The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
HOPE TO SING IN OPERA herr
THAT'S TIE AMBITION OF EVERY
AMERICAN GIRL STUDENT.

NAAO 49, go 49, " VIII 6NIT
she has studied singing abroad long enough
has been brought TO the front again nv
the case Of Bessie ABBOTT. The youthful
soprano 10 TO start on her concert tour and
evidently expects to win her suit for breach
Of contract against Heinrich Conried
Her lawyers are seeking damages on ,bs
ground that Mr.. Conried broke his con.
tract in not allowing Miss ABBOTT to appear
more than three times last season and no,
once at q subscription performance.
This 10 the fate OF one Of the few American
girls who succeeded In getting into ths
Metropolitan Opera House. Both Mr.. Con.
ried and Mr.. Hammerstein are now in
Europe, and they are doubtless besicged by
American singers who have studied abroad
and possibly have made successful d6buts
in the European cities. That success ia
important to them, however, only as a
means OF helping them get into the Metro.
politan Opera House. That theatre is their
goal, and many OF them are willing to come
TO this country to sing for nothing. They
talk OF the experience Of Eames. Homer,
Fremstad and Farrar and know they ara
going TO be just as successful when they ara
once heard by their countrymen. Then,
like Miss ABBOTT, they accept an engagement
to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House
the minute it is offered without realizing
that only the largest talents can possibly
make any reputation there.
"Just now every steamer that goes II
Europe" a musical manager told the Suv
reporter yesterday, sis carrying ont girls
who are going to study. Wherever she
to be going, it is New York which
she hopes to conquer If she succeeds in
Paris il will be grateful to her chiefly from
the fact that it may help her to come 10
New York. II abe comes through the ordeal
Of a successful first appearance in Berlin
il will not be with the idea of remaining
in the Royal Opera House. II will not be
hope q going to bayre an that cheers
Metropolitan that adds such zest 10 her
THE late Maurice Grau used to have
some excellent advice for American singers.
Don't go to the Metropolitan he used to
say to them, unless you have a great deal
OF reputation or none at all He knew
how easy it is to make a little success
in the European cities.
sYou have only to take a few specific cases
to reaIise'the wisdom OF his advice. Bessie
ABBOTT had sung with success at the Grand
Opera and at the Opera Comique in Paris,
and has talents That are suited to the con-
opera houses, which are so much
than ours. Marion Weed used to
sing all the leading dramatic roles at the
Stadt Theatre in Hamburg, but she gave
up all that to come to the Metropolitan
have the less important parts that fall
her. In both these cases there was
greater compensation in this
but that liz not the only thing in an
career, and to put too much i'm
on that often defeats mole i'm
)ortant ends
"Of course there is a long list OF girls who
make their debut every year with great
uccess at the Opera Comique singing in
Nine out Of ten are rarely heard
4 again. There are just as many who do
he same thing in Italy, who come back here
nd are heard Of only when they arrive or
re said TO be in negotiation with managers.
hey never get beyond preliminary negotia-
ions, however.
1T not infrequently happens that these
iris earn more money in this country before
hey go abroad than after they come back.
lien Beach Yaw made several very success
III concert tours before she went to Europe,
several years to study in Italy.
a debut in opera as Signora Evelina
nd hen came back here. ] don't believe
has earned as much since she came back
8 she used to with her concerts. Mrs. Morris.
lack, who has just taken the place Of irsI
at the Vienna Opera House, viii
have hereyes fixed on this country
) soon as her first season is over. Yvonne
3 Treville used to get 500 a week from Mr.
avage for singing in his English opera COM
any, but got the idea into her head that she
anted to study singing abroad and appear
opera there. ] don't believe she earns
lat much 10Y in Europe, where she travels
the principal cities appearing in
lnnart nnn nnaFQ She ia VnrV qnNInlS Ia
back here, but 30 far her only offers
ave been for English opera, for which she
no desire.
Gertrude Rennyson, who was for several
ears the prima donna OF the Savage com
any, has just made a successful debut at
and the chances are ten to one that
le will earn LEGS there than she did while
lie was singing in the English company.
er career 80 long as she is content with the
laries paid in Europe will probably be sue
'ssful enough and she will set a good
to all American girls if she con-
nues to appear in Europe until it can be told
or not she has the reputation neces-
ry for the New York public.
In spite OF the small salaries paid TO sing
8 in Europe, there is a living for them in
Italy and Russia. French sala-
Il lit are ef very ssvi small an 89S there is m nttle pc Pos re-.
that salaries at the Metropolitan
o high only for the great and famous
ayers. One Of the German prima donnas
had served a useful il not very brilliant
rm Of three years there ha resigned "a
oept a post in Berlin. Her salary is no
eater IL II is indeed as large. The cost Of
ing is much less, however, and there will
a greater balance in her favor at the end
the season.
sThe principal difficulty Of the American
lger in Germany is the disposition Of the
TO supplant her after a period
several years. A contradict mention
is voice because | know OF a certain case
will be engaged for three years, The
OF a German theatre may be wear
9 and 1t may turn out after two seasons
at her voice has lost it's beauty, This 10
course her fault and is the result Of had
iging. Instead Of engaging for three
more, as he had minated he would,
manager takes a younger beginner
hose voice is still fresh and gets her fora
,aller salary. Such things are, however.
Q fault Of the singer.
1t ia ridiculous for a singer to say that
g cannot make a living on the lyric stage
the countries / mentioned. Many other
men nave done it and some have saved
mpetencies. There are, OF course, no
salaries as the great singers receive
re-"
The hope for the American singer in
era in his W country seems TO lie in the
Of = plan that is still far in the
ture. II 1t we're not true that every city
fIlRad IN ha Nyo onN hat n noryotn limited