The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-05-26
GREAT SINGERS
REAL TOILERS


"reminiscences and her conclusions have
peculiar weight. She not only is
singer herself, but is the well-trained
daughter of that greatest of singing
teachers, Nine. Mathilde Marchesi. Mile.
Marchesi was herself a pupil when
Games, Calve, Nordica, Media, Gerster
and many others were coming to her
mother for lessons She remembers
them, their characteristics and their
early struggles, and she paints vivid
word picture OF them in the following
interview:
There is not one of the great sing
ers who has not had hard struggle of
it," began Miss Marchesi, and some
have not only had to struggle hard
vocally, but financially as we'll In fact,
can say that to a woman who is de-
sirous Of becoming great singer
much money will act as a deteriorating
influence. 1t is the woman who works
knowing that upon her success as an
artist depends her living who will
finally reach the top of the ladder.
''Of course, not all great singers
have been poor, but those who had
money while they were studying were
wrapped up in their art as TO be almost
oblivious to outside influence.
4 remember Calye very well while
she was studying with my mother.
She had tried opera and failed She
was one of those women who always
seemed to have money, but she studied
hard, nevertheless. Not only had she
been failure, but she was living in
mental agony all the time, as she was
in danger of losing her voice entirely.
She started in to study, and never
ceased until her voice was entirely out
of danger. 1t was a great struggle,
but she wen
1T may be interesting to say in re-
gard to the passionate, fiery Calve
| that after she had regained her voice
the great trouble. with her was her
GOODNESS. She sang without particle
of feeling or expression, and it seemed
| impossible to make her understand the
| fact that in order to be a great singer
| the person had to do more than sim
ply sing notes.
mo manager wanted to take her.
| They said she sang like cake of ice
| But suddenly there was a change in
| this cold, passionless woman. Like a
| flash she seemed to comprehend what
her teacher had tried to show her for
years. She began to sing with real
| fervOr. She began to portray with in
| tellfgence the various moods of the
| character she was playing, and to-day
| it is said Of her that if she were not a
great singer she would be a great act
| ress. No living singer deserves more
credit than Calve. No one has over
come greater obstacles. Seldom was
am ition baked as much as in her case
or woman followed by illiuck so i'm
placably as she. But courage and
| hard work triumphed.
Emma Eames is an example of that
greatest OF all teachers necessity. She
lived in most reduced circumstances
while she was studying, and besides
that had no phenomenal voice at all in
her early days. She can be set up as
an example to those singers who are
| trying hard to get a voice. She was
never distinguished for a great natural
organ, and what she is to-day is due
to her hard struggle.
'SBut what EameS lacked in voice she
made up in intelligence She realized
she had a hard struggle before her, and
entered the battle resolved to conquer.
| The great fault with her was that she
had no high notes. There are many
struggling singers to-day in the same
position. but they need not be dis
couraged. High notes can be obtained
by hard work. In two years Eames'
vocal organ changed from very
mediocre one to a most wonderful one.
| .-,,i1- hi VIII
| ease and became great artist.
''Eames is also an example to encour-
age those singers who find themselves
| in reduced circumstances. While she
was studying she lived in Paris in very
small apartments, but her Yankee grit
| and perseverance in d few short years
| lifted her out Of her modest surround
ings.
The one big trouble with Gerster
was in her inability to get the trill.
She now has a great one-one that
| sounds like a lark S-but she had a
most difficult time getting it. She orr
ginally studied to become governess
and in this way obtained her splendid
education. But she felt that teaching
the children OF the rich was not what
she was intended TO do. All her friend;
had told her she had a magnifcen
voice. and after saving some none!
she came to Paris to study. Her friends
opinions were we'll founded. She dix
have a splendid vocal organ.
| Suzanne Adams had great trouble
with her health. She had a voice o
marvellous sweetness, but her delicat
health made it very doubtful as t
whether she would ever be able 10 pu
it to any practical use. At one time
looked as though she were destined [
lose it, but she retained it by dint o
the hardest work. Ill-health was tn
only obstacle she had to overcome, an
it was very trying.
"Melba always had great natura
voice, but she had to study very har
to train it properly. In fact, she sti
studies hard, and every year when sh
is in Paris she takes her lessons regu
1cr