New-York tribune., 1900-08-10
SELECTING A CHORUS.
OF THE MANY AsPIRANTS FOR PLACES
FEW ARE CHOSEN THE SCALES
PROVE THE STUMBLING BLOCK

When the curtain rings up at the Metropolitan
Opera House IN October and reveals q chorus OF
ATTRACTIVE young women, with sweet, well trained
voices and a degree Of intelligence that makes
them integral part OF the performance, and not
q mere spectacular adjunct, few in the audience
VII give q thought 10 them beyond those obvious
facts Yet every one in that chorus viii represent
81 least e score Of failures. well her own
success. and even her success may be itself dire
and disastrous failure.
Soon after o'clock yesterday morning the stage
door oS the opera house, II Fortieth-st-, was
opened. and a stream Of young humanity began TO
hov in-thet is TO say, Il humanity that even
more strenuously than usual endeavored to be
young, for youth is important part Of the chorus
singers stock II trade, and the throng
posed ot applicants for places in the chorus OF the
Metropolitan English Opera Company.
Out of the suItry sunlight into the suItry gloom
Of the opera house they go, and the slight buzz OF
voices oes away they crowd toward the stage.
each anxious 10 be first. Within the great hall
who could recognize it as the magnificent audi
lor--ca o. ne winter The cleaning shoulders and
caesrra and boxes are replaced by dingy shrouds
OF -.aen That cover the velvet upholstery. Instead
sunshine. few stray shafts Of light penetrate here
light s ---='s -''o1sn an exit ana intensity f"i-
TYPES OF THE CHORUS GIRL
There Is an expectant hush as the accompanist
takes MS place az the pianoforte. A long line like
regiment OF anazons. reaches from the left
wing far OUT on The stage hidden behind the cur
The dernure girl, the shy and the bold the tailor
made and the fluffy and teathery all are there. As
they advance, one after another and sing their
little songs, they form curious and interesting
study There is man present who has z liberal
education in the musical and artistic life OF New
York, and he adds the interest by bits OF biog-
raphy as the singers come forward.
Notice that woman She is good looking you
see. and intelligent but listen TO that voice. She
hasn't the ghost Of chance. Il is thin as q
thread Yet three years ago she gave up a good
place and went 70 Paris 70 study because she had
oo2tr1bUreo by her conading and adniring friends,
grand opera success while ali the tine she was
running her voice When she had exhausted her
false method and overwork. and She Is seeking a
Is not likely 70 get even that"
Inadequate way, tries scale breaks IN the middle
-T6s nsEt ]: 5sil gtEI With angular face and
ing ambition worthy OF a greater success than IL
fsien ossi6 BUT nfor9anatey Ths sRo Voice syeH Is
sepeless-tnroeity. HUSKY; badly placed and thin,
settled BY the song
.xsinson When the Carefully studied sohR e. Z.
rendered fz1Iy SeI me canoida{e Is tested on
assistant stage manager mas decided whether the
ion ia his notebook opposite the name there en-
tered Frequently ne note6ook Is not even opened,
are absolutely hopeless and the unfortunate who
makes her escape
ENVIED BY THE LESS FORTUNATE.
There Is one who is most UnequivocaIIy Of the
stage STACEY. her complexion Bloom OF Roses
and he- hair peroxide gold She is an experienced
person and begins the latest popular song with an
Of certainty Of success. The voice is Of good
quality and range, and she goes down in the little
notebook. Whereupop she beams with satisfaction.
and retres with air Of See the conquerilg hero
comes"
The next IS q tiuaid young thing OF thirty or
thereaboUr and IS accompanied BY her mother, Who
listens prureo she sings. The well informed
thing, she Is painfully perseVeringi This is Lhe
tenth time that she has presented herself: she
has no voice, : you hear, and IS strikingly
plain, you can see but nothing discourages her
and she and her mother VIII probably come as
long she lives, always hoping and never sue
ceecing L IS pitIfuL
Al least thirty have been heard before one makes
cresst1E a few special words 10 her in an under
tone. while not more than eight have been entered
IN the book OF fate" What envious glances the
others cast upon the signally distinguished
IS 70 be called the railing for those Few WORDS
And with what pride and delight her race DedIIs
The next clutches nervously at her skirt as she
approaches the piano. and fingers IL all the time
she sings. Some look the ceiling for insPira-
Lon. into the empty space OF the AuSlLo
r1uEr. but she cannot lift her eyes from me noor-
Then comes q girl Wf'h a rather pretty race put
On. stout. She proves 70 have good voice, pui!
the critic mUrmurE, haf regrettuAy; Great Scott!
Shes iInpossibet' A chic young woman VINO
session proves 70 be sadly superncial TOT hef VOICE