The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-16
MISS FANNIE DUNN WILL BE MAID.
OF HONOR TO SPONSOR FOR Al
ALBANIA MISSISSIPPI BRIGADE.
GENERAL SCOTS APPOINT
MENTS - ENGAGEMENTS An
NoUNcED-SOcIETY NOTES.

Nv - - . -
When, during a chat with Mrs. Viii
liam Gussen few mornings ago at
her studio, I expressed surprise at her
sudden return from sojourn in Bos-
ton, which was almost heavenly ex-
perience for a musician, her answer
suggested a popular query.
rs the woman who has in addition
TO her public career that of motherhood,
better fitted for her profession than the
one who is not a mother?'
Asked why she returned so unex-
pectedly, Mrs. Gussen picked up pho
tograph resting on the little desk be-
fore her and smilingly handed it to
me. That's why" her two lovely
little daughter, Mary Munger and
Elizabeth, gathered very close in her
embrace. 81 could not stay away from
them any longer" she continued. Il
missed them so, and one day 1 de-
cided that L must come home at once,
so every one in the house in which I
was staying combined in an effort to
get me off that very day" When
reference was made to the discussion
above mentioned relative especially to
singers, Mrs Gussen said: Indeed | do
think that the influence of motherhood
is the best and sweetest that singer
can have. Geraldine Farrar, Louise
Homer and the others so much quoted
are all wrong when they talk of the
restrictions and consequent lack of de-
velopment imposed by children of must
clans. Schumann- Heinck is certainly
one glorious refutation of that the
ory; don't you think so? And while I
like to look at Mary Garden, her sing
ing always leaves me cold"
Mrs. Gussens experience during her
visit to Boston, Philadelphia and Wash
ington may be coveted by those who
hunger for the best that the world
musical has to offer. As she talks of
Claude Debussy's mystic, wonderful tone
poems one feels that another Wagner
is among us. Indeed, she compares
him favorably with that king of the
opera. But one must have lived in the
Debussy atmosphere" she says, IF he
would be able to appreciate his works.
1t rarely happens that his productions
please when heard the first time, but
in Boston heard an entire DeBussy
evening of music-no time given to an
other composer-and the audience was
wildly enthusiastic"
DO you attribute that to the fact
that the programme was given in Bos-
ton and that the Bostonians are extra
ordinarily musicale" she was asked.
"Oh, no. she said quickly. by no
means. 1 noted gross ignorance in the
Boston audience-not more than one
would find elsewhere but certainly
nothing to indicate that there is a re-
markable musical atmosphere in that
city"
who Interpreted the Debussy COM
mentioned?" Mrs Gussen was asked
George Copeland, Jr., and it was the
first Debussy programme ever given in
America" was her response. Then she
continued to speak of the tormentingly
perfect, inexplainable wonder of the
music until one envied the members of
an audience that sat through an even
ing of absorption and applauded with
heartfelt appreciation when the pro-
sramme was completed.
you, of course heard Mary Garden
in Pelleas and Melissande' 1 sug-
gested What is your impression of
the opera?"
ut is different from all the operas ]
have ever heard" answered Mrs. Gussen.
"It is unlike the modern German or the
modern italian, orr she continued reflee-
lively, 1.-THE old German. 1t is strange
1y lacking in solo and arias, the work is
mostly recitative. The orchestra gives
the solos in tone. 1t is magical, wonder
full"
did not Geraldine Farrar sing in Bos-
ton during your stay there?"
Eyes as Manon. This is the. first time
have seen her since her debut seven
years ago as Marguerite in Faust She
fs looking very emancipated and pale,
quite pathetic, indeed. / also saw Tet-
razzini," she continued; land heard her
sing 'Traviata.' Oh, her voice is magnif-
cent. She was born to be great singer.
Her physique, her stage presence pro-
claim it. without any effort she simply
opened her mouth and the golden tones
pour forth. Her lack of early training?
Why yes, there are notes at times that
show 1t, but I don't believe it detraets.
Imagine woman, though, of her robust
build dying of consumption in the last act
She was too riotously healthy to wiring
my heart as has been done by this opera,
and I could but think how Geraldine
Farrar's fragile slimness would have
helped in producing an effect. But I'm
sure I don't know what I should have
done in such a case The story in an
opera always affects me tremendously and
Farrar's personality would have suited
only too WELL
"Tell me something of the instrumental
lists" said. "The Boston orchestra. for
example. You heard 1t. of course?'
YES in Washington, where | spent q
short while. Paderewsld was with them,
by the way. He played several numbers