The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

Newman told me, that she first dlscov-
cred that she was not coloratura So
prano. To Kempner in Berlin for two
years, to her further two years with
Duvanoy at the Paris Conservatoire,
and to a season Of dramatic training
with Nine Weinschenk-to whom she
hopes to return this summer-Miss
Newman gratefully Acknowledges her
indebtedness.
You missed Marchesi?" I suggested.
NO, didn't" Miss Newman contra
dicted in her firm little way, Il had
month, and that was enough"
How can you ebe SO profane!" 1
protested.
II should not have had that" Miss
Newman calmly continued, "only 1
had paid the month in advance"
How did the Tivoli season come up
then? 1t did, however. and Mr.. Ben
nett and Miss Newman confessed to
having arrived in town on Sunday
night at 10 o'clock and to taking in the
comet-like tail Of the Tivoh season.
Miss Newman, San Francisco born.
had been proudly expatiating tc her
Savage associates on the operate de-
had just come up from an experience
with another opera-proud folk, too,
il, New Orleans. They both explained
then that it was very properly fright
ened and humble company that made
its bow to US here last Monday night
They both remarked further that it
was particularly here that they were
confident of praise for good work.
How do you explain the New Or
leans fiasco?" I asked. New Orleans,
stronghold of French opera, would
have none of Mr.. Savage's company.
They could not explain, but retold
of the general condemnatory attitude
of the press and people.
They said the less said about me
the better" Mr.. Bennett naively re-
counted, and Miss Newman preserved
a speaking silence.
You were pleased with your re-
ception here?" 1 inquired-'I think in
a less exacting opera than 'Othello'
it would have been more enthusias-
tic
Mr.. Savage has something of a
superstition about 'Othello,' the sing
ers explained: he rather believes
it is the best thing we do" And how
very much Mr.. Savage counts, to the
last detail Of the productions, his
singers admirably recounted. But L
think we are all pleased with our re-
ception on the whole" they added, in
contralto and basso duet. 1T was
maybe better than we hoped for, and
perhaps-perhaps you will be better
pleased with us later. We are going
20
I bowed. for US.
Asking for a little of the Bennett
history 1 learned that the basso was
Boston-born and for four years a
pupil Of Cologni of Rome, who taught
Jean de Reszke for five years. We
had little incident of Caruso that
was interesting.
Il had Caruso's old room in Rome"
Mr.. Bennett told me, in a boyish, hap
py fashion that sits rather unexpect-
edly on his six feet four or so. And in
the room there was set of antlers.
Caruso had not won fame then, though
he was getting to be known. Anyway
he was singing in 'Adrienne Lecou-
vreur," and the night before he sang
it for the first time he came to my
room to ask permission to rub his
throat on the antlers!',
Did you rub yours?" I asked, but
Mr.. Bennett declined to say.
He said instead: My landlady-
suppose I shouldn't tell this-told me
that Caruso had made such an unholy
muss of the room that he had ruined
1t. She wrote to tell him so when he
became famous and he sent her the
handsomest set of furniture that
money could buy"
And is the Caruso voice all it is
painted?"
"Ooh!" Miss Newman sighed, and
turned up her clear brown eyes exactly
as every woman to whom have hinted
"Caruso" has done.
And "Oohl" too, said Mr.. Bennett
"Blass will be here too, won't he?"
Miss Newman laughed. Il sang
Suzanne to his Figaro, in The Mar
rage Of Figaro in my lyric soprano
days. What clumsy pair we were!
It was Mr.. Bennett that suggested
tea" Miss Newman that added ''muf-
f1ns," and over them downstairs they
talked of the Galleria, the famous