The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-07
AMERICAN SINGERS IN ITALY
FATE or TIE GIRL VINO SEEKS
TO MAKE HER DEBUT THERE.

rns Teachers Feel That She 10 q Natural
Prey and Prices Jump Accordingly
Must Pay for . Chance 60 BE Heard
I'm Fyes, che Smallest italian Towns.
MILAN. June eo.-The big steamships are
landing their annual load OF American
women coming TO Italy for a finish in,
voice culture since the italian professors,
II being their dull season, offer sr.Nipt
Inducements to those who matriculate
now A part OF these aspirants are choir
singers, coming across on their vacation,
hopins Mt the same time to freshen IN
their voices by foreign study and to coach
themselves in special lines.
A majority. however. OF these new
arrivals are young girls who have left
their native country to study for an in
definite period in Europe. They have
st,died in their own homes, Of course. but
thew must get q finishing touch abroad.
and this touch IL all that bars the way OF
their becoming great artists. At least 50
they have been told.
Italian professors seem to be under the
impression that foreigners, and above all
Americans, are their natural spoil. Though
a native may have her tuition at a nominal
price. an American is charged generally
a double or triple fee for her training.
When the student has struggled through
two or three years hard work and is ready
TO enter a career she learns that making
a debut is not so easy a matter as she had
calculated. Not to lose his American
pupils an Italian maestro usually has several
impresario friends TO whom he introduces
the young woman. who he declares is ready
to make her appearance.
According to the means OF the candidate
she must pay for her debut, which means
that the limp" must have anything from
$40 up, and she must pay all her railway
expenses and hotel bills. II is a well known
fact that foreigners never make their debuts
except ia the smaller theatres and in towns
Of no importance unsteady or otherwise.
There are numbers of obscure impresarios
roaming about Milan, seemingly waiting 10
make money out Of opera mad Americans
as they are titled. However, the aspirant
to fame and fortune must make an APP
pearanoe somewhere-no matter where.
IL she secures a second engagement. the
American must either pay for IL or sing for
nothing. She is compelled to sign a con-
tract with an impressrio who does not
appear to feel under the slightest obligation
TO stand to his part. II he fails to carry
out his contract the foreigner does not like
to have recourse to Law, for, in the first place,
she will in all probability lose the suit and
have to pay expenses OF the court, or N
she should win would become known
among the impreearios, who, as a body,
with such a dangerous character.
Last spring an American girl who had
already sung in several small theatres with
success signed a contract to appear In a
small town about six hours from Milan.
At the appointed time her mother and she
arrived and rehearsals began. The first
part of the salary was not paid at the limo
stipulated. and after waiting several days
the singer called at the office OF the i'm
presario. and upon asking for the amount
that the production had not been the success
he had thought and that she could stand
the loss better than he.
However. he added that he would see
that she would have good criticisms in the
artistic reviews Of Milan notices that would
be most useful 70 her career. II she re-
turned to Milan, ne declared, the agents
would conclude that she had met a failure,
which would do her no end OF harm. The
unfortunate singer realized that what he
give her services for nothing.
During her four years career in Italy
this singer has had eight engagements,
which signifies about the same number Of
mOntnb occupation, Dub dh AT no .IlIn9 nau
she had hall paid her expenses she re-
turned 70 America In May, hoping 20 be
able to make a concert tou of the fashion
able summer resorts and then return IN
Italy and continue her career.
A certain maestro in Milan on getting sIeo
from an English woman said that her daugh-
ter after a years coaching would make a
debut on the operatic stage. When the
occasion presented itself the young artist
made her initial appearance. but not as a
singer. Dressed Al a page. she walked
across the stage and handed a letter to the
prima donna.
Two years ago IN American singer paid
30 for q debut. Arriving at the designated
town. she was horror stricken TO find that
the village Of 5000 souls did not boast OF q
theatre. There was no rehearsal and when
the curtain ven up in the little hall the
young debutante was welcomed by an
audience whose applause easily drowned
the first chords OF the orchestra, composed
of piano and violin. At the close Of the
h Mayor came forward ard
thanked the prima donna, presenting her
with a bouquet OF artificial howers-a last
ing souvenir Of the occasion.