The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-06
IMARCHESI METHODS.
HOW THE GREAT TEACHER TERROR
IzEs HER SCHOLARS.

b~ses~oss~"s IN singing from Her NOS
Altogether an Agreeable Ordssi--But
She Conscisntiously LAbors Always Ter
Her Pupils Benefit.
In the musical world Of Europe no
teaoher stands higher than Nine. Mar
chest, and yet q first interview with her
Is an ordeal TO be dreaded. She may tell
you with almost brutal frankness that
your cherished vocal projects are thin
as air bubbles and that You had better
turn your attention to cooking. Or,
with ono unusual gleam of her gray
eyes and one sudden indrawn breath,
making her thin lips still thinner, she
may tell you that you are destined to
lift the heart Of the world in immortal
song and wear the laurels OF q great
lyric career. Again, she may tell you
with the same blunt severity that you
have no looks at all for the stage, and
after You have been accepted az pupil
you are still subjected to her merciless
severity.
To be taught by Mme Marchesi IL
not to have the luxury of an individual
lesson, an hours good. cozy, comfort
able time all to yourself. BY no means.
That is not her plan. You are taught
In class. You are thus introduced at
once to an audience. You thus have an
opportunity OF conquering stage fright.
You are thus submitted to the criticism
of others. Not only your voice. but
your manners, your gait, your way Of
holding your hands are studied. From
head to foot You are scrutinized.
A small platform is in the center Of
Marchesi's salon, where the pupil stands
and recites (or sings) her lesson. The
class sit around the room and criticise.
The pupil has to face not only tho class,
but the audience includes often the first
musicians Of the world. How does q
sensitive woman bear the gun fire Of
Mime. Marchesi's criticism, her ridicule,
her sarcasm and severity? One day one
of the class was having her 10 minutes
of lesson before crowded room. Mar
chest was in a sardonio humor that
morning. Her remarks were brilliant,
but more cutting than Damascus
blade. The audience felt that climax
was coming. It came. The girls lip
began to tremble as Marchesi's q COM
mentary sparkled and cut and sparkled
again. Her lip trembled more and
more. The agitation gained upon her
whole body, till she shook like willow
in the wind Poor dear, the other pu-
pills held their breath. The room was
silent as tomb. You could hear Mar
chests watch tick in her pocket Still
the pupil strove to bring out the tone
that those severe lips of Marchesi had
commanded. At last the voice rolled
opt. The tone gained upon the room.
The voice stopped.
"You sing like a foolp' literally
Kissed Marchesi, and the storm broke.
The girl burst into tears Her sobs,
coming upon the silence. were most
painful. Not one Of the pupils dared to
rush forward with comfort or handker-
chief. The girl threw the sheet Of mu-
sic on the floor and covered her face
with her hands. Then, dashing the
tears away from her face, she stopped
down. gathered up the scattered music,
tore it into shreds, tossed it to every
part of the room, and rushed from the
platform stage. All felt it was over
with her forever, 80 far as lessons with
Marchesi were concerned, and more
than one heart ached for her.
"Ha, hal" laughed Marchesi, rising
delightedly from the piano, rubbing her
hands together and walking, or rather
stalking, majestically through the room
and up and down and again seating
herself at the piano. "Ha, hal That
girl will singl She has the grand fire.
She is dramatic. She has the fine pas
sion of the devil" And the girl came
back the next day and won Marchesi's
bravos and hand olapping.
Upon another occasion Marohesi sat
in Judgment upon q pupils hands as
she stood upon the platform.
"Now, don't put up your lip like
baby" she says, III ] tell you that I
never saw such BOBBY. You're as awk-
ward az q country clown. Look ut your
handsi Just look at them dangling
down at your sides like jumping jack
waiting to twitch on q pole. Mais, vol
Ia, she continued. softening little,
III do not tell you. ma ohere. Of these
things now while you are in my salon.
do You know who will tell you Of them
later on when you stand for the first
time before one Of the great audiences
Of Europei The reporters will fay you
alive and deservedly. Will they not note
down every awkward gesture, every
gaucherief Will they not say, She has
q divine voice. but she held her hands
like clownr And when you read IL in
all the papers the next morning, ah,
how You will exolaim, Why did not
Marched correct me, tell me, reprove
me, no matter how severelyr Now,
hold your hands easily, one palm crossed
upon the other, the right hand across
the left. the forehnger and middle fn-
ger Of the right hand between the thumb
and foreAnger Of the left hand. Boni
Now. sec what ease Of position, what
repose IL gives to your whole figure as
you stand there"
To look over the programme for the
ocvco~to Nina Morcbooi uivoo fvv,v,,