The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-25
SNAP SHOTS ATTHE OPERA SINGERS
What and Who They Are in Private LfeJean de Reszke
Power Of Mimicry- Sembrich'S Genius
BY LAWRENCE REAMER.


her income is not so great as that Of
some of the other singers. So she was
ecOnOmical-more economical than
ever that she might have her guests
in the summer months.
Mile. Calves personal wants are few,
and her expenditures on her living
probably are smaller than those of any
other great singer. While most of them
live in more or less luxurious apart
ments. Mile Calve confines her accom-
mOdations to what she needs. During
her last season in New York she Oc-
cupied one room in an apartment hotel.
She has always said that she does not
feel the need of greater luxury. and
during much of her time here even
dispensed with the services of a maid.
That was in large degree due to the
capriciOusness OF her temperament,
which is as completely in accord with
her appearance and conduct on the
stage as well could be. She is as in
tense in her emotions, being pos
sessed wholly by them for the moment,
as variable, and always interesting in
private life as on the stage. Before
her mind was absorbed in her scheme
for entertaining and restoring to health
poor working girls, she was so much
engrossed in the powers of a certain
l.clairvoyant in Paris that the woman
practically controlled her entire course
OF life. Mile. Calve bought a house in
I Paris The clairvONant told her she
+ would die II she remained in it. The
singer sold it within month at a price
much smaller than she had paid for it,
Mile. CalVe accepted an offer to sing at
| COvent garden in London several times.
The clairVOyant told her that the boat
would be wrecked while crossing the
channel, and Mile. Calve Immediately
telegraphed to London that she could
not under any circumstances keep her
engagement This same cIairvoyant
who, for a short while played such an
active part in Mile. Calves life not
long ago took TO phOphesying so many
calamities for prominent French gov
eminent officers that she was silenced
Dy the police. Mile. Calves career has
now lasted nearly twenty years, as she
began TO sing in the first year of the
eighties at Brussels.
AS interesting in quite a different
way as the famous Carmen in Milka
Ternina, who has been the dominating
ngure among the women at the Metro
politan opera house this year. Mile.
/ Iernina has the same right to the title
] that the French singer possesses Her
second year ON the stage was passed
az Bremen, where Anton Seidl was con-
ductor. So the soprano learned her
wagner traditions under the last of the
masters who could fmpart them with
/ the authority that cameron personal
association with the great composer.
Mile. Ternina is noted among her as
socrates for the modesty and unpreten-
tlousnesS of her conduct She never
EXHIBITS to them the least evi 1ence Of
knOWISSge that Shn .ia5 become N1thin
! the past three years the most noted
J Wagnerian singer OF the world There
I never was a prima donna who gave
/ less evidence of possessing the traits
commonly attributed to the class. Mile.
Iernina attends rehearsals with the as
siduity of a beginner and more than
any other singer since Lilli Lehman.
thinks not only of herself. but of the
seherai erect Tor which all the artists
IN performance are struggling That
used 10 be called the German sDirit
until American audiences learned that
1t existed in all artistic performances
OF opera Whatever the nationality of
the singer might be, Mile. Ternina is
alWays accompanied by her aunt, a
venerable dame, with white hair, who
carries herself with sufficient dignity
70 give color 10 the story that her hus-
band was a man OF such POSITION in his
own country that she is entitled to call
hsrself 'excellency." Mile. Ternina
SHOWS in her serious expression (Which
IN private life sometimes amounts to
frOWn) the dignified bearing AID
earnest manner which have made he,.
stage career what IT is She is not
beautiful. but everybody who meeTs
her feels the influence of a, dominating
personality
Seriousness seems to be a trait of the
: Wagnerian prima donna IiIi Ieh
mann never poSs" ssed the least sense
n
ment was unusual for a woman in her
profession. Nine. Nordica has this de-
termination that is shared by her col
leagues in the Wagnerian field. She
won her way through the resolution nos
10 be left among the n1ediocrities of
her profession. and she emerged bril-
Hantly after years IF disappointment
She is the American singer who viii
probably be ranked for some wears as
the best that the nation has known
= Liant o. Il.
or her time TO developing the roles in
Mhlch she has frequently been heard
she goes through every role she sings
tae DAY before the performance. and
IIequently renews her acquaintance
with operas that she has not sung
ioF years She is more devoted to the
Soclai pleasures that come to all of the
singers than some of her coIIea CUES.
ana goes to many of the entertainments
gaities.
In that particular she is like Nine.
Media, who is much Sought after
person In London society and has more
friends among the exclusive members
OF the stockholders OF the METROPOLITAN
IMAM any other singer. Outside of the
theatre her time is chiefly spent in So
ciety she has a house in London
Wnere she passes part Of every wear
ana many friends among persons of
tlJle- Lazy de Grey who is DracticalIx-
the power that controls the opera horse
in London. in her intimate friend. and
this circle of distinguished acauainf
anees has not interfered with her pom
ularity in certain set of New York
society Nine. Media is known among
hef colleagues as exacting to the last
degree in regard to tie respect due
20 a great prima donna But she is
generous and extragaga atty liberal 70
those persons with whom she comes
INTO contact outside of her profession
Sne IS usually accompanied by her sis
ter Wherever she goes. Her son who
IS now a well grown youth. was at a
military school in England. but has
recently been living with his father i'm
one or the far western states. Nine
Media, unlike most of the opera sing
ers, did not take to her profession in
+ net g1rlhood- She was a married ,vorn
an ana mother when she went from
Australia fourteen years ago. She has
not 'eturned 10 Melbourne since s;se
became famous as a singer. and IL a
Londoner so FAR as any artist is other
IMAM cosmopolitan. Nine MeIba is nm
IKE many singers in another particular
She was not born in poverty. but
passed her early lie in comfort If in
oDScuflty She is an excellent musi
cram and played the organ in a ATeI-
poIrne church before she decided 70
oeeoine an opera singer
Logan Men Sore.