The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-02-07
DRAMATIC AND LRYI
A Brief Sketch of Mas,
the Tenor.
A CHAT WITH LEWIS MORRISON.
Morrison and the Amateurs-cborus
o. the Pirates-Mr. Young's Com
cert-The Park City Trip.
Joseph Mans.


reached this country that the famou,
operate tenor, Joseph Mas, died in
London on the 9th of January.
This favorite artist was born at Dart.
lord, Kent, England, the Both of Janu.
airy, 1919. As child he possessed re-
markably high soprano voice, and hi
musical education was begun at the age
OF s years under the instruction of the
late Mr.. ]. L. Hopkins, at that time or
ganist of the Rochester Cathedral. He
sang in the choir of the cathedral until
hewas 10. He afterwards held govern
ment appointment as CLERK in the paw
department of the First Depot Battalion
at Chatham, which appointment he re
signed in 1863 for the sake of prescott
ing his musical studies. He remained
some time in Italy and studied yocalism
under Sig Giovanni Corsi the celebrated
barltonl OF La Scala, Milan. His first
appearance in England after his return
from Italy took place at one of Mr..
Henry Leslie's concerts at st. James
Hall, February 8, 1871. He acted as
substitute for Mr.. Sims Reeves (who
was suddenly indisposed) and made a
success. subsequently he appeared in
CoYent Garden under the management
OF Dion Bouclcault, in Babil and Biiou
and the next season was engaged for
opera at the Crystal Palace. Mr.. C. u.
Hess arrived in London in the summer
OF 1873, to engage some people to sing
opera IN English in America in COM
pany headed by Clara Louise Kell gg :;
he heard Mas sing Lionel in Marina
and engaged him at once, On 80
be made his debut in America the
Academy of Music, Philadelphla. in
Faust III a cast which included Clara
Louise Kellogg, Zelda Seguin, w. t.
Carleton, Henry Peakes, etc. He estab-
hshed himself as tenor of fine quality
the first season and was re-engaged for
THEE successive seasons as the principal
tenor OF the Kellogg Opera Company
under the management of G. D. Hess.
In 1878 he went to London under
engagement to Carl Rosa, making his
debut in Brull's Golden Cross. The
opera was failure, although Mr.. Mas
made great success, and he now
showed the advantage of his American
experience-:he four years of work in
this country (where he had sung
repertoire of thirty operas) had given
an artistic finish to his work which at
once established him in England as the
tenor of the country.
Mr.. Mas engagement with Carl Rosa
was so arranged that he was able to
accept concert engagements on the off
nights, and in this branch of musical
work he attained an eminence only
equaled by Sims Reeves. The Birming-
nam. Leeds, Worcester, and other
festivals secured his services, and his
success as an oratorio singer was thus
established beyond all rivalry. 1871
His death is loss to the musical
world, which at present appears almost
since none can name his
successor. Mas work was finished and
,efned, his voice of the most beautiful
quality, full, rich, with a great deal of
imbre and of unusual compass. Sing
ng in the pure Italian method he was
IN example for any tenor to copy. no
natter what his nationality might be.
In his private life he united all the
,ood qualities that endear a man to
others, generous to fault, cultivated
md refined in his ideas, he won friend
wherever he went, and kept them,
which is rare.
He was devoted husband, and his
domestic life andzhis social surround
ngs were of the happiest and most
pleasant nature.
The portrait of Mr.. Mas which ap-
,ears in connection with this brief
ketch, is taken from a recent photo
,raph of the lamented artist in the
haracter of The Chevalier des Grieux |
n Massenet's new opera, Manon. The |
itself is in the possession of |
he popular baritone, Mr.. W. T. Garlic
on, who for many years was member
# the same companies as Mr.. Mas, |
nd the two eminent artists entertained
or each other sincere and lifelong
Letter.