Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15
The Musical World
Van Dyok-Max AIvary-Tamagno
BY oenevra Johnstone-BIshop.

His musical gifts and love of ART could
not be repressed or hidden, ana Wheh-
ever he sang his voice created so great
n sensation that in spite OF famiiy op-
position he went to Paris to study.
AS a means of helping himself he was
foe a time assistant editor OF Parls-
ian paper, La Patrie. In 1883 Mas
senet heard him sing at private
musicale at which both were guests,
and was so much impressed by his
Voice and style of singing that he
asked him then and there to act as
Substitute for tenor who was Ill and
could not fill his engagement. me
occasion was the performance OF
cs,ntata, lie Gladiateur," by Paul
Viual at the Institute de France. WIN
in two hours Van Dyck studied and
sang the tenor solos with such an
effect that he Immediately became the
topic of conversation among musical
Parisians. He was then engaged Dy
Lamoureux, the champion of Wagner
in Paris. for a term of four years,
during which he sang the roles OF
Tristan Siegmund etc. In 1887 hd
seng f'Lohengrin," but its production
caused a great deal of excitement
owing to political causes. Neverthe-
less the performance formed goIden
epoch in the history of Wagnerian art.
In the part of Lohengrin, however,
Van Dyck was entirely too short and
Gid not in any way compare with Jean
de ResZke, either vocally or histrion-
ically. In 1888 Van Dyck was induced
by Levy to go to Bayreutn 10 taHS 5,
part in the production of '"Parsifal.
For this he was drilled by Felix Motti,
and he made so great a success that
he was engaged at once Tor the Ioi-
lowing year. He has proved himset
the finest representative of the char
acter of Parsifal that has yet been
heard, even Win1elmann not being
excepted. Since 1889 Van Dyck has
been engaged at Vienna, where he is
a great favorlte Mr.. Van Dyck mar
ried i'm 1886 the daughter Of GerVals'
the great violoncellist and composer.
He Is a knight of Baden of the order
OF the Lion of Zahringen and an Of
ficer of the Academy of France. There
is some talk of Van Dyck coming TO
America next season as one or the
leading operatic stars OF the Metropol-
itan.
tenors we have ever heard in TINS
country was Max Alvary. He made
his operatic debut in 1881 and appeared
in this country at the Metropolitan
orera house in 1885 for the first time,
ard since then was heard here for
several seasons His best parts were
Siegfried Tristan and Tannhauser'
and he was for many years the leading
tenor at the opera in Hamburg. nave
never heard a Siegfried to compare
Will. this great German tenor. Little
is known of his early life. His death
in November. 1898, at the age of Al
years. was the result of an accident,
and took from us a favorite artist.
OF the Italian school, Francisco Ia
magno held a high position in the
operate world for years as a ROBUST
tenor. and he had plenty of the "ro-
bust both in form and voice. He
was born in the beautiful city OF
Turin, Italy, and began his musical
education at the age of IL. BEFORE
thi: it is reported he was black
smith, and you can well beileve II,
when you see and hear him. He was
tall, g-chested and erect, always i'm
posing and unlike most Italians he
had fair hair and blue eyes. The last
time he sang in this country an Amer
lean critic wrote of him as "hurling
forth his tones without reserve and
with a vocal exuberance not reacneo
by any living tenor. He quells and
me- yes by overwhelming strength and
sLiendor." Tamagno made his debut
at Palermo at the age of %, his
studies having meanwhile been inter-
rupted by military duties. In Venice
he sang with a sister of Jean and
/ Edouard de Reszke-Josephine de
Reszke, who had short but brilliant
career. Then for many years he re-
mained at La Scala, where he was
Immensely popular. Tamagno was
once the def 1ndant in a lawsuit
brought against him by the manager
OF the opera in Buenos Ayres. 1t APP
pears that in 1890 the tenor was en-
gagged for a season of forty perform
ances. for which he was to receive
S13O000 Cf this sum $31 900 was paid
in advance before he would leave Italy.
When he arrived at Buenos Ayres
revolution broke out and only four
performances of opera were given.
The manager endeavored to recover ms
money. An interesting feature or the
trial was that 1t brought out the 1act
tha. Tamagno always travelled with
claque of eight people and that 1t was
STIMULATED in all big contracts that ne
should hav. eight tickets for their use.
Another peculiar idea of Tamagno's
was to never read criticism of his
work and it was said at the time OF
his death he had not read criticism
OF his singing for years. knew nothing
about the critical opinion of his voice
OF himself and cared less. He was
said. to have been the highest priced
certainly electrifying, but his work
vocally and as an actor was not ex-
ceedingly refined. He led his audience
To sublimest heights of enthusiasm by
his brilliant, wonderful high tones and
pcwer--he fascinated them. He died.
leaving quite a fortune. Little is
known of his family.
Next Sundays article will speak of
Sims Reeves, Edward Lloyd and
Charles Gantly.
The sixth and last concert to be given
by the Los Angeles symphony orches-,
ira for this season will be played at
the Auditorium on Friday afternoon,
April 3, at o'clock. 1t is to be Wag-
ner afternoon, and Director Hamilton
is making elaborate preparations to
make 1t the croWning musical event OF
the symphony season. The only excep-
ton to the Wagner rule will be the pre-
sentation of two movements from the
Fifth symphony in E minor, by Tschai-
kowski. The vocalist will be Alma
Krausse, mezzo-Soprano, who will sing
.'Elsa's Dream" from "Tannhauser."
The orchestral numbers will include
the overture to the "Meistersinger,"
Seigfrieds death and funeral march
from the "Gotterdamerung, tone pic
lures from "Die Walkure." Mr.. Ham
ilton has added several excellent play
ers for this last concert, and the music
al surprise of the season is to be this
same concert. Seat sale is now on at
Bartlett's music store.
The last grand opera prima donna
booked for this city this season is Lii
liam Blauvelt, who comes with associ-
ate artists as the last number on the
great philharmonic course at Simpson
auditorium, next Thursday evening,
March 10. The reasons are apparent
why Nine Blauvelt is the most be-