Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-28

two minutes the hotel clerk opened the
door ard sold: 'Caruso bcgs You to
come up. Up two flights of stairs
we trudged, and then for the first time
/ felt that was really going to see the
great singer. We We're shown into q
beautifully furnished parlor with ex-
quisite flowers everywhere. with two
pianos at one end Of the room aud a
writing desk at the other. Just a few
seconds more and the great tenor
walked in. His greeting to Madame
| Corelli was Very hearty, then she
| turned to us and introduced us as her
| girls He bowed politely, and then
! she referred to Miss Lee who was
nearest to her, and told him of her
wonderful contralto voice. I was Mt
the other side Of her. and she then
presented ne speaking of me as a high
soprano, and incidentally adding that
we We're her two most advanced pu-
pills. Caruso looked at us all. smiled
ana said: All singers; are any of them
going to sing for me" Madam Coreli
whispered something to the accom-
PIANIST and then said that Miss Gates
would sing. Coming up to me lie asked
what / had in my hands, and
when he saw that they were
photographs OF himself. two for Syhelln
and two for me. he seemed surprised
and pleased. Taking them, he sat down
at the desk and began writing his au-
tograph on mine inscrbing, To Miss
Gates from Enrico Caruso, Berlin Oct.
25th. 1905. the same for Miss Clayton
and so along for everyone who had
brought pictures. When he found there
were some of the girls who had none
with them, he laughed, got up and pro-
duced a number of photographs. giving
each one a picture To Madame Corelli
he gave specially fine one with Il spc-
cial inscription. 1t got quite comical
after a while. as he cried out in Eng
list Next. as he continued to sign his
name.
After that Madame Corclli thanked
Signor Caruso in the name of all the
girls for his kindness and said to the
girls. Now girls. make your adieu. as
/ am sure Signor Caruso has another
appointment 1t was funny to see the
stage fright that then took possession
of the whole class. suppose everyone
was waiting for the other but as no one
started and as ] was nearest. | thought
would break the ice. so stepped for
ward, shook hands With him. and said
'Adicu.' but he Immediately stopped me
by saying: Why, aren't you going to
sing for ne?' Imagine how my heart
began to thump. Then soon all the
other girls left. and Madame Corelli
Olga, our accompanist. Caruso and his
Ian Italian who is al
ways with HIND, and myself We're the
only ones in the room.
IT was so nervous | didn't know
where to stand, but Caruso came up
and. taking me by the hand, led me to
the center of the room, and said, Nov,
start off; I am ANXIOUS to hear you
/ replied Where shall | stand . He
answered. Anywhere. SO I went near
er the piano, the accompanist seated
herself. and | began on the aria from
Lucia" Caruso leaned against the
piano and the Kapellmeister took a seat
on the sofa nearby. As l sang the first
phrase Caruso looked up. When | took
the first run, both of tlcm said Bene'
tgood) and as | Went on they said
Motto Bene' very good. While I was
executing small cadenza. CaruSo camo
up and put his forciinger on ray l1rnyX
till ! had finished. Then lie stopped !,
over ana looked into my mouth while |
/ was taking high note. AS I went !
on he touciscd my throat to see how my !
tones were produced. smiled ana |
his chest several times Ia in
dicate that my heart was going rap |
idly. | smiled too, and nodded, but /
kept on singing. Then he walked back !,
to the piano. You can imagine that all |,
this did not add to my composurc and .
it so mixed me up that j forgot my |
words. however, the kapeliinetSter
me, and i took it up again.
He then arose and sang along with |
ne, showing me where be thought 1t
should be hurried or retarded. When |
finished on the high L; at the close, !
10Th shouted Bravo!' My big note
anne out strong, but the rest of the
song, through excitement, was not up l
o my best form, as you can imagine.
still Madame Corelli and Olga praised
ne very warmly.
"Caruso shook hands with me at the
Irish, asked me how long I had stu
lied. what | intended or wanted to do.F
rorelli answered for me and said that
expected to be another year With her.
It which Caruso said something that
that 1 was young yet and
hat must study, study. study, as he
lad. Caruso. you know. studied four
md q half years with Vergino, his only