The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06

who can't sing q note themselves, but who
would willingly put up or put down the
and there a Gt thausands and tho1sands OF
teachers here and abroad who would gladly
train her for nothing. This talk about
poverty, is rubbish. Genius will rise In
spite Of every obstacle. No, i don't waste
a moments thought on the girl students
There's no could about it. Must is the
word. The singer must sing. The song
will come out involuntarily. as the
flower bursts from the plant and the sweet
The great Nine. Nellie Melba was sitting
in, her Empire parlor. in tne Savoy Hotel,
morning this talk about vocal pupils oc-
CURED. The room was brilliant with roses
and as sweet as a garden. "A grand piano
of white mahogany, that filled an angle,
was Uttered with music. j..
The director of Il charity concert sat at
the prima donna's desk %arranging the
small boy with a violin sent In roses and
a request to play for her. In the dressing
room a group of modistes were waiting to
fit hats and dresses; a messenger came TO
say that the carriage was ready and the
telephone bell rang as though the cabinet
These are some of the reasons why 1
do not try all the voices that want 10 sing
for me. Since my return TO New YORK 1
have received twelve young women: They
all thought they could sing. l differed
with nine of them. The other three inter-
GSIeU me ana Il sent them 10 MdTCneSl.
What did you like about their. voices?"
1.-THE quality. The others lacked quality,
and no amount of cultivation could make
them successful. / am very frank. II a
girl asks my opinion about her voice and
its promises / tell her exactly what L think.
1t takes three things 10 make q prima
have a voice to start with; you must learn
how to use it, and you must work.
"a singer must master the languages of
the opera she intends TO sing. She must
understand what is being said and sung on
the stage. a great artist Will never sing
an opera unless he knows the language
perfectly. No voice should be trained be-
fore the sixteenth year. Up to that time
a general education Then should advise
Voice culture is slow. The organ is too
delicate to be forced or overworked. The
musical training will cave plenty Of time
poetry and physical culture. / consider
the stage Indispensable to a young stu
dent. She should see and hear all the op-
eras, concerts and comedies possible.
1.-THE best and quickest way to get the
language is to go, into q pension or private
ing people. In the American colony an
American may live in Paris until he Is
gray and bald and never learn French.
Il am not partial to a so-called musical
education. In no profession is general in
telligence more essential. There are many
successful singers with positively ugly
phrasing is good; they have good methods;
they know how to act and they bring the
charm of health, taste and personal refine
ment to bear upon the audience. That is
what i mean by being essentially intelli-
gent.
100 much stress is laid upon the term
beauty. 1t is a mistake. The word IS mis-
leading. Better results would accrue II
young people tried to be healthy. Perfect
Perfect health is personal attraction.
Next to heredity diet is the most impor-
tant factor in health. / am well because
i don't abuse my stomach. L know exactly
the foods and drinks that agree with me
and / don't touch anything else. L have
very little variety at table. l eat about
the same thing every day in the year
cafe au lait, toast, mutton chops, beef
steak, green's, fruit and light wine L never
touch cereals. bread, potatoes, pastry or
candy. They upset me. l have coffee and
toast every morning for my breakfast. /
eat fruit three times a day. l only eat
broiled meat and l take IL with salad. |
never, never drink anything cold, and as /
don't fancy cooked water l live on coffee,
tea and wines.
"To Law down a regimen for singers would
be absurd. Each individual must work out
her own health problem. L sing on a basin
Of soup or a dish OF raw oysters. After the
opera | have Il hot dinner:
ITO recapitulate. My advice to a girl who
wants to be a great singer is, first, be sure
you have the voice; second, get the best
teacher you can find; cultivate your brains,
study and keep well"