The Indianapolis journal., 1904-01-24


through the Indian settlements in the days
or Col. George Rogers Clark and settled at
the little village OF Kokomo. Ind
But Miss lie Brun went straight from the
banks of Deer creek to Paris and TO Italy TO
study music She remained abroad so long
that she spoke and sang like native, and
she was about to join the forces or the
Grand Opera in Paris, under the patronage
OF the great Victor Maurel, when Mr.. Saw
age saw, heard and persuaded her to change
her mind and come home as one OF the
prima donnas of his English Grand Opera
Company.
Abroad she studied under many masters.
including Julia Gaverotti, one Of the great
Italian teachers, who did much to develop
the dramatic quality of fine soprano voice.
Her vocal range is from low A to high 70,
and is especially strong in the lower regis
ter, so that il is at times almost contralto
Miss lie Brun shows her French blood IN her
thorough brunette coloring, black hair, olive
complexion and In her vtvaciouS dramatic
temperament, which helps TO make her
good actress as well as a good singer. She
will alternate in leading roles during the
rest of the English grand opera season with
Gertrude Rennyson and Jean Lane Brooks.
Her favorite roles are Marguerite, Leonora
and Elsa.
She will be heard in Indianapolis with the
Savage company when that fine organlza-
ton comes in March.
T =
Cabled reports from London indicate that
the young American soprano. Elizabeth
Paris a short time ago. is we'll the way
TO success. She has just been engaged py
the management of Covent Garden In Lon
don for three years to take part IN the
grand opera season there. Nine Melba has
adopted the young American girl as her
her.
FRITZ Scheff believes enthusiastically in
comic opera with a plot, and she has in
80 no
next comic opera IN which she will appear
on the American stage. following "Babette
Z
Herbert Spencer was woefully ignorant
of music, but he would never admit the
fact. In most branches of science the
great philosopher would welcome the sug-
gestions OF experts. but in music he. like
many other ignoramuses, stubbornly up
held his own ridiculous ideas against the
overwhelming weight of professional testi-
mony. This amusing Illustration OF Spen-
GERS childishness In this matter is given
in the London Musical Times, by one OF
England's greatest musical scholars, Sir
Hubert Parry: About music he once in
formed me, as a thing | ought to know
that the art passing into such state
of eXtravag CANT compleXity that IL was a
physical impossibility for the ear to dis
integrate the confused mass of sound. 1
argued that first-rate conductor, like
Richter. for instance. could hear every
single part in the most complex piece of
orchestration, and even IL one little hautboy
played a wrong note he could pick il out,
and that If he could not he would not be
worth his place. But the philosopher merely
repeated that Ii was purely a scientific
question. and that ii could be demonstrated
that the human ear could not identify the
details or unravel the complications of more
than a certain number of sounds at a
time, the apparatus was not provided
for it. 1 merely answered that his theory
was contrary TO fact and experience, and
We both remained where We were.
Warren Sampsell, a young Indianapolis
baritone, who studied in this city under
John L. Geiger. scored a genuine success
in Columbus, o., the other night in the
principal male role of the military opera.
when Johnny Comes Marching Home {"
Young Mr.. Sampsell has been with the COM
pany-the same organization that was seen
In this city at Englishs early in the sea-
son-for several months, appearing in q
minor role, as one of the Yankee soldiers,
and understanding" the leading baritone
of the cast. The first opportunity of the
!! understudy to show his ability as a soloist
| came during the Columbus engagement.
when the leading baritone was unable to
sing his part on account of severe cold.
| Mr.. Sampsell, with very little time TO per-
| feet himself for his debut, went on the
| stage in the first act with the self-confi-
| dence OF veteran, and few people in the
audience were aware of the fact that there
was a substitute johnny in the opera
| The management was so pleased with
the success of the young Indianapolis singer
| that Mr.. Sampsell will, in all likelihood be
assigned TO the role permanently in the
near future. Mr.. Geiger considers him a
| singer of much talent.