The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-06-22
(Copyright.by J. B. Bowles.)

(Copyright.by J. B. Bowles.)
(Mme. Nordica's first appearance in
public was when at Is years of age she
sang as Lillian Norton in the choir of a
church in Boston. Later she sang with
Gilrnore's band, and thus secured money
to study abroad. After a few years in
Italy she made her first great success in
grand opera in St: Petersburg: Her
itals of Europe and in this country is
we'll known. In private life she is Nine.
Zoltan Dome)
The singer who would have a career
must begin almost in infancy, uncon-
sciously, perhaps; at first, and directed
oftentimes by the tender training of
a far-Seeing mother, as was my own
good fortune. Later, as the years ad-
vance and the aim and end of things
became more surely recognized, art as
sumes the place Of first Importance in
! ones life; if it does not, there is no
call to a career But all this period
of preliminary training and hard work
is but the preface to the book which
| holds SO many chapters.
When a young woman steps out on
the stage she energies from the pri-
vate schoolroom of the studio into the
public one of the theater. There her
hardest lessons have to be learned, her
hardest battles fought. Much may
present itself to her in light that will
disillusioniZe, but the beauty and no.
bility of her art will grow more strong
ly with her appreciation and prove at
once her supreme comfort and cOmpen-
sation for the unpleasant side of
things.
In the making of a prima donna
there is nothing more important than
recognizing an opportunity when it
arrives. The great chances are not
presented at the very outset.
One recollection comes to me very
wildly of an experience of my own.
When Mr.. Gilmore, then in the zenith
of his success, offered me an engage
ment to tour in concert with his or
ganization, many friends considered it
beneath the dignity of my position to
''sing about the country with a brass
band" as they put it. But I went
! quietly ahead and accepted the oppor-
tunity. The tour extended not only
throughout America but Great Britain,
and finally to Paris. At the end of it
had saved sufficient to fulfill my
plans and to go to Italy to make final
preparations for a grand opera career.
The darkest moments and the most
serious misgivings are apt to precede
the best success. After singing Elsa
in "Lohengrin" in America and Eng
land, accepted the invitation of Nine
| Wagner to create the role at the fest
spiel performance in Baireuth. The
ordeal was a severe one, and days OF
arduous study and rehearsal followed
my arrival there. Diversions were
planned for me by the great COM
poser's widow, anG the members
of her family to tighten the strain
upon my mind and every faculty, but
go where might the great festspiel-
haus seemed to pursue me with it's
shadow.
Oftener than once I was tempted to
have my things packed and fee from
the ordeal. But after wakeful nights
of anxiety the morning hours would
find me again preparing for the test
that had been decided upon When
that test was over, the way had been
paved for the study of the Brunnhilde
and Isolde, the final end and aim of
those who would rightly claim the title
of dramatic singers.
High ideals and high aims mark
out for one thorny path which can
be trOdden but step at time with
the end always in view, and the un-
varying rule to do to the best of ones
powers and abilities the task that the
moment presents.
| *
In the making of a prima donna
Italy is the best field for training, be-
cause of the great number of theaters
in small towns where opera is con-
stantly presented. First, however, be-
fore a thought of this debut in opera,
the American girl who wishes to be a
prima "donna must have undergone a
thorough vocal training in her own
country. When the foundation is once
laid comes the time to consider foreign
study and not before. During the
earlier and vitality important period
of study of the many who come to
sing to me, am sorry to acknowledge
that there frequently appears an i'm
patience on the part of the American
girl, gifted as she so often is, and
a desire to get there by short cut,
some royal road, easier and smoother
than the beaten one.
The little king of Spain, when he
first heard the expression "royal road
to learning said nlournfully: please
let us take some other way, for the
royal way seems always the hardest"
| Unconsciously he spoke the truth
the royal way is the hardest, but it is
the only right way, And it saves us
the weary retracing of many steps