The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-10

passionate zeal and tireIess labor She is
never quite ready to "hang up the fiddle
and the bow" Reluctantly she lies down to
sleep and joyfully rises up TO play. She is
sturdy, light-hearted girl, and simple. loyal
American, though palaces are open to re-
ceive her and princes AMI princesses APP
plaud her.
Next to our students abroad, think peo-
pie are interested in their teachers and
means of instruction. know little of Ger
man masters in singing, or of French; most
OF those in Paris being italian. Even in the
National Conservative, where the papils
are especially trained for French opera,
having as the goal Of their ambition tbs
stage Of that stupendous temple Of fashion
and song, the Grand Opera House. A course
Of instruction in the Conservative Is a
great temptation to poor young singers, as
it costs nothing; but cannot believe the
school is good one for American voices, as
the constant use Of the French language, in
singing, to say nothing OF tbs French
method, is apt TO intensity the American
vocal defect, a certain sharp and more OF
less nasal quality in the high notes.
"Pldce dur ddmesF Mesdames Marchess
and La Grange stand at the head of the
mattresses, if not the nlaitres de chant, in
Paris. AS a trainer of light, high soprano
voices, lido not suppose that Marchese has her
! equal in the world. Her most distinguished
American pupil is Emma Nevada, whom she
declares ''the finest light soprano in the
world" 1t is a great thing to say, but it
may be true. Nevada's voice, with its ex-
quisitelY perfected, inexpressibly delicate
and tender high notes, is flute with heart,
L.. -
least one great dramatic soprano on the
stage-Gabrielle Krauss. of the Grand
! Opera-and the Miss Risley of whom have
spoken, and who possesses voice of mar
velous compass, strength and sweetness,
promises to be another.
Madame La Grange is able to Bimpart
nuch Of her elegant style and charm of ex-
preston to her pupils. She is best as a
| finishing teacher, not being skilled in, or not
enjoying over much, the placing and de-
veloping of voices. Though remember her
as being veritable grd1,de dame, and
somewhat cold on the stage. she Is, as Q
teacher, sympathetic, generous and patient,
and so is greatly beloved. One of the old
est, ablest and most thoroughly artistic
masters in Paris is Signor Atari. A young
American lady, Miss Mary johnson, OF
Washington, cantatTice very remarkable
for her fine high notes and facility of exc
cution, is finishing her operatic study with
this maestro. Signor MuziO, who was, it
seems, the irst teacher in opera of little
Adelina Patti. is another admirable master
according to the report of his enthusiastic
pupils-and Della Sedia is yet anothsr, so
there is a wide choice.
S1gnor Sbriglia, master comparatively
| 80
which have much good in them, if not car
ried or urged too far and fast. But who
ever saw a hobby ridden at jog-trot? Sbrig-
liza dwells much on the strengenthing and de-
velopment of the chest and on "the science
of breathing" but as his breath-theories are
opposed to those of Lennox Brown, they are
open to discussion. He is really skilled in
twisting the voice out Of the throat, his
pupils being seldom troubled with even a
huskiness but in his horror of ''throatiness."
and his passion for 'tinlbre," he too often, by
his peculiar exercises, and by positions stid
and forced, imparts metallic or pinc& quail
ity to the voices of which he has the entire
training. AS teacher of opera, he is not
thoroughly well grounded, or up to the
times. He Is best as a repairer of broken
voices, a tuner up of relaxed vocal chords.
Many old and distinguished artists go to him
for such services, and find aid and COM
fort
Some months ago read an interview"
with Madame Marchese and a Letter to some
musical journal from Madame La Grange.
Both ladies advocated long apprenticeship
in the operatic aria continuous, thorough.
exhaustive study, and both expressed some
dissatisfaction with American pupils, fol-
their delicacy of constitution, their impa-
thence of drilling and drudging and theiI
desperate anxiety to get to work. Accord
ing to them our poor girls are dying for 6
debut from the start. Something of this
must be admitted and accounted for as q
national characteristic. We are nota patient
people. We hate slow processes in politics
business, science, architecture and art, but
certain other facts these critical ladies seen
not to have taken into account. To none Of
their pupils is an art education in Paris 81
serious and costly matter as to the Ameri
cans. There is the wide, sad separa
ton from home and friends, the expense Of
iourneying by sea and land, and of living in
the dearest city of Europe, the ever recur
ring drain Of high priced lessons, the
hire of pianos, the perpetual purchase Of
music, till the poor things are half buried il
operas. This sense of so much going out and
nothing coming in, with. perhaps, thu
thought of dear ones toiling and sacrificing
at home, makes the student of limited mean
so desperately impatient, or so sadly dc
pressed that she can but half profit by hel
precious opportunities She too often de
MES herself the common comforts of life
stints herself of necessities, and 80 ruins hel
health, and with that of course gees he1
; voice, loss which is to her next to render
ing up her soul. The nightingale Gagged il
her poor unnurtured chest is starved
and dies Madame Marchese will not un
dertake to make first class artist o
a singer possessed of ever so wonderful
voice, under a three years course o
assiduous study. The moments of this grea
teachers personal instruction must b
counted in gold, and it follows that t.
realize large hopes her pupils must hav
large means. With money, comfortable
quarters, a careful mother to look after her
patient and docile disposition, and, abov
all, fine voice, even a delicate American
! girl, young enough to have three years t
invest in study, may hope for a brillian
career. As for the poor girls who mus
strike out with little money and no mothers
GGthe cams is not worth the candle.D Their