The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-05
NINE. N0RDlCA
is INDIGNANT
Because of the Telephone
Concert Arrangement.
CHANGES HER CONTRACTS
She Tells Why Many Singers
Fail.
LARGE CROWD GREETS HER
Recital Last Night Was Sue
CeSSfuI.
CHANGES HER CONTRACTS
LARGE CROWD GREETS HER


knowledge and even against her protest
and all because Of stratagem of o. "A.
Boyle and I. T. Duggan, district mana
ger CT the Missouri & Kansas Telephone
company. While the people who heard
Nordica without her knowledge did not
have the advantage OF seeing her person
ally. they heard her voice by telephone
and the music sounded almost as beauti-
fuI 10 them as it did TO the 200 people in
the Toler auditorium where she gave her
Recital.
The first arrangement which had been
made TO transmit the music by telephone
was to have q large funnel suspended
from the ceiling Of the auditorium. Wires
were TO be connected with the funnel and
the sound thus transmitted 70 the neigh
boring towns.
when Madame Nordica learned OF the
arrangement she protested emphaticaliy.
Mr.. Ramayne Simmons, Madame Nordi-
cas- pianist. also protested against the
plan. Not only did they object to the
funnel arrangement, but they told O A.
Boyle. who arranged the concert, that
they would not look with favor on any
telephone plan.
A1r. Boyle was IN a quandary. He had
made arrangements with the telephone
company to give the concert and many
people In the neighboring cities had ar
ranged 10 hear the prima donna fl that
manner Mr.. Boyle did not like TO disap-
point the people who We're depending on
the telephone arrangement, and he ap-
pealed TO L. f. Duggan. the telephone
manager for assistance.
The telephone people placed two re-
cslvers. the size of the ordinary tele-
phone mouthpiece among the footlights,
and placing on either side colored mean
descent lights. thus doing away with the
funnel arrangement. Madame Nordica
could not see the receivers unless she
looked closely among the footights. An
other small receiver was placed on the
balcony rafting Immediately in front Of
the stage about a feet away. The wires
were then connected with the receivers,
and all was in readiness for the telephone
concert
The following towns were or the cir
cuff: Winfield. SedCwick, Valley Center.
Ponca City and Walton. Fifty receivers
were also placed in the pariors OF the
Hamilton hotel in this city. and the cen
tral telephone Office was connected uD.
At ali these places music could be heard
distinctly.
Just before singing the last aria,
Madame Nordica discovered the tele-
phone receivers among the fOotlights and
was very indignant over the matter She
very nearly decided not to sing the closing
selection, but finally consented to do so.
IN response to the repeated encores Of the
audience.
After the concert was over, she stated
that never again would she sing into q
telephone. and added that hereafter she
would insert in her contracts that there
should he no telephone connections.
She gave as n reason for her attitude on
the subject that those who heard her
through the telephone obtained false
conception Of her singing and that they
would tell their opinions to others. thus
injuring her reputation This would also
work injuriously towards her financially.
After Madame Nordica had retired to
her dressing room atthe conclusion Of the
concerc, and while her attendants were
removing her Jewels. she talked freely Of
the art IN which she eEcels, and gave
excellent advice 20 those who would be-
come great singers.
why is it that only one singer in
thousand becomes n great one" the
prime donna was asked by a reporter
for the Eagle when every one has the
gift Of song i'm some degree2'
Madame Nordica leaned forward In her
chair and removing q sparkling Jewel
from her breast she said
'rhat is hard question 70 answer.
think thar be lack Of vigilance IS largely
the reason SO many singers DO not excel.
10 note should be sung which IS rot a
pleasant one only beautiful tones should
the SINGER give forth. of course in q
large auditorium like this Il is ali right
so sing hish notes, but notes chat are zoo
hiEh should net be sune he singer %
become ereat must be watchfa She
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