New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22

Madrid Paris and It Petersburg. while others were
waiting Their turn for their lesson from the aireaus
ecu maestro Lamperti's inherent great
ncss has forced a recognition from the civilized world
in spite 1t We're, OF himself for Oh III "'l''''
c.uin.o, he could easily take the lead True ne
y, o.-ocat.d with the Royal Conservatory OF Milan
for twenty-five years head master OF the depart
,nent OF singing. but this offer, which meant pos''on
worldly fame ana future pension, an honor e"sci''
sorrht for was refused by him for a long ume' %
crco, wa, hi, dread of being bound by business
contract He sui scquently, on two different occa-
ON. absolutely refused offers made 10 him by Oounod.
Ambrose Thomas and others TO become a'socia'Sa
with the world renowned Paris conservatory Rosshi,
his lifelong friend and corrc ponden, remonstfatea
W IN him. receiving for answer Nildt 10 '"c
for glory do4t like the French
Ambition he never possessed simply an intense
,or Cor musc combined with marvellous critical
nowers His scnsbilities appear TO have become ao-
.or,,.d nv his music lie was absolutely deVoiu vi
family feeling and on being told OK the uea'n Va
one OF his grown sons. said In matt'r-oiaoV 'oo'
NON dom, sny So and continued .lls lesson bu'
a., fans would come into his eyes every time ne
would describe some pathetic aria or mum N"''9'.''
phsc ~ sung by Of the great singers some my
,..,. hcfore Az a recent visit TO my Oh hi'esuo
=, h,s villa on Lake Como l was much impressed ~
tho chIldlike indifference 10 fame of man WIZ nav
Instructed three generations OF great siie''S. i''
,r,fe showed me IA dozen dlnercilv decoruuV"S s
him by ROYALTY in recognition vi HIS NV ''' :,
lucnce In preserving the ALMOST ioS'
the Italian art OF singing am,
No., .h,uld not allow all these amateurs ana
rou,d no tenchcrs OF your method TO STUDY Will ''u
unless they remain with you TWO Vi ''i.e 49,,
le,stp urged why not follow MsrVhes' camp
Do not accept pupil until he binds hi'i'cn !" ,.'".n
with Won until he really sings a' you WIS" w
Think of the ridiculous statements WHICH '"eS0 %
,,uiI. Of Lamperti make about You ana your He."o'
4
, me habit for sixty years TO see pupils peioie me
from morning I'll night. ] make enough 10 ''' "''.
drink and live In comfort. never III my ni' p''''',N
,hcud Of the coming days lessons, ana ye' oo" d" Wv
result Of nv work" pointing with MS mast wan" ~
tho p,ctures which lined the walls oi i'S ''"''o
Famoti, singers from many lands e"o" "''' .'' '
astic. frequently ic'c'0"'"'i
mortal maestro . ,u, ,.o mn.
v1., , went TO Iampcrti To study Albani gave ME
tho hint That william Shakes caIe had fo"hd 1t heoe
.,rv IA listen 10 his lessons from MORNING u' "'e"
c.t NJ the spirit OF his teaching anu Pio'"e " w
hint | accompanied the maestios ~'So"' io U''o
, hovciing about him to such an extent mat nc
a,orn,med me the l." fly" and polyg from the i'o'
that served useful translator Tor 'he '"'s '""o,'
Ii,i rcnrc,,nted In hi, studio. 1t was truly tie Only
~ in gain a knowledge OF his method Ill 'no "'s'
mace the old maestro spoke nothing out '"e ''a"e'o
u,o, o totally different from pure Italian that ire
,ucnly tran slated his meaning TO laiias! 'ncc no
,,l.ct understood, m lmpDsoDc lc"t w "''''' ' va
III. nupl, ~ 1t was mumblod between set VI very
,o,.elv fitting false teeth, their troubles h"d oh'y
,oc,n for seemed impossible for INN 10 give pam
,nnttcr.of fact explanation. The native VIII anu eA-
uherance of the fiery little old Italian wizard round IN
outlet in constant smiles and metaphor often eauhs
.a rnexed student miles away from the idea which
he wished 10 convey.
40, instance, instead Of using the practical term
. hreot he deeply" he would say put 1t down.
.. cl,,p Instead Of saying breathe quietly take
"a tho breath quietly" he would say drink e. bev9:
while after an unusually ferocious rap with that
uuch dreaded cone the pupil would be told that the
boat was under WATER" and In many instances 1t was
only in after years that the pupils would realize that oy
boat under the water he meant that they were ex-
n,odinc their tones without being properly sustained
NV the breath. "scappa" e. IL runs away') was con-
stantly given US an explanation OF rap from his
stick or balla" E.. the breath is GancingD, and the
fright of that stick and another furious cutlery only
realizing that something was going wrong and the
maestro was In a rage. Thus II VIII be seen that
f. was something like solving Chinese puzzle 10
II would have been difficult to find a more exact
ing impcIiOus and positively malci0usy wide-awake
musical martinez than lamper for fairly impcrccptibe
faults In tone, time or expression. nave mcntioned
the abomnabe dialect which he spoke himself, but
I'm singing hs was simply mnddening In his determi-
milton To hear the purest Italian. OFTEN the pupil
would not get beyond half dozen words Of recitative
during an entire lesson every Infection every letter.
being repeated bcfor liz would rest content. Italian
was for him the only conceivable language for the
soul; every one was commanded to speak only Italian
between the lessons, with sublime Indifference on his
part TO the fact that many OF his pupils did not know
enough Of the language to ask their way about!
Tho babel Of languages which had been heard ID