The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-19
NEW SINGERS COMING.

Three Of the German Artists whom Mr.
Csnried May Or May Not Engage.
II seems settled that New York Is TO hav'
some new prima donnas next winter. Thre'
Of whom Heinrich Conried has Spoken
with particular certainty are singing nov
In the German opera houses. but only ONT
Of them is q German. That one 10 Nine
LETTER -Burckhardt Of Wiesbaden. TIT
other two. Thila Plaiohinger and Emmy
Destinn. now at the Royal Opera House IL
Berlin are Bohemians.
All Of these singers are under long en-
gagements at the opera houses In which
they are at present singing. Nine. Letter
Blu -ckhardt has just renewed her engage
ment at wiesbaden for eight years and
Nile. Destinn IL under FIVE years engage
ment in Berlin. But a certain annual
leave OF absence Is allowed to them. Mr.
Conried expects to have them sing here
during these periods. Mile. Destinn had
already arranged to come here this winter
with Mr.. Grau. He heard her last fall In
Berlin and tried to arrange for her to come
here during the present season. When
that proved impossible. he engaged her
for short season next winter.
She Ia Of peasant stock and took her
stage name from the teacher with whom
sbe studied in Prague. She has sung for
the last three years In Berlin and appeared
at the Bayreuth festivalsNwo years ago as
Sentd.
But II was not until Maurice Grau made
her an offer for the Metropolitan that the
Berlin authorities seemed to lay great stress
on the importance Of Mile. Destinn. As
soon as the negotiations with Mr.. Grau
began, abe was engaged at Berlin for i've
years, to receive the maximum salary paid
In the theatre. II was then that arrange
ments were made to have her come here
for three months next season. Mr.. Grau .
seems certain tht she viii be In Mr.. Con.
reds forces next year.
The Bohemian soprano has widely varied
repertoire. She sings In ltelian, French
and German. She sings the lyric Wagner
roles and az s,a ssa Ma rna Ssa sn q
above all Carmen. In Bzet's opera Mr..
Grsu liked her best, and It was principally
for the cake Of BiSet'e work that he en-
eased her. A singer Who can make sue
cess In that opera after Mile. CAVE u eagerly
sought by impreearios.
Thila Plaichineer Ii the leading Wsg-
merriam soprano Of the Berlin Opera House
at present. She went there two years ego
from Strasburg. where she began her career.
6he has Improved steadily since che went
to Berlin ana now Iduks WIN tuo u1Ovt
famous Of the German Wagnerian singers.
She u not beautiful and for that reason has
adopted q shrewd rule with all the managers
who seek TO engage her.
She will not receive them or have any
dealings with them until after they have
aeon her on the stage, where she u said
TO look very attractive. That impression
once made, abe u willing TO meet any I'm
preeario In private life.
Nina, Letter -Burckland has been at
the opera houss1n Wiesbaden for the last
three years. That houas y ono OF the
Prussisn subsidized opera houses and u
the particular object OF the German En-
peror's interest. 1t u hero that Nine.
Lamar Burckhardt made her reputation
a. q dramatic singer. She had previously
sung In operetta and the lyric roles. Her
0resteSt triumph was In the famous re-
vivol OF Glueck's "Armide,' made there
last year. She was In this country some
yoars ago and sang In the West IN ccncsrt:
Her Art husband was then . member Of
the company at the German theatre IN
q also an actor. 10 at Wiesbsdsn.
All of these singers are young. MILO.
Destinn IL only 7s, and the others
arc not much older. 30 Mr.: Conried will
have an opportunity to begin his admin
istrstion with some new artistic.