The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-08

being the episode Of figuring as the child
Airline in the opening act of THE Bohemian
GIRL"
II Is recorded Of the famous Malibran that
when only years Of age she played q
Juvenile part at Naples. II Paer's Agnese."
Her appearance and the remarkable pre-
cocity which she then displayed were due.
no doubt. to the fact that she came Of the
noted musical family OF the Garcias her
father being Manuel del Populo Vincente
Garcia, operatic artist, composer and found
er of famous school of singing.
CoNTRALTO VOCALIST.
II will be noted that in the instances we
have quoted OF noted operate artists We
have confined ourselves TO the mention OF
prime donna. 1t must not from this be in
ferred that operate fame Is not also with
In the reach of the contralto and male vo-
calfsts: witness the triumphs for instance
OF the brothers De Reszke in grand opera
But the fact remains that on the oper-
attic stage as her names implies the prima
donna IL the center of attraction and as
such the most valuable as the most highly
valued from a monetary point OF view OF
all histrionic artists.
II many professional careers are closed to
women. and In many others they are less
esteemed. and inferioriy remunerated to
men. these remarks. as We inferred when
discussing THE Vocalist" cannot be applied
to the operatio stage upon which woman
undoubtedly has the best Of It both In the
matter of applause and emolument.
Objections, moro or less puerile, are made
with regard to the lady orxanist; the music
mistress scarcely yet universally occupies
the position now commands the fees Of the
music master; only slowly-very slowly-uni-
versities are opening their musical degrees
to women; and as yet, with one or two ex-
ceptions. no woman has filed any eminent
musical appointment, such as examiner or
lecturer on music. at our great educational
institutions
But the glorious voice Of the great dra-
matte soprano sweeps before it all the OBJ
jections that may be made In regard to
female ineligibility: and on the stage, now
that old-time prejudice IS dying away with
regard to the "becomingness' OF the life.
woman walks a queen by virtue Of her own
talents ard requirements
Outside the first sopranos role. the impor-
lance which composers are giving to their
secondary parts offers the contralto and
mezzo-soprano chances which were not for
lnerly theirs: yet it will doubtless take
many decades. in spite of Wasners "Tann-
hauser' and "Lohengrin," before the posi-
ton of the prima donna will yield In i'm
portance to any
How can get an engagement in q rood
company is q question which troubles many
young people ambitious for operate fame.
At the present time there are both more
facilities and more difficulties In the vay
of getting ''on'' than formerly.
PREJUDICE DISAPPEARING.
We will consider the facilities first. To
begin with. as We have limited. the pre-
iudice of many good people against the stage
as a career Is fast disappearing.
It Is evident that he or she who entertains
and amuses the puhlic-if all be done
BEAUTIFULLY and in the spirit Of earnestnes,
and rectitude-is as worthy OF respect and
esteem as are the worlds workers In any
other department OF life.
Consequently the would-be prima donna
and the aspiring tenor have less than ever
to fear from parental or family opposition.
The means Of culture are more efficient and
more within reach of moderate means than
heretofore.
Professors of singing are numerous: and
IT is always quite possible to obtain instruc-
ton from those who have themselves
figured on the operate stage. and who are
therefore. in all respects. best lifted to In
struct the ueophytN ---z----l