New-York tribune., 1905-02-26

at the Metropolitan Opera House who have won
their way to the front this season by merit are
Americans. Miss Olive Fremstad and Miss
Edythe Walker Miss Fremstad. to be sure, Is
an American by adoption. although she has
lived here since her early childhood, but Miss
Walker was born I'm Rome, n. Y, and there can
be no counterclaim against her Americanism.
And her increase In popular and critical favor
has been steady ending finally in her appear
ance as Brinnhilde In the first OF the Wag-
merriam trilogy Of operas, a role difficult for
soprano. and astonishingly difficult for a con-
tralto. Other Americans, of course, have in
the past attained the first rank OF operatic
singers. but this season Miss Walker herself
points out that the number of Americans who
have reached or are on the way to that emf
nence Is larger than in times gone by, and she
seems to feel a more ready welcome for them
in their own country.
America is going to be great musical nation
IN the future" she said the other day, over a
cup OF tea In her apartments in West 43d-st
1t was not the conventional cup OF tea. 1t was
not bohemian cup of tea, either (whateyer
that may be). Rather was 1t an up State or
a Down East cup of tea. Two tables were
pulled out and stripped Of their encumbrances
set side by side covered with white cloth. and
surrounded with chairs. Then everybody in the
room gathered about for a midday meal
Miss Walker presided. young man perched
on the arm of big chair and devoured toast
and jam, the one bohemian" performance.
The tea was good and there was no lemon. but
plenty Of cream for those who wanted. Nobody
was tempted with candy, but there was toast
enough for all.
"Of course" Miss Walker went on, 'it Is
foolish, and will be foolish for many years. to
suppose that one can get satisfactory training
for an opera singer in this country. But the
voices are here. and the public to appreciate
them My teacher In Dresden and other ia
nous European teachers have told mo that no
more beautiful voices came to them than those
possessed by American girls. The trouble they
find is that the owners of these voices are lazy
and want to get in two years what one has to
work steadily for for a decade. The advantages
of a European training are obvious One is
cheap opera, another is cheap living After ALL
you know, most people who do things begin
poor and cheap living and cheap opera
(going to the opera is part of a training) are
necessary. Then. too, living Familiarity with the
language one is to sing in is find, an inestim-
able advantage. 1 always feel more at home in
German than in Italian opera. for instance. be-
cause | have lived and thought in German so
long The mere learning of the pronunciation
is not enough. truly believe. Finally, there is
the old argument that one gets the atmosphere
creation Of the atmosphere in America that
will slgnalze our becoming a musical nation
But suppose a singer should be trained here
into equal excellence with some foreign artist"
remarked the youth on the chair arm. wouldn't
Americans run to hail the foreigner and make
the native fight for a hearng?'
Miss Walker laughed. Americans are the
most Illogical people the globe" she said.
1--WE talk and talk about giving Americans a
show, and then we fall at the feet of the for
eigners. 1t is not the fault, very often. of our
singers other musical artists that they have
a hard to hoe; it is the fault of the public"
Miss Walker turned to the youth. People
have said of you, He's young; he'll get over it,
haven't they?" she asked.
The youth nodded acquiescence over piece OF
toast.
"WeH,'' she added. that's the way with the
American public. They're young but they'll
get It, Young musically, but bound to
learn in time TO apply logical standards of taste
and perhaps patriotic standards when these do
Some one remarked that American cotnposars
and instrumental performers had even less
chance TO get hearing here than American
''AhH' said Miss Walker. Look at Nacnov,-
ells songs. To me they seem among the love
lost-sweet, pensve. individual and always mu-
sicianly. But l don't hear OF them In concert
programmes very often Again / think the
blame lies not with the singers but witb tba
public. Singers try TO give the nubljo wbat a.
wants. It's another example of American ulos
icalness. But Mr.. MacDowell is an Americo1
JUST the same-another example OF the musical
possibilities of this nation.
We do so many things so Well" she went on
Look at Babes in Toyland.' which I saw last
season (this year e. s. Willard is the onIv go 90
traction in theatre I've seem. 1 never saw,
either IN Germany or Vienna so beautifuilv
that. 1t would have stunned German audience
Ihe music was splendid too. Now lots OF ou.
musical SHOWS DO not have music like that. I'll
admit, and maybe the public here swallows fhen,
Just the same but the fact that we swallowed
2aoes IN rowland and liked II is a hopeful sign
always duplicate the scenio part OF Babes in