The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-29
PRIMA DONNA'S LIFE.
An italian Singer
Talks of Her Life
And Her Work.
THE AMERICAN AUDIENCE.
There's No Mistaking What
1t Likes and Dis
likes.
THE AMERICAN AUDIENCE.


French theatrical manager and an
American girl were sitting in private
room of the Coates House. The italian
knew not enough French to speak it.
She could not converse in English at
all. But she could speak little Span
ish. The American knew nothing of
Spanish or Italian. But lucky circum-
stance that it was the Frenchman knew
both Spanish and English. The former
furnished means OF communication
between him and the Italian. By the
latter he conVersed with the Ameri
can. In this manner with Monsieur Ed
uard Bageard, of the Lambardi Opera
Company as an interpreter l had talk
with Signorina Estefania Collamarini.
"Asseyez-vous, mademoiselle," she
said to the American.
Very kind, indeed, too kind" she
said in Spanish when asked what she
thought of her reception by Kansas
City theatregoers. The signorina laid
her plump white arms upon, the table
before her. She wore a lounging robe
of pale blue silk with deep lace at
the throat. The delicate tint of the
gown contrasted prettily with her
bright complexion and the lustrous
brown eyes sparkled with interest as
the signorina listened to the conversa-
ton in English and guessed at it's i'm
port from the expression of the faces.
Two large trunks, filled with cos
tunes of the title role character of
Carmen" Aida" "Mignon" and rig
oletto,' encountered the room. Upon
one of these sat Collamarinis duenna,
a pieasant-faced, gray-haired woman.
1.-THE signorina thinks" said Mon
sieur Bageard, that American audi
ences are very quick to express their
they do not stint their applause. If
they do not like it, they stay away and
say nothing"
while abroad?"
Abroad" said Monsieur Bageard
cor even in South America, where we
have been, they distribute their praise
with more discrimination. They dc
not give their applause en- masse. II
a singer is good, they receive her well
Hiss. hiss" said the signorina, in
Spanish. But the Frenchman under
stood, and so did the American.
And you have liked America the few
months you have been here, and will
really stay sometime?" Collamarini was
| asked, and then both interviewer and
| interviewed turned to Monsieur Ba-
geard for help. Collamarini talked
volubly in Spanish.
"She says" said Monsieur Bageard
that she wants to stay with you 8
long time. She has much to do fol
herself, and she wants to make money
| oh, ever so much. She wants to do i
| all, too, while she is young. Yes, she
wants money, she says. And she car
spend it, too" said Monsieur BagearC
in an aside. ...
| Collamarini has been in America
since last May only, but she has suns
| Carmen" for three years. Naturally
| it is her favorite role.
"Ah Garment" she said softly wher
asked this question. Then she claspe6
her hands and became for the moment
the little cigaret girl of Bizet's opera.
And after Carmen, what comes next
in point of preference"
"Oh, 'Mignon, perhaps, and then
Aida, suggested the duenna, who
sat upon the trunk.
But Carmen is her IDEAL" inter
posed Monsieur Bageard. Her Carmen
is her own creation, you understand
Three years ago, before she had sung
Carmen, she read Merinlies' story,
Then she produced this Carmen, She
has never heard any one sing it,"
mot Calve?"
Collamarini caught the maine and
, spoke quickly.
"She says" said Monsieur Bageard,
that people are so very kind. Here, as
we'll as in South America, where we
have been, they have said that if she
were to sing one night and Calve the
next people would see no difference.
She says she takes this differently
Sometimes she thinks that it is sincere
comment Sometimes she takes it for
flattery"
Collamarini here interrupted.
"She says to tell you" said Monsieur
Bageard. that some day she will hear
Calve sing, and then she will know
tell you this; Some day L shall hear
Calve sing. Then, when 1 have heard
her, 1 may say sing Carmen well, but
Calve is my superior
But then" said Monsieur Bageard,
speaking for himself, "Calve has had
stage experience, where Collaniarini
is young in years and experience"
"Collanarini did not make her debut
in the operate world with Carmen, but
with Marchettrs A'Ruy Bias. This she
sang in Italy three years ago. and was
so we'll received that the composer
wrote an opera especially for her. He
called il Zanzannoto.' At the initial
performance of this, Marchettl himself
led the orchestra of 100 pieces
Monsieur Bageard appealed to the
signorina in Spanish for confederation
OF his statement.
After that" he continued, "Collam-
arini was offered an engagement with a
company to tour through Italy and
Europe. But this she refused, to sign
an agreement to go to South America.
There was more remuneration in the
second engagement"
Here Collamarln laughed and spoke
quickly.
She says interposed Monsieur Ba-
geard, "that she cares more for money
than for glory" Collamarini nodded
her assent to this with laughing eyes
and a CLEAN of her white teeth.
"She says if she could make a mil
lion dollars she would be willing to
leave the stage"
"Really?" queried the interviewer,
and then Collamarini laughed merrily.
"She says" interposed Monsieur Bag
card, .weli, after l had had a rest
might change my mind"
"And then you might come back to
American"
"Oh, / want to come back again, .
said Collamarini.
"Signorina is very fond of horseback
riding" said Monsieur Bageard, in ans
wer to the question of her favorite
pastime.
"She does not care for the bicycle, :"
Monsieur Bageard appealed to Cola
marini. you see she is large, said
Monsieur Bageard "She says that if
she rode a wheel she would have to be
small and slender. But she is very
I ~ a.