The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-11
THE CARE OF THE VOICE.
sTRICT RULES THAT GREAT ING
ERS HAVE ia FOLLOW.

Restriction TO which Meiba, Esnes,
the de Re.xkes. and Others sub1it-Se-
rious Consequ ences OF Little Indisere-
uons-fatu'. Preservation OF Her Voice
Few people in the audiences that applaud the
popular singers at the Metropolitan Opera House
realize that the regimen they are compelled to
follow is very e~xacting, and allows them little
opportunity TO indulge in many Of the enjoy
ments possible to persons not so famous or ap-
parently so much TO be envied. What they
shall eat and drink aud other matters Of their
daily life are with them questions so serious
that they do not dare TO transgross the rules
which they decide are necessary for them to
follow. Mime. Melba once told a SUs reporter
that she had never allowed herself to cat any
sweets sin &c she became 4 singer, and that from
certain other articles OF food she felt II as I'M
~portant to abstain. Nine. Media Is a singer or
natural SO great that she is in
measure relieved from some OF the labor neccs-
sary to other primA donnas; but like them she
Is compelled TO follow rules that would appear
very severe TO the women who watch her from
the audience aud applaud her.
1t is only by such precautions that the voice
can be preserved. One Of the most popular
singers in Germany, n comparatively young
woman. has lost Ter voice entirely. She was .
singer praised on account OF her artistic meth
ods, aud. As her voice had at one time been pow
eriul aud beautiful, those who knew her only
from her pIearances on the stage were surprised
at the premature failure OF her powers. But TO
those who knew her in the theatre an explana-
ton was not hard to find. Her husband was
also n musician. and she used to so with him
for supper every night to a restaurant. where
they sat until very late eating and drinking.
The place was always thick with smoke. Inc
woman made It her habit to meet her husband
there. even when she had not sung. and they
were there every evening for several hours. To
this recklessness in particular the early decay
Of her voice Is attributed. although she was In
hat i IinnSarlSbly astonissed her associates. One
very arduous for her. she drank a quart OF
champagne and ate "a box OF sardine.. What
know ledge that she thought nothing OF taking
IA similar meal whenever during the progress OK
a performance she felt the need or u.
Emma flames is frequently seen In the neigh
borhood Of her uptown hotel waking oriekiy
in the company OF a friend ana her InevitaHis
10 clear weather, and ventures out for her daily
walk with the protection OF goloshes and .
Singer. life may be gathered from her
vitations on the night before she sings. as
the requirements OF conversation might make
her talk, or, at all events. laugh so much
smoke, which would be sufficient 10 have Its
bad effects: Anything OF the KIND on me day on
lion, She scarcely ever touches wine and limits
her food TO simple articles. She never leaves
tie house under any circumstances before "
o'clock In the afternoon, as that insures the
necessary time for the daily practice, which
might nev1r be got Through with " the regulA
morning hour was passed.
When Tamagn9 was IN this country the last
time he walked about In the coolest weather.,
and even when the snow lay deep on the streets.
with only "A light overcoat on, and made hppar-
fmLY no r%,.l' ~ pp ssort Vi prp SsI .t nrmsstih,.
Like the other singers, he WAS very temperate
in hi, way, OF living. u used to be said OF patti
that she had retained her powers in such re-
markaGIe c0nd ition because she had during her
entire career sacrificed everything 70 her voice.
Jean de Ke;zke's own efforts f. this d;
r%ectIon are known to all his friends, and
.ne m sp,sHdIff S sissS ie,' is n" possible SIiGs for :
man to do. He lives very quietly at the
Gilsey House, keeps himself IN perfect physical
food or drink that would prove dlshdrantageous
to him. During his summer vacation IN Poland
he lives constantly In the open air. and on his
return her" every fall always cxcites comment
nw.ng to his reduction IN weight. Ldouard %
Rrs2kt is as careful. and allows himself the In
diligence OF o very limited number OF Russian
cigarettes, n. ,,o , ,o . ~.
most pcrsistently athletic OF any, OF the artists.
lie boxed regularly and required the exclus,ve
services OF a pHr.icY1"f boxer VINO ,r" " lee
rope Sun heiptng ths baritone TO keep
Fol Flancon is another of tho singers who
guard their voices very tealously. He never
smokes and l. very temperate about drinking,
although he occasionally calls for his, ~fayoTtte
beverage-A mixture OF champagne and mineral
water when he 10 singing ana feels the neces-
sity OF relieving the dryness Of his throat. But
THIS is n very rare indulgence Tor him. Nine.
Mrlba only violates her rule about sweets wien
il comes Ia u question OF sugar and water, This
is the only thing she ever takes during a per-
formAnce to relieve her throat.
l,alo tampanini WAS not careful about his
neRlth, and did not give his voice thy consider
alton IL required, and he lost " lonA before ~
was an old man.