The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-03
GRAND OPERA SHOULD
BE IN PLAIN ENGLISH.

Why should grand opera lovers OF
the United States pay TO listen 10
grand opera when a majority of them
do not understand a word of the Ian
guagc In which 1t Is sung?
This Is question that has been
asked thousands OF timc5 In this and
other cities OF the United States.
That the people OF the United
States arc foolish iu paying to listen
10 grand opera In a language that
they do not understand is the opinion
OF Carl Harder OF Berlin. Germany
who probably books more opera stars
than any other man In Europe or
America. Harder books a majority OF
the artists for the Imperial opera,
Berlin, the Prince Regent opera
houses at Carlsbad. Dresden and the
other leading opera houses OF Ger
many, a. well as the Grand opera
house II Vienna. Austria, and has
furnished a majority OF the Europ-
peau stars that have appeared in the
last few years in the Henry w. Saw
age and the Oscar Hammorstcin Eng
lish grand opera companies in tho
United states.
In a statement made last summer
in Fritz y. Hgttsman. tenor OF the Le
Brun grand opera trio. who have
been appearing at the Mission re-
Gently. Herr Harder said: Tho peo.
pie OF the United States are The
easiest people In the world to work.
all one has TO do is 10 advertise an
artist or an actor as being from
Europe and they will flock 10 sec
him. or her. or the act They will paw
two prices to hear a grand opera In
a Language that they cannot under,
stand. probably because they cannot
understand. In Germany We do not
latronize grand opera. no matter how
fine II may be. unless we can under
stand the works as well as the music
We present the works of the greatest
masters but IL must be in a language
that the people can understand An.
your Americans are one great lot OF
fools. You should insist on having
the grand opera sung in your own
language. In my long experience
have learned that the American sim
scr Is the most thorough and quick
est Of perception OF any singers In
the world-work. work. and they
know no end TO the thoroughncss Of
their work. Why. in Europe today
many Of the highest praised singers
arc Americans. You do not apprcci-
ate them over there. II thcy come
back 10 YOU as artists from Europe
they receive warm welcome N they
sing In some other language than
their native tongue. cannot under
stand you Americans but IL Is good
money for the Europeans"
Mr. Huffman speaks and sings IN
German as nuently as be docs in !
English. Madam Lc Brun, Tho so
prano of the company. which closes a |
weeks engagement at the Mission 10. |
night. speaks and sings italian az nu-
entity as she does English Mr. HUT /
man has suns In grand opera IN /
Germany Madam Lo BUn has sung T,
In grand opera In Italy Their opln- |
Ion on this subject should DC worth |
something. 'lt Is easier TO sing the !
words Of an Italian grand opera IN |
that language than Il Is TO sing II In |
English said Madam lie Bruu. "Thcv |
have moro yOwels and few cOnsOnants |
in their language. / was educated !
Tor grand opera in Italy. Ny 0rst
Engagement on my return 10 my ma
i've country was in Italian grand |
opera. When Mr. Savage offered mo /
/ place In his English grand opera |
company / gladly accepted q. because
felt that ] could sing just as well
N English as | could In Italian. and |
mat my countrymcn would under
'tand what / was singing In addition
o tne music. / have never regretted
ne change- / am convinced that
= nat the loyors Of grand opcra in
DIS country should insist on is grand
'pera IN English. when II IS presented !
such way that the American
'eople can understand tho words as
ven as the music there win DC more
people attending srand opera than
here IS now"
Dir. Huffman said
nc people OF the United States
WI never appreciate grand ooers nm
IL II Is sung So that they can under-
eano ~ inc words. The story as wen
$ inc music Too much praise can.
ot oc given 90 Hcury W ssyace
uu oscar Hammersteln Tor oiferlnr
ne oest there Is In grand opera In
sus1 70 the people OF this conn
- ney are practically the p,O-
tsrs 10 this movement. That Ar
uEsse made money with MADAM
.u'I'Iiuiy' there is no question