The Washington herald., 1908-04-26
ACTORS WHO'S WHO?

Miss Edith Bradford. one Of the best
known contraito singers Of TO-DAY. ard
who has been selected by the Messrs
Milton and Sargent Aborn for the role Of
Carmen, Is one Of the few singers IN
opera who began her career at the bot
tom and worked her way. step by step.
to place Of prominence. Miss. Bradford
began singing without any preparation,
taking all Of her lessons IN spare hours
away from the theater. Hers was not
the Paris or Berlin study. but hard work
for eight performances or more each
week and spare-tlme practice and learn
ing. When Jessie Bartlett Davis resigned
her position as prima donna contralto ~
the BostOnians Miss Bradford was
chosen her successor, and for some FIVE
or more years sang In Robin Hood. +"
The Queen OF Laughter" Maid
Marian. The Serenade," and others OF
the Boston repertoire. In private life.
Miss Bradford is Mrs CharlesWorth
Meakins. her husband being one Of the
prominent tenor singers in THE Merry
Widow. During the summer opera sea
son at the New National Theater Miss
Bradford will appear IN nearly ali Of the
productions. She is one Of the mos. pop
ulsr members Of the Aborn company and
is singer OF great ability and a woman
OF rare personal beauty and infinite
charm.
One of five Italian tenors who studied
under the same master at the same time.
and all of whom aftegward became
famous. Two Of the I'VE. Russo and
Caruso. came to America after great
achievements Ia their own country. The
former started his American career on
the wrong side Of the continent, it seems.
for he sang first on this hemisphere
with the lombard Opera Company, in
San Francisco. Los Angeles, and other
cities Of the Pacific Coast. afterward 90
ing 10 Peru and other South American
countries. On the other hand, his COM
patriot and fellOw-aTtist, Caruso made
his debut at the Metropolitan in New
York, and reached a higher pinnacle OF
fame thereby, for il seems that all good
things must have the stamp Of New York
approval before the rest Of the country
clamOrs for them. The critics Of the Pa
cific Coast, where they have a distinct
opera world Of their own. and a very
excellent one, too, claim that Russo is
both better singer and a more finished
actor than CarusO. However. as the
former is pure lyric. and the latter a
rObustO. il is hard TO draw q compari-
son. Signor Russos first appearance in
the Eastern part of the United States
was made recently with the Royal Italian
Opera Company. His advent with the
Aborn Opera Company is interesting from
the fact that he viii sing in English for
the first time in bis career. HIS en-
gagement was contaminated through
Henry Wolfsohn, the well-known i'm
porter Of foreign song birds. who Is also
the manager for Caruso.
Readers OF The washington Herald viii
be interested TO know something OF the
early days when Nine Lillian Nordiea
first started out on the career that has
since established her as the greatest tfv-
ing exponent OF the works Of Richard
Wagner. This great singer, who viii be
heard in Washington tonight at the Ma
tional Theater, passed through many try
ing experiences-unpleasa then, but in
retrospect rather amusing. She relates
with great glee that while studying the
roles Of Isolde, under Nine. Cosima Wag-
ner's direction. she was asked 10 leave
Of unmusical guests who objected to her
indefatigable practice At last she sue
ceeded in renting a room where she could
continue her studies without annoyance
TO others. II was above a hairdresser's
establishment and overlooking a court
yard A piano and two chairs c0nsti-
tuted the furniture, and there for five
hours each day Nine. Nordica Nine.
Wagner. and Herr Kniese, the Bayreuth
director studied the role Of Isolde to-
gether. the two ladies alternating IN the
luxury OF the chair, one Of which, OF
necessity. being occupied by the accom-
PIANIST Beyond the study Of this part
Nine. Nordica began work on the role Of
Brunnhide in the 'SiegfTied" portion OF
the trilogy. When Isolde was unsteady
mastered. the use Of the Casino stage at
Lueerne was offered her. and there. with
Nine. Wagner. the dramatic side Of the
role was studied. every action and ges-
ture which Wagner had so fully indicated
in the music being practiced and memo
rized. In Chicago, Boston. and New York.
where Nine. Nordica appeared as Isolde
and Mr.. Jean de Reszke as Tristan the
following winter. the work was pro-
nounced a revelation as far as their COM
bined achievements were concerned. This
season closed with the enthusiastic
episode OF the presentation OF a diamond
tiara TO Nine. Nordica on the stage OF
the Metropolitan Opera House. Later,
when she appeared in the role of Isolde
at Covent Garden the American Judg-
ment was sustained.
Burr Mcintosh. who is 10 give his
famous illustrated lecture, THE situation
to-day" at the Belasco next Sunday
night, is about as typical a jack Of all
trades as is TO be found. In La Fayette
and Princeton. De was the champion
sprinter and hurdler OF his time. as well
as being on the varsity football and base
ball teams. He was also the champion
pool player as he was later for eleven
years. OF the dramatic profession.
While in Princeton he learned the rudi-
ments OF card coniuTing from the great
Goldberg. Since then he has been re-
garded as one of the cleverist card
manipulators in the country. When the
Republican League OF Pennsylvania was
first formed. Gov. Stuart was the first
president elected and Mr. Mcintosh was
elected vice president. At that time, in
1883, he was captain and president Of the
famous "Six Footers' Republican march
ing club. Of Pittsburg, an organization
composed Of 80 men, all over six feet IN
heighth. The club created quite a sensa-
ton.
After a year in the coaI business with
his father in Pittsburg. Mr. Mcintosh be-
gan his career as a journalist on the
Philadelphia News. under the tuteiage OF
the late Moses P. Handy. Within q year
his debut as an actor was made. Burr
Mcintosh has created some OF the best
character studies which the American
stage has seen. His first success was in
London as Tippy Frasher in Nancy &
Co" with the Augustin DAILY company.
Then came Col. Calhoun Booker, in z. s.
Wizards production OF John Needham's
Double" Col Moberly, in Alabama"
10 Vernon, in I'm Mizzoura:" Jack Rose,
IN "Ai P.nnu Ridea.,, IlanlaI pnnna Rina-