The sun., 1908-03-08

world as my sister did. not merely to the
family circle and the friends.
One prima donna, so the parents said,
was enough for any family. thought
differently. II one prima donna is good.
why would not two be better2
But for long time my arguments had
no weight. Meanwhile / had perfected
myself in piano music. At length l was
allowed to go to school and after much
thought and deliberation the Lycee Musical
was selected.
-There was placed under the tutelage OF
Professor Coccherini, now dead. How many
faltering footsteps he has placed right,
how many hopes he has been Obliged to
shatter. but always, mind you, kindly!
Naturally was scared--who would not
be2-although l had the confidence in my
self which think all must have who eventu-
ally succeed. l sang him the chief So
prano scenes from BOito's 'MefistOfele' and
'Semramide' and the Ave Maria from
Verdi's 'OtellO.' did my best, and to my
delight he was surprised. visibly 80. He
told me that had a natural tril and had
nothing to learn in the matter OF respira-
ton.
II studied hard with him for six months
and then one day he took me aside, COM
plinnented me highly on my work and said
sadly that he could teach me nothing more.
1t was grief for me TO go as well as it was
apparently for him 10 lose me
Il have never had any active training and
teaching since those days, but the fact that,
as he said, he could teach me nothing more
did not mean that l had nothing more TO
learn. for after the doors of the Lvcee are
closed behind one and the faTewells to the
teacher are said comes the hardest work
Of all. the work that one has to teach one
self, that no one can impart the education
in ones profession that comes through the
individual herself,
Il had little difficulty in making a public
| appearance, for my family was well known
in Florence. and nearly twelve years ago
| how time 1ies'-I appe are \ az Ineg in Never
! beers opera 'LAfTicaine' at the Pagliano
! Theatre in Florence now known as the
| Verdi Theatre. l commenced there at geo
| a month, which was not muniiicent but
! represented very fair salary for a de-
! butante.
Il sang at that time before Queen Mar
| gherita. who complmented me highly and
| DrOphesied that | would have a great career
! That was my first experience in singing be-
! fore royalty and l was 30 agitated that l
committed an error that have never dupl-
| Gated. told her that l was six years older.
! in my confusion, than actually was. And
| vet they say that prima donnas and aC-
| tresses are always discounting their ages!
| This is a direct proof TO the contrary.
Il have sung in nearly all the countries
| of the world except France, and go there
] after the next COvent Garden season. the
first of three for which have sign sd with
Mr. Higgins which will be followed by the
usual vacat ion at my home in Italy. after
which | return to New York to keep my four
year contract with Mr.. Hammergtein.
MY favorte opera is Lucia di Lammer-
moor but l love all the old fashioned
Italian operas, 50 replete with feeling.
When one sings with such men as CarusD,
Tama gnO, Battistini, MazZni, as | did in
Russia, and those Of the Covent Garden and
the Manhattan star, what delight it is to
give oneself up 10 the beauty Of the role,
to live it, not merely TO sing III
1T is living the role that makes the artist.
To lose oneself; to forget ones everyday
! identity.
The first night sang al Covent Garden
did not know what kind Of place ii was.
l did not take any thought Of the aDDear-
ance Of the audience The next day was
asked IL did not think it very gloomy.
| could not have told.
Il try to phrase my part according 10
| the meaning Of the words not with the idea
Of musical display the run expressive, the
high note a natural dramatic climax. At
/ the end of All fors . Mi' which ia 80 much
| admired by the New York people, the uO-
ward trill endeavor 90 make express the
| hysterical feeling of ViOlefd My range?
IL is said to be extraordinarily elastic, going
| from b below the stave to Il in alt.
is H. possible to become a singer unless
one is born so? l do not think 80. believe
! that this is one Of the necessary require
ments for q great artist, but there is some
! thing else that is of equal imp Ortance, and
! that il heart, the possession OF heart and
soul-with those two you have the complete
| singer.
! And remember this. You can train the
voice. You can take the raw material and
| make Of it a finished product; not so the
| heart. It in there OF Il is not there iEit is
not there you will never move an audience
4 to tears. You will never find sympathy
| responding to your lack Of sympathy; tears
| to fearless voice, neveri
mind, am not saying in all this that il
| you have a natural gift and are very, very
| sympathetic you can succeed without the
| usual hard work. 1 have simply not EN-
phasized that point, for il seems TO me that
| every thinking person must know that
nothing in the world, no matter what the
profession or trade, can be accomplished
| without that aid.
Have l ever heard Patti? Melba? Not
until quite recently except through gramo-
| phone, which listen to frequently.
"Curiously enough, when l sang for the
first time in America, at the Tivoh in SaI
| Francisco, Melba was singing then at thS
| Alhambra. | was crazy to hear her bu
| how could when we sang the same ni9ELs
It has often been 80 in my travels RbOu
the world. That is why so often go to tn
Manhattan, the evenings l am not singing
for the delight Of hearing my musica
| friends"