The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-08
NorEs OF TIE =

winch they were told. None OF them was more
curious than n piece OF gossip which floats
about the corridors concerning another emf
nent singer who has recently developed a fru-
gality which Is unprecedented even among
operate artists. That she habitually goes to
the Metropolitan IN a cable car and avoids such
Injuries asthe livery stables provide is n detail
IN her economies which might be regarded as
uanRerous were II not that she has apparently
proved herself Immune from the cold
which ordinary prima donnAs take in spite
OF the greatest precautions. Only a few
nights ago It was discovered Just be-
lore the curtain rose that she had
neglected to provide herself with a pair OF
stockings suited TO the costume which she was
TO wear. Her own would not answer the pur-
pose. as they would not permit the wearing Of
her satin slippers. They were OF n thick and
substantial character which would not slip
into the slippers. and silk was the only texture
possible to wear. Now, her silk pair had been
left at home. The only thing to do was to APP
peal to another prima donna. This was done.
aud the audience was not compelled to witness
the prima donna in her stocking feet. for il was
hnGIuestion OF no slippers or silk stockings.
me other singer sent TO her hotel tnr
the. stockings aud the day was saved. One
feature OF this singers contract is the payment
which, is not included frequently In contracts
nowadays; The thought that she drew a large
I,A oHA Aiu.i 70 'lliS ldih az nv I'ltl III ul-
dltion was painful to some Of her associates in
me opera company, 1t is not a pleasant thing
~eociates sometimes make better bargains than
they 90; one Of them pondered over the fact
lor 2 whlle. and then seemed relieved.
she eats only grass he said. and that
The economy OF this gifted artist showed it.
sell not only in the quality Of her stockings.
but also in the way she returned them.
n, Thf eI are eieap;, she wrote and am sure
-
One Of the curious results OF the great COM
panies at the Metropolitan is the overworked
" and " which is placed before the names OF
some OF the singers az a mark OF especial dis
t%inction. Most OF them fight for this honor.
To others the struggle for 1t is rather anus
Ing. as the degree OF real greatness that
the mcnosyllable can impart is not always evil
dent To those OF great foreign reputa-
tions 1t is particularly absurd to see
tho original succession Of the characters
as arranged by the authors and ac-
copied the world over distorted into all kinds
OF fantastic orders merely to make the and"
possible in the place which agrees with the
artists estimate Of his or her importance in
the performance and his or her artistic status.
Nobody believes that N. Jean de Reszke de-
rives any satisfaction from having the word
precede his name in a "Lohengrin" cast, and
certainly the audience would not be likely to
underestimate the value OF his participation In
the opera II the word were omitted. Doubt
less NJ. SaliGnac enjoys the honor Of
having and" precede his name in some
Of the operas. but that comes probably from a
knowledge of the fact that it introduced the
name Of N. de Reszke at q preceding perform
ance. Mime; Lehman Is too thoroughly an ar
tainly entitled II she wants it, and she is proba-
bly, Just as much amused as the others of her
emotional wear and tear expended on the Ques-
ton. This practice Is not wholly confined to
theatra. This could be no other than Covent
Garden. where the stars are quite as
tdmilR eTenGs .h as p e6f{Y there fFS hhs sns' neither iTi | the BE
many nor SO much Of those they have as New
Workers DO; In every other European theatre
programme as they do in the operas. with no
absurd distortions, and changes merely to
politan "ands" are a species OF reward given
to the artist who eondescends to a part which
Who acts as substitute at short notice for some
other singer. For this splendid self-abne gation
The little word may 60 to a tenor. a bass, a so.
prano or a baritone. a hero or a heroine. a
b fs59sF IF an may Sn fesef RT z It. DF Fet ali A it I. O 4SasflS
absurd. The list OF the characters on the pro-
Sramme should coErespond to that that ARRANGED
airy distortions for the sake Of the "ands are
undigniaed aud ridiculous.
Nine. Nordica wore last week as Isolde some
OF the costumes presented TO her by Otto
Lohse after the death OF his wife. Katharine
Klafsky. The great Wagner singer was in
this country when Nine. Nordica sang Isolde
for the first time and admired her very much |
in the part. After Nine. Klafsky's death her
husband gave to Nine. Nordica his wife's cos
tunes for the Wagner opera. The additions TO
her former costume as Isolde were becoming. |
and not only in physical appearance. but also
IN draea aha Ia the mOaf niptTreS0ua IsOLis that |
New York has ever seen. Nine. Nordica had a
rest during the past week and decided to make
It complete by leaving town and going
TO Lakewood. where II was not possible
for her to be interrupted by business.
Nine. Sembrich is TO have her week Of
rest now. and she has been kept so busy that it
will be as grateful to her as to Nine. Nordica.
She began by singing seven times in two weeks
in Chicago. and she has been heard on an av-
eraGe three times a week ever since. including
her appearances at the opera and in concert.
Mime. Nordica's husband. Herr Doehme. is TO
return to the operate stage. but not In New
York. BE will sing next spring at CarlsEuhe.
S SfSaiiGStn aire &c ans a H1d'fRH he, b Risn Some Sn idea Of ere re-.
company il that manager decides that
he expects to sing in Germany and wait for
the time when his services viii be IN demand
here. Nine. Lehman is the only other singer
in the company married 70 u tenor, and her
husband Is singing in Europe, Hitherto he
has always accompanied her 10 this country. |
but he was kept IN Germany this winter
through his operate contracts. 1t was late in
come here, and at that time 1t was not possible
for Herr, Kalisch 70 arrange his contracts TO
permit him to accompany her TO this country.
The curtain was about to rise at the Metro
politan when the tenor stepped on the stage
and glanced about him TO see that nothing had
been forgotten. and especially TO observe the
situation OF q couch on the stage. He smiled
with satisfaction when he saw that 1t was
arranged as he wanted it-parallel with the
Then he retired TO his dressing
room. Then the prima donna hurried on the
stage. The sight OF the couch brought q frown
to her face. She called the stage manager and
had him arrange It's position In accordance
with her ideas. That placed II almosta at right
TO the footlights. The prima donna
retired with the same expression OF salts
faction which had marked the tenor's with
drawal. But her confidence was misplaced.