The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
SINGERS IN DRAWING ROOMS,
Stories of Their Reluctance to Sing in Pri-
Yate and Their PRICE,.


The principal characters in u story told recently
about Jean de Reszke and Baron Rothschild in
Paris will probably never take the trouble to deny
it, and to the persons familiar with NJ de Reszke 8
methods, no denial will be necessary The story
is that Jean de Reszke. who recently guest
at the residence of Baron Rothschild near Paris
sang several times during the evening to the de
light Of the other guests. Baron Rothschild
had in the past offered him large sums for Just
such an entertainment but his proposals were
refused, Jean de Reszke has always declined
TO sing in private houses for money. On this
occasion the financier handed him blank check
with the request that he would write the amount
on il that he thought he deserved. The singer
tore up the check, and the Baron made some re-
marks about preferring to pay singers in his own
house rather than have them there as guests
which may lead to duel Nobody who knows
of the friendly relations that have existed for
years between the Rothschild family and the
brothers de Reszke would for a moment believe
such story II has been told moreover in some
what altered form about number of singers
Marie V an Zandt once sang at private musicale
given by a New York millionaire who had not
always been so rich The story was later told
that the butler presented to her as soon as she
had finished her songs a check for the amount
she TO receive. AS this was presented on a
silver saver in the presence OF all the guests
the situation was too much for even an experienced
prima donna This one burst into tears knocked the
salver out OF the buffers hands and ran out of
the room weeping. II is true, however. that she
accepted the check when it was sent 10 her hotel
the next day The elements Of this episode seem
TO be popular because there is some piquancy
in the right Of artistic renown compelled To humble
itself before wealth. Probably a similar story
has been told before this about other artists than
Jean de Reszkc and Marie Van Zandt
All the great singers dislike 10 appear in pri
waite houses although the rewards are so great
that most Of them have from time 10 time accepted
such engagements Nine. Sembricl sang several
times in New York last year She began by
making her terms 81 500, with the intention that
they should he pSohibitive Far from having
that effect she was induced once to 20 as far as
having placed her terms at So 500 Nine Melba
sang here at private musicale and demanded
considerably more than she received at the opera,
and Nine Nordica made similar arrangement
when she sang once or twice the winter before
last here, Mre. Melha was last spring in London
the most popular OF the prma donnas al Coyent
Garden for private appearances and sang for
about 81 POO which WIS the largest sum ever
paid TO performer in London for such an appear
ance. she had moreover, particular clause in
her contract by which she was not compelled as
most OF ne other singers IN the company were, Ia
give half her receipts to the syndicate conducting
NJ Salcla was next to Nine. Mclba the most
popular drawing room singer during the London
season. Jean de ReSZke has only sung Of recent
years in one London wing room. Several
years ago he sang in Lady dc Greys drawing
room in London some Of the music from "Sieg
fried" before he had been heard in the opera He
is an intimate friend Of Lady de Grey however
and that could no more be viewed in the light Of
ordinary drawing room singing than could his
performance Of several coon songs at the same
ladys country house last summer. lie was
asked several times to sing in private houses
during his first winter in this country and large
fees were Offered to him: but he always declined
on the ground that he was unsuited tn such work.
and even appea red AT some Of the Sunday concerts
during his first season here but he attcrward
gave that up and confines his attention tu the
opera. Nine Sembrich has announced that she
will undertake no private apEca RANGES this winter
and il is improbable that Nine CalvC will have
the time 10 spare from her appearances at the
opera. Nine Schumann lIcnk will probably
be great iavoritc in concert this year, and de
mands for her appea RANGES have come from all
expensive singers, and that accounts in a measure
for her great popularity, Ii Is very much easier
to find engagements for the moderate priCcCl
singers, such as David Bispham and CamPanari ri,
than il il for the artists, who demand 81 800 and
SO 600 concert and the millionaircs and sOcic
ties who can pay such sums are few in number.
whereas there are many clubs and even ndvid
uals who can afford easily 10 pay from 5000 to
$500
Some church singers find their services much
In demand for musicalcs because they ask mod
crate prices and for another reason. which is moi
connected with the financial aspect Of the question
they do not sing as loudly AZ their more famous
colleagues This is a quality appreciated in a
small drawing room