The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-28
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went in for experiments and so / am still
singing. Contrary to the endless and seem
ingly authoritative assertions SO constantly
and emphatical4y made, / may say that [
never studied with any one except Nj.
Ettore Barilli-of the family of my mothers
hrst husband-who knew the right method
ana who did everything necessary in the
way of training my voice and securing the
best style of production.
How disappointed, painfully disappointed
he has often been on reading here. there and
everywhere, that my teacher was NJ MaiI-
rice Strakosch, who really only helped me on
matters of pronunciation. and in the work.
ing up of some my songs NJ. Strakoseh in
later years. became the husband Of my Sis
ter, Amalie.
/ don't believe in experimenting with the
voice. Occasionally it proves a success, hut
| do think, at the present time. all that is
best in the voice is very often sacrificed TO
TINS crazy notion OF irving different meth
ods and teachers. ] have always advised all
young singers in whom l have been inter-
ested 10 place themselves in the hands of
Nine. de la Grange of Paris an exceedingly
conscientious teacher, whose method of the
Italian school early won my admiration The
true singer is the natural singer. and nature
is an eXceIent guide as TO mentor aud
method
l can't help attributing some measure or
my voices preservation to my careful
avoidance of pastry and made dishes
eat very sparingly of meat and what / do
eat ! likely plainly roasted. in the English
at Craig-y-NoS who, like most of my fol-
lowing, was devoted to music. One after
NOON, Wnen ne could not be found in any
OF the usual haunts at the castle. | discov-
cred him In the concert hail. sitting with
white cap and apron, and doing his best to
play Home, Sweet Home" on the piano
His confusion and apologies on my entrance
were too much for me, and instead of the in
tended, and, | suppose, natural speech Of
Indignation had a piano sent to his own
room, so that he might not lack ain oppor-
tunity for future practice.
| ind as much pleasure in singing to a
few friends in my Welsh home as | do at
the largest public audiences. 1t is a delight
TO me to be able to encourage young stu
dents. and during my recent tour / had a
charming example of how deeply the little
l do is appreciated On the last night Of
the tour a promising young member of the
company was discovered in tears and at
last determined to question her as to the
cause OF her sorrow. "Oh. madam" she re-
piled, 1T has been like heaven TO be with
you; now ii is all over and / must go back
to London and unkind peopler
] am going to write my biography at
length one of these days and then I'll have
a good deal to say this subject Much
hope, will be of service to young singers
in whom i take an almost unreasonable in
terest. But / won't venture on this UNDER
taking until after j have retired from public
life which will be-when l wonder?
For the rest there is little more to be said
now. 1t has already been confessed for me
that Rossfni Is my favorite master. that
Charles Dickens Is the main inspiration Of
my fondnesS for reading, and that the hIl-
man qualities / most admire are honesty in
man, faith in woman.