Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
BY GENEvRA JoHNsroNE-B1sHop
PART Il

singer, will be remembered\a \as the
creator of the part of Mephis-
topheles in Gounod's Faust" He was
a good musician and a fine actor, and
he owed more to his genius as come
dian than to his voice, which was of
great compass, though not of brill
liant nor sympathetic quality. He
made his debut in Paris at the Opera
Comique, and then nine years later, in
the winter of 1861, made his first APP
pearance in grand opera in Paris. He
remained at the Grand opera for many
years, during which time he was a
prominent figure In operate history.
in 1859 he married Mile. Lefebre, q cele-
brated actress at the Opera Comique.
OF Faures Mephisto a critic of 1876
writes: mo impersonatlon of this
character at all approaching the gen.
eral excellence of his could be named"
What Faure respected most was the
intention of the composer, and 1t seemed
impossible for any one to penetrate
more deeply into part or to adorn 1t
with more delicate gradations of light
and shade, or to identify himself more
thoroughly with character or an
epoch than did this wonderful French
artist. He is man of great culture,
refined tastes and an enthusiastic col
lector of paintings. Everybody loves
his song, the Palms" 1 think he is
still living in Paris.
81
OF French baritones Victor Maurel is
the one who has succeeded Faure. His
creation of the part of Iago In Verdfs
"Otello" was considered a masterpiece
OF lyric acting, and Iago Is at the pres
ent day his greatest role, although his
voice Is gone Maurel was born In 1S48
at Marseilles, and having penchant
for acting and singing, began to play
in comedy and light opera In his ma
tive town. His ambition soon led him
away to Paris, entering the conserVa-
tory to study singing with Vauthrot
and opera with Duvernoy. He gained
the first prize In both subjects In 1857.
In 1869 he made his debut In Les
Huguenots," but failed to secure per-
manent engagement and toured ltaly,
Spain and America. His f1rst London
appearance was made in 1873, having
great success, and it resulted in his en-
gagement there for every season up to
1880 He also was great as wolfram
and the Flying Dutchman. and In
1878 appeared as Domingo in Masse
paul and Virginia" In 1880 he under
took the management or ltalian opera
at the Theater des Nations. His en-
terprise was hailed with JOY py tne
Parisians who were desirous or having
italian opera Maurel surrounded him.
self with company of the finest art
lists, including Trernelli, Nevada Gay
ARE. the De Reszke brothers. and other
noted artists. Notwithstanding the at
fractions offered the outlay exceeded
the income and Maurel relieved hlmseir
of a large amount of money In a re-
markably short time. His financial as
asters in no way interfered with his
artistic successes, and his production
of Massenet's "Herodiade" on February
l. 1884, was a great triumph. victor
Maurei had q fine voice and most at
tractive personality. combined with
great love of his art. His voice Is now
impaired. but he has just been engaged
to sing one of his greatest roles here
in America with TetrazZini. that or
Rigoletto His histrionic powers are
great, and he is undoubtedly one or the
greatest artists we have ever known.
Even If he ceased to sing altogether,
he would still be one Of the greatest
Shakespearean actors.
The greatest English baritone of the
present day is Francon Davies (con-
sidered so in England). His voice Is
one of the purest baritones l ever heard,
and his control of the breath and re-
markabIe breadth and intelligence
stamps him one of the leading oratorio
singers of the English school. Mr.
Davies is Welch. He was born at Beth
esda. Carnarvonshire, North Wales. lie
received his early education at Friars
school at Bangor. and then went 10 Ox-
ford After leaving Oxford he began
the study of music seriously. he mas
n large repertoire of baritone operate
Darts, but gained little success in opera
TIe is considered a concert and oratorio
singer He first visited America in 1896
His personality is not very pleasing on
the stage or off.
In the list of famous baritones of the
present day our own country is ad-
mirably represented by no other than
David Bispham, and we are proud or
him and his successes. David Blspnam
was born in Philadelphia in 1857, ana
he hardly looks the fifty years either.
His father was quaker taho ne
shows no signs of the Quaker). Like
many of our singers, he was intended
for n commercial career. but he allowed
his love for art to overcome his desire
for business. and he has scored sue
cess. In his youth he played the guitar
and either. but on every possible occa-
sion he sang. He sang In cnurcn
choirs and was a member of all the
choral societies and had the advantage
of q large circle of musical friends. In
1885 he went to London, and since then
has lived many years there. He studieo
with leading teachers-Vannucini, Lam
perti and others-and made his DEBUT
in London in LA Basoche" In 1881,
scoring an lHSldHldhCOdo ouNSSSS'
also toured with Sims Reeves through
England. Mr.. Bispham has reper-
toire of nearly fifty operas. Among his
hest roles are Wotan, wolfram ana
Beckmesser. He is also without peer
on the concert platform and sings ora
torio well and artistically. AS an IN
terpreter of Wagner no other American
singer can approach him, for he Is one
of the few artists who combine with
unusual vocal accomplishments great
dramatic powers. Mr.. Bispham has
charming personality and is great
favorite on both sides of the Atlantic.
This season he has been heard through
the east in recital work. His work is
marked by remarkable clearness of
enunciation and vocalization, fine style
and good diction, sympathy, delicacy
and sweetness of tone. Mr.. Bispham
T consider our greatest American artist
among the men, and we owe much to
such an artist.
Next Sundays article will speak OF
Adelaide Phillips, Zelia Trebelli, Mad
anne Scalchi, Marianne Brandt, con-
traltos.
on Friday evening, April 8. Miss Ha-
gel Lucretia> Olcott. guitarist, presents
her pupil, Miss Hazel Henderson, In a
guitar recital. The program Will be
very interesting, especially to lovers or
the guitar Miss Olcott's ''La Banduria
euitar trio" will give several fine num-
hers and Miss Olcott will also give two
solos. The concert will take place at
Svmnhony hall, 232 South Hill street.