The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-06
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nd Opera.

Edouard. very highly. | wrote home, but
my father wouldn't hear of it. But when
he heard opinions from my friends In Eu-
rope and realized that l wished to sing
mere than anything else. he Withdrew his
objections. We came back to America. In
the spring Of 1899 went to New York and
sailed for Paris. On the same steamer
we're members OF the Grau Opera Com
pany, the DE ResZkes. PlancOn. Campo
mari. SaiiSnac and others. and during the
trip | lived in an operate atmosphere.
while in Paris | studied under Jacque
Rcuhy. Victor CIpcul. Nine. MarChesi and
other famous teachers. The way | studied
WAS remarkable. considering that | had
always been very lax In this respect while
studying ia Arlerica. II was something
Alarming. 1 remained IN Paris until last
October. II WIS hard work at first. but
gradually | grew 10 love IT and became a
hard worker. Why. when / started from
home l think ! must have been a wreck.
l lost twenty-five pounds while in Paris
and all together l was run down to an
alarming extent" end here a merry peal
of laughter az the remembrances Of those
experiences flashed upon Miss Ludwis's
memory.
1t was rather queer-the way in which
I received my first engagement. I had had
an offer TO go 10 Cairo, but l didn't con-
slider 1t very seriously. Then Mr.. Savage
Of tho Ehgiisi! Metropolitan Opera Com
pany OF New York and the Castle Square
companies Of Chicago and St. Louis came
to Paris. ! called on him with letters from
my teachers When l presented these he
sa!d:
YES. I have heard OF you before
Then he asked me what kind OF opera
/ preferred. 1 replied:
- want to sing in heavy operas. ! have
been told that l have "A dramatic voice
Ills face grew very long and | knew that
i had committed myself.
What / want. or was looking for more
especially said he. was a voice and talent
suited to light operas
Il was very much disappointed. OF course.
but the next moment he began to talk in
terestedly and my spirits rose. He told
-, to call on him the next day and sing
for him. When l left him l was I'm a state
Of what might be called nervous happiness,
yet l felt that no thought well OF me.
THAI night | went TO the Port St. Mar
tin Theater. A woman was on the stage
and as l watched her my fears nearly
Overcame me. You see. l had never given
much thought TO the dramatic side OF 1t.
and now l thought. What will I do IL l
have to appear before a mass OF people and
fling my arms about in Wild gestures and
sing at The same time, When / went home
I resurrected the Jewel Song from
Faust which I had not sung for a long
time. The next day i sang it before Mr..
Savage. and before / left him / was en-
gagged to sing in one of his companies.
When l came back to America my roper
toire was very limited. 1 had studied
Faust 'T~annhauser.' Lohengrin.' Aida
and one or two others. Mr.. Savage wanted
me TO make my debut in New York with
the English Metropolitan Company. I was
appalled, For me- unknown in New York.
20 make my first public appearance before
a New York audiencei And I had heard.
too. that the critics there were very very
severe. / demured.
keg see. . debut or drst appearance. OF