Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-05-01
ADVICE TO YOUNG SINGERS.
Some Information About the Amount of
Money Needed to Study Music
in Paris

Money Needed to Study Music
in Paris.
Mary Garden. who has won the repu-
taticn of one of the most successful of
prima donnas, gives some advice of in
terest to ambitious young singers and
tells something of her own hardships in
an interview appearing in the Theater
magazine.
Il hadn't thought of becoming a sing
er or an actress, or professional person
OF any sort, when | first went to Paris.
When the possibility of a career began to
open for me, my parents were not In cir
eumstances to encourage such an ambi-
tlon; but the patronage of enthusiastic
friends gave me a good start, and then
l began 10 see grand prospects opening
before me. | worked with feyerish ener-
gy-with almost fanatical devotion.
PRACTICAL results gradually ensued; and
could even see, far ahead, the glorious
opportunity of debut on the Paris
stage.
Then with the dawn of success sud-
denly became aware that / had enemies,
ana that they had been busy writing
nome. For some reason, which | could
not then discover, my friends who had
Deen pushing me along, lost faith in me.
They withdrew their support at the mo-
ment when / needed it most. 1t was
onerlng TO buy me steamship ticket to
come back home.
4 would have died first! But | had
no idea of dying, nor quitting. Remem-
berlng Chicago, / ciinched my teeth and
said, i willr-and | did. Eight months
OF misery, of poverty, almost of starva-
ton, lay between me and my debut
But ! traversed them, and won my first
little triumph in an engagement at $50
francs $500 per month. My first inn
portant role at the Opera Comique was
Louise, which | created. 1t was rather
forlorn hope-but Charpentier's genius
and Cares stubborn perseverance slow
~ and surely won their victory.
For whole year l sang Louise at a
salary of 500 francs per month-that
was all my armor clad contract called
for, and, truth to tell | was glad
enough TO get it. Then a new contract
awaited me, and it became my turn 10
make money. | have sung Louise
more than 200 times, and my voice is
none the worse for it. My doubling
friends have long since expressed their
unqualified approval. They rather ex-
pected | would defend myself, and ex-
plain. But | never explain, and never
regret An artists life, in its critical
moments of development, is one success
sion of emergencies. Its justification is
attainment. Its rewards atone for all
sacrifice. What are few years of suf-
ferlng and strife, but something to look
back on with pleasure? Whereas, art
is for whole lifetime
Many ambitious girls come to me,
after they have already arrived in Paris.
Sometimes they talk about debuts at the
opera before they can speak word of
French correctly. OF course, these are
hopeless. With the girls who really
have voice. and talent, and character,
complicated with good looks-ahi it is
terribly serious matter.
They do right, though, in leaving
their homes, when setting out on the
desperate adventure in search of artis-
tie development, fame and fortune. That
must be a single hearted pursuit Self
reliance is one of the many things, be-
sides singing, that a successful singer
has to learn-and she can not acquire
it at home. There she is 'coddled' en-
the one hand, and shut in by conven-
tonality on the other.
But let me say, explicitly and posi-
lively, that the young American woman
who is going to Paris to study for opera.
ii she expects to get the full benefit of
such course, should see her title clear
to $500 for each and every month, up to
the time of her debut Three hundred
dollars is 1900 francs, which amount we
may apportion as follows, for the prin-
cipal items of expense:
Err.
Pension and living expenses, per month $50
Vocal lessons, per month. ............ 500
French fiction and stage department,
per month ................... 300
Aceompanist, per month ............, 2O0
IotalS -.......... ..................1,3 900
There is all but $50 francs accounted
for right away-and nothing said about
carriage hire, and pin money, and pos
sibly doctors bills, and
And aren't you forgetting the big
gest item of all--dressY'
"No-that ought to be last and least,
witt. 4 student. / have been quoted. and
quoted correctly, as saying that an ar
tjste should make every sacrifce-go hun.
cry, if need be--in order that she may
I've well and fashionably gowned. But
that is after she is an artistic There is
no chance for girl whose mind runs Ia
dress and frivolity at time when all
her Snergy and resources are demanded
for the study of art"
But how many are fortunate enough
to command the resources you say are
necessary
20, hundred times as many as really
make success of it. even with the re-
sources. There is Jean de Reszke's
school-perhaps the best in Paris today.
Forty or fifty lessons daily are admins
tered, in that operate kindergarten, to
as many different pupils. Yet, out OF
the entire lot, there were only two that
| should say gave brilliant promise
And of these two, | fear, the master
himself doesn't think any TOO x,-aIitY,