel. But may day conquer my fear and
the ocean to be heard in America"
Madame Krauss, unlike Judic, does not think it
necessary to her comfort aud happiness to indulge
taste for luxurious surroundings She lives In furnished
apartments in the Grand Bouevards scarcely stones
throw from the seat Of her trumphs. Her drawing
displays such comfort rented furniture give
and the elegance that many precious gifts tastcully
disposed about her rooms lenL On an easel stands
large photograph of paiutng which few years ago
was exhibition at the Salon. 1t Is signed Clalrin
Madame Krauss has in 1t that majesty OF pose which
she usually brings to her r0es but her roles only for
when at home she Is o very unassuming and simple
woman. She is not at all handsome cannot lay claim
to large pretty eyes, and h"r shoulders ara
entirely too her head. But otherwise sle resembles
ono of those Roman matrons who have intense will
power and Intense fire In action Several busts Of her.
self in various attitudes scattered about the room. on
tables and on pedestals. Busts OF Verdi and Gounod
figure the grand pianofore. Madame krauss IL very
fond Of diamonds and always number OF them.
Gabrielle Krauss mi sht call the Grand Opera my
OPERA; the poet and the singer brought the two
differing but historical monuments into reie and gave
them living embodiment Krauss sang at the opening
Of the Grand Opera House eleven years ago. testify
two magnificent seyres the table OF her draw
Ing ROOM They were made and decorated 10 with
the following words inscribed on the porcelain: To
Gabrielle KTauss In remembrance or the opening Of the
| National Academy OF Music January 3, 1879"
Napoleon Ill the occasion wished TO honor her as he
honored potcnates with tie traditional gift Of Seyres
porcelain Tho programme for that evening consisted
OF an act OF La Juiyc." ballet, and act
two OF rho IIuguenOts." Then La Jdiye" kept
on bills for several consecutive weeks From that
beginning until now her reignI In that house has been
supreme In the nifty operas which .she has sung
here and elsewhere she "creaed five in Paris, all
| novelties: Jeanne Dare" Polyeucte" +" Tribut dc
Zamora"" Henri VIII" and Sappho" besides two that
had already tho light elsewhere, Aida" aud
RgOettO"
Rapidty of learning seems to have grown with
rapIdy of locomoton Formerly in Krauss's studying
time aud efo-e. woud-be singers devoted at least six
years to rerfcetng themselves In vocaizauon. Two
years 10 now deemed quite suicist by ambitious and
concerted mlidens TO Mt themselves 10 climb the
stage OF y ric For six years Gabrielle
Krauss studied hard at the conservatory at Vienna.
Tho devoted 70 the study OF the science
Of music solteggio. harmony and the building up Of
strong foundation In musical knowledge the rest OF
her study life given the special training of
voice. She never had another teacher than uaJame
MarcHes. Before the six years were over she lad
aleady signed u contract for the Imperial Opera in
Vienna and she sang there up 10 the tine OF signing
engagement with VI. Emile Perrin. who has Just died,
PARTY VINO T hnppsned in $50 and Sh :" war Sas
declared VI. Perrin who hal remained within the walls
OF the balloon cancelns the contract She went to Italy
aud sang with great success at he Scala st Carlo,
Apollo Pergoa other theatres of tho CHIEF citiss VI
that country The an Ill wind that blew Krauss
good for wIen she began hor career IN Vienna accord
Mailt Al vail IN
reezlnglg cold. Marches desplret OF her ever having
h Jet sacrc in her acting You a stick said her
teacher To her. and will always remain sues" Pro-
fessors are very often mistaken as to the dramatic
talent their pupils develop on the stage. ana this
instance OF 1t. When IN Italy Krauss soon found ont
that success there chiefly depends npon dramatic
Italian characters and Italian climate. krauss
transformed herself ia the thrse years she sang there
that ghen 10 the stage Ia Paris she represented
erlect combination or tho German aud Italian artistic
tcmperaments, mingng thoronghness OF musical cdIea
facility Of execution ana perIec Ion oil method with fn
Spira ton. She fully merited the name which VI
the French critics gave her, :" the trigedan song
stress"
her true German She is lover OF show, has
very retired habits. has always been most devoted
daughter aud sister happy in tho feeling that she has
been the means of bringing property 10 her numerous
blessed with much wealth. The story goes that when
the director OF tho Vienna Opera went To her house TO
engage her, he found the young lady busy rouinS her
clothes with her sisters around her busy with house
work. and exhibiting shyness nor false shame because
found thus occupied As IN artist sae aoes NOT know
aud caused serious delays or omissions OF
performances OF lawful or unlawful excuses.
She always her Of duty and rehearsals always
find her prompt and exact As woman sue is dlguued
az Nh artist true All that has ever been said against her
Is that sho hlled her post too well aud therefore
prevented other artists, who were constantly waiting to
Step into shoes from doing So She Is also said To
have wify and dcsignedy kept artists with talent aud
voice from making successful career from Jealous
motives. These stories may aud 'uay not be true.
During tho dictatorship OF NJ Naucore she was said 10
rule the house and have eyerythins her own way; o.
A strOug friendship has always existed between
Marches and Krauss. On the one hand II Is grateful
recognition able successful training on the ether
maternal affection which teacher naturally reels Tor
ono Of brightest In the constellation IN "hicn
she has ulared so many. ID Murska aud Srauss werc
among Madame Marchess first pupils. put the
question 90 Madame: What co you tulhh VI 'he i''''
Galllard Krauss affair ~ -. 49,. 49,,