The Washington times., 1909-02-08
Nine. Marchesi Does Not
Care for Frosty Gotham,
However.
CRITICS CAUTIOUS,
SHE ALSO SAYS
But Adds That They Are Appre-
ciative-PraiSes English
Music.

Nine Blanche Marchesi probably the
only woman who ever scored a notable
success in Germany with English songs,
and who is now making her second tour
OF America. has arrived at the New
willard.
Madame Marchesi comes to Washing
ton directly from Canada, with the eX-
ceptiOn Of recitals given in Springfield
and Boston. While she will not sing
here until tomorrow, her arrival was
FASTENED by engagements for receptions
at several embassies and at the homes
of public officials in this city.
Nine. Marchesi had a good word for
American critics. II have found your
cOuntrymen captious, at times. but al
ways appTeCiaJlve. If they have crit
icised me it has been because they dis
agreed with me, not because they were
unable 10 understand my methods. /
have appreciated all this for, while I
do not believe the critic can make a
great actress or great singer. he can
destroy her financially. For that reason
they should be very careful. they have
q heavy responsibility"
New English School
Nine Marchesi is a warm believer in
the newer school OF English composers
and expressed her belief that England
would. within the next quarter century.
be recognized among the foremost musi-
cal Centers OF this country
Just as In painting there are a num-
Der OF younger men IN England who
have stamped their genius on modern
methods, so I believe that there is to-
day. in England. a group OF younger
musicians, both composers and interpre-
HraHrs
its own on a par with Germany.
This movement has already been re-
dected in Canada. the country from
which 1 have just come. In Quebec and
IN Ottawa I found an interest in music
that was truly astounding Nowhere
have I been met with a warmer recep-
ton, and nowhere IS the interest in
music expressed so generally By musl-
cal organizations from glee clubs 10.
great choral societies
ChildTen's Chorus.
but the one sight that touched me
most" continued Nine. Marchesi, ''w5ls
the chorus OF children that sang be-
fore ne the night before I left Quebec.
These children had been picked from
the most part from the streets, by
Monsieur LaSalIe, a philanth TOpic music
lover, and have been developed into one
OF the best drilled choTuses I have ever
heard. Not only the choral selections,
but individual numbers were given. ana
] am not eXaggeTating when 4 say thaL
the work Of some OF these children or
the sIums bore the positive stamp OF
genius.
because Il marks q new era in music
for Canada. Already the government
has acknowledged the services Of Mon
sieur and Madam LGSal}e By appropTiat-
Az nall n
Of music education In the larger cities.
Nine. MarChesi was particularly en-
thusiastiC about her plans for her Eu-
ropean tour upon which she viii en-
bark after leaving America In March.
''To show my faith In English musical
productions OF the newer school I am
going TO sing in The WreCkers.' q new
opera by Miss Ethel SmyJhe. the music
Of which is already familiar to Eng
lish music lovers though the opera
has not yet been produced In It's en-
tirety. The story deals with the lives
OF the WreCkers that infest the western
coasts Of England and abOunds In pos
EibiliJies-
America Not SouIless.
while England IS nearer my heart
90 not think that consider America
the soUIIeas country IN things musical
that mary would have you believe.
Those that 90 away with such an opin-
ion have probably never been beyond
New York AS for me, ] do not think
I shall sing IN New York at all. II
VIII surprise many on my return TO
hear that / have sung IN many cities
regarded as provincial, but IN all these
on my former tour ] received the warm
est welcome and the Heartbeat appre-
citation gld 1 have no wish 20 expert
enCe the chills OF q Gotham gathering.
Wash ngtOn is particularly impress
gicnaEle. I feel at home here. In uy
brief stay I have been surprised at the
interest shown in my work and Il Is "a
pleasure 10 sing before the people who
form the musical circle In this city"