Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-22
MADAME ROLLA.
Interviewed by the Mall aud Express upon
her Arrival in New York City-Some In
tereattug kxpressions.


teresting Expressions.
NeD York Nal and Express.
Nine. Kate Rolla is at the Hotel
Marlborough. Although Nine. Rolla
has not been without hearsay honor In
her own country, she has never sung In
grand opera before an American audi
ence. Her fame was won in London,
Paris and ST. Petersburg. America has
only heard the echo. But OF all the
Americans who have conquered the old
world, none has returned with better
earned laurels. And Nine. Rolla is
pretty-very pretty-with big eyes that
might be gray and are blue, with a
wealth of gold hair and the merriest
mouth that ever tried to be tragic. She
wore some sort of foamy blue morn
ing gown when Mail and Express man
saw her; altogether delightful pic
ture, and dangerous TO ones peace OF
mind.
"Yes, / have come home," she said,
smiling-a very nice smile, indeed. Il
have been away for six years. And
what have / been doing all that time?
Singing-everywhe from Sicily TO
Russia. You know | made my debuta at
Milan. II rwas in Linda di Chamouni.
Then l sang in almost every big city In
ltaly-Rome, Firenze, Venezia, Napoli,
and even in Sicily. Then / went to
Russia. Altogether, have had four
seasons In Russia. Berlin? Oh, yes;
Van Zandt and l sang alternate nights
-'Rigoletto,' 'Ballo en- Msscharo,'
Aida, and The Huguenots. The Ber-
liners do not care much for the lighter
operas, but they crowded to hear the
o favorites.
What will become Of Italian opera"
Nine RoIla went on, with little dolor-
Gus shrug Of her expressive shoulders.
II am sure do not know. 1t seems TO
be in sad state Of decline. London
and ST. Petersburg were the last strong
holds. Now London is giving way,
and In Russia Italian opera is only an
affair OF representations extraordinaires
performances ordered by the Court,
you know, and all that. The native
opera has become very popular there;
in fact, Russian opera and German
opera fill the field.
Il can easily understand why Ger
man opera is the thing in this coun.
try. or course. there is such large
German population, and then German
opera has been heard TO such advan-
tage."
"And French opera?"
"Oh, of course | sing In French as
we'll as In Italian. sang for the
Paris Directors, but you know they do
not pay anything to speak Of in
France" and Madame tried TO look as
mercenary as pretty young woman
with plump and merry face can
look.
But the reclame?"
sob, the reclame"
Madame laughed; she has that,
"When did you make you make your
debut In London?"
That was dramatic" Nine. Rolla
replied. "Oh, it was very dramatic. |
was in London, and one afternoon
went to the Italian Exhibition at Earfs
Court. l did not come home until 6
o'clock. Then my maid told me that
Mr.. Harris-now Sir Augustus, you
know-had been to see me. Well, you
know, Miss Mcintyre, who was TO sing
that evening in Don Giovanni, was Ill,
and he wanted me to take her place.
Two hours notice! Think OF it! But
sang and succeeded. After that |
had three seasons in London. The De
Reszkes? Yes, indeed. l have sung
with them often and often. They are
dear friends Of mine"
Then Nine. Rolla, who talks prettily
about herself but doesn't like to do IL,
spoke OF the wonderful successes
achieved by American girls. There was
Melba, who, in spite Of being an Aus
tralian, is, in some miraculous way, q
good American.
"She has the finest soprano voice OF
any living singer" said Nine. Rolla,
emphatically. There were Albani,
Eames, Nordica, Nevada and many
others, all American girls, who have
written their names all over the front
door of the temple Of fame.
81 am a pupil OF Marchesi," you
know" the prima donna added, land
Marchesi says that Americans have the
finest voices in the world. The Scienti-
fic reason is hard to give. II may be
the blending of races that produces
these fine voices, it may be the climate,
or both. l don't know, and | don't
suppose any one does; but the fact re-
mains"
Nine. Rolla has made arrangements
to appear in concert. But Nine. Rolla
is essentially a dramatic singer, and
this quality finds little expression in the
formal decorum that rules the concert
platform. Later she may be heard in
opera. In English opera II may be, for
Nine. Rolla recognizes the fact that the
Italian is losing It's old-time attraction.
Why not comic opera? The field is open
to singer who can sing-and has Nine.
Rolla's eyes.
The prima donna was Miss Wheat, OF
Wheeling, w. Va. When her husband,
Mr.. Rammesberg, Of Cincinnati, had
wasted his fortune she took up the bur-
den of live herself And what happen
ed after she went aboard to study needs
no telling.
b. & o. Excursion to Pittsburg. Feb. gath.