The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-08-06
MARCHESI METHODS.
HOW THE GREAT TEACHER TERROR
lies HER SCHOLARS.

/ Her Pupils Benefit.
In the musical world of Europe no
| teacher stands higher than Nine. Mar
! mesa, ant z5s firss sESeT-:ew 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 one unusual CLEAN of her gray
eyes and one sudden indrawn breath,
making be- 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 a 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 as pupil
you are still subjected to her merciless
severity.
To be taught by Nine. Marchesi is
not to have the luxury of an individual
lesson, an hours good, oozy, 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 Tor sings her lesson. The
class sit around the room and criticise
The pupil has to face not only the class,
but the audience includes often the first
musicians of the world How does
sensitive woman bear the gun fire Of
Nine. Marchesi's criticism, her ridicule,
her sarcasm and severity? One day one
u the class was having her 8 minutes
of lesson before crowded room. Mar
chest was in a sardonic humor that
morning. Her remarks were brilliant,
but more cutting than a Damascus
blade. The audience felt that climax
was coming 1t came. The girls lip
began to tremble as Marchesi's COM
mentary sparkled and cut and sparkled
again. Her lip trembled more and
more. The agitation gained upon her
whole body, tillshe 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 Marohesi had
At last the voice rolled
out The tone gained upon the room.
The voice stopped.
''You sing like a foolV literally
hissed 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, so far as lessons with
Marchesi were concerned, and more
than one heart ached for her
"Ha, hal'' laughed Marchesi, rising
from the piano, rubbing her
bands. together and walking, or rather
majestcally through the room
md up and down and again seating
herself at the piano. 'Ha, hal That
girl will sing! 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
oravos and hand clapping.
Upon another occasion Marchesi sat
n judgment upon a pupils hands as
he stood upon the platform.
Now, don't put up your lip like .
,aby," she says, IF 1 tell you that I
never saw such BOBBY. You re as awk-
ward as a country clown. Look at your
lands! Just look at them dangling
Iown at your sides like jumping jack
Waiting to twitch on pole. MATS, vol
a." she continued, softening a little,
if do not tell you. ma chere, of these
hings now while you are in my salon,
10 you know who will tell you of them
alter on when you stand for the first
ime before one of the great audiences
f Europe? The reporters will fay you
live and deservedly. Will they not note
own every awkward gesture, every
,aucherie? Will they not say, She has
divine voice, but she held her hands
ike a CLOWN And when you read it in
II the papers the next morning, ah,
ow you will exclaim, Why did not
larchesi correct me, tell me, reprove
ne, no matter how severely? Now,
old your hands easily, one palm crossed
pom the other, the right hand across
he left, the forefnger and middle fin
er of the right hand between the thumb
nd forefnger of the left hand Bon
low, see what ease of position, what
epose it gives to your whole figure as
on stand there"
To look over the programme for the
oncerts Nine. Marchesi gives from
me to time is to read a strange collec-
ion of names. Here are pupils from
apan. Here is a name from Nor
ray. Here is a lady from Finland
Iere are sturdy Scotch names. Here are
american names-girls from st. Louis.
an Francisco the Maine wOodS tba