Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-11

lasa or lhe
~ sun. There is need OF good
orc ~ both sexes and presentable
A- and women for parts Of almost ev-
~ ',-us managers sit in their Offices
's,ng 10 get men and women OF the
va ,bey want for certain parts, there
large numbers Of ambitious ora
ar concert singers waiting with
D,%, impauence for some profitable
tquSi' yn,ent OF their time and talents.
tl'p''' would never think. however, OF
1nsy INTO comic opera. That Is beneath
t0Ns sadsrd they have established for
ias-,sslyes. II is not beneath their dig
boweyer, to take a position in a
NV. ,.'reb choir in which the compensation
:. verv much less.
Fsror four years" said manager Of
Vow York theater to,a Sun reporter,
q ,risd 10 get attractive young men
~ voices to sing the principal parts
,.,bo musical plays that brought over
~ from London. wanted gentle
aoiv appearing chaps with good
.aicss FOR It happens that many of tho
- songs in these musical plays fall
- tbe tenor. | once oven tried to get
=, actor 10 MI one OF these parts be-
nc he looked we'll although he had
''rcalv a shred Of a voice. lie had too
10. AS a few rehearsals showed. AMI
,,rgsged a man who had been singing
=, years in comic operas OF the old
tis8 He was not in the least like IL,
ST., me- was better than anybody else 7
- When | engaged him, however
,old him he would have to work of
s,ne 20 pounds Of stomach that was
,rlte unnecessary 10 a sentimental
,,,nrg lieutenant IN the navy.
Il engaged him as last resort, feel
,,e mat | would be able later 10 find
,bsmau | wanted. | saw lots Of them,
to, only saw them. That fellow stayed
Win me for four years merely because
Gould rot find any other man half as
eod The fellow also developed a
sstsin amount OF ambition and tried
!, keep his flesh down and look Ike
s.eteman. He was not bit the real
'tng. but ] don't think he realized Il,
soA NJ got $500 a week for g. weeks IN
,ts wear merely because | couldn't get
no sort Of men wanted. Where did
, SO them? Why nthe advertisements
N the musical trade papers. There
vere handsome young fellows hari-
tones and tenOrs, with good voices and
,nst the appearances wanted but did
,bsy care TO sing In comic opera? Not
nh OF Il. / had my manager write
a some OF these agencies that are sup
,osed 10 find places for them and asked
Il hey did not want TO sing In my COM
,sny They never did. They had start
81 out to make a reputation In grand
,bera or concert and they did not in
,r7d 10 make mere money. OF course In
,ss lot there are rarely two or three
vita enough exceptional talent to make
any success IN serious music; but for
mo hev would have been all right
They preferred singing IN a church
choir. however, 10 making five or six
times as much in comic opera
"Tll admit that singing year In and
wear out seven times week will have
rs effect on any voice; but II man or
woman has been taught 10 sing prop
crv and knows how 10 save the voice,
4 ought not TO be so much injured as
not 10 do for comic opera. For great
singer with rank among the first
h.lf dozen I'm the profession, It might
he argued that the work would damag
her or mis- voice too much; but would II
hurt the ordinary concert tenor or So
pm1oe
'In the Same way there are many
women who have voice enough 10 be
very successful In comic opera. but In
concert or oratorio wiz never make
moro than very modest living. Yet
they arc also opposed 60 comic opera
when It is mentioned 10 them, in spite
" The examples they have lately had
before them FRITZ Scheff was sensl-
he enough TO realize that 1t would DO
many years. II the time over came. be-
fort she could rank with the great sing
crs Although popular singer I'm the
onfra company, II Is doubtful n abe
over earned more than $4,000 year.
doubt n she cleared cent less than
s. 900 with her comic opera last year.
"she will be able TO keep on doing
that until she Is a rich enough woman
90 rest until her voice gets into condi-
ton. and then she viii be able 10 allow
herself the luxury Of singing IN grand
o'f-a The case OF Schumann-Heink
vas different She was not a young
noman any longer and Il was difficult
% place her: but she made money al
though she did realize that she could do
'rst as well ouside Of comic opera. She
never sang any more frequently while
oQ the operetta stage than she can do
q all times. she can give seven song
recitals week and also sing twice IN
the same day n necessary. so there
was. Of course. no reason why she
should stay IN comic opera. Few wom-
On can sing so much. however. SEM
hrich Is reported 90 have said tina.
she would sing in operetta II the inn
1ressario guaranteed her $4,000 year
for three years.
Gust 20 think Of Marie Dressler
making her first appearance as Mar
gnerlte IN Faust She was certain
she evas going 10 be n grand opera
singer. Suppose she had stuck 20 that
ambition Marie Tempest was also
singer I'm grand opera before she wise
ly decided 10 20 where there was a
better ncld for her talents Victor Ca
uoul did not disdain 20 sing in oper-
eta at the close Of his career LII
Ian Russell. who had n good enough
voice at the beginning 10 make a
Creditable place for herself I'm grand
opera. realized that there was q bet
i.r field for her, and Is consequently a
much richer woman today than II she
lad stuck to a secondary place in the
Wig opera house Women like Lillian
Esuvelt who have had such 'careers
iu serious music are willing TO 90 into
comic opera and realize that they are
not losing in dignity, The choir sing
o. or The beginner In the concert held
win not do that. however.
They are rarely able 10 earn more
than $3.50 or s200 for an appearance.
and out 81 that comes the fee for the
agent and often travelling and hotel
expenses Then the length Of time
MAT their vogue lasts Is brief ! know
very popular baritone who has sung
3 great deal in concerts during the
last Eve years lie Is better now than
Do ever was but HIS manager tells me
90 is the hardest thing in the world 10
get engagements for him now. The
people have seen enough OF him and
now they want new faces The actor
in comic opera has an advantage over
ihe concert singer that goes on the