Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-14
IS
HELPING OTHERS
To RISE
Great ContraIto Believes There
is Plenty of Room at
the Top Her Numerous
ProtegeS,

Nine. schumann-Heink doesn't be-
lieve that her art is becoming too
crowded. In fact the day is yet far
distant when she will have her peers.
In addition, therefore. TO thrilling her
many audiences by the magnificenee
OF her singing. the great contralto be-
lieves in assisting others to the heights
which she has s~urmounted. Accord
lngly everywhere she goes h is meet
ing some one whose voice or other
musical talent makes them eligible
proteges. AT finding people she is
an adept. possessed with the skill OF
the witches divining rod. II ability
Is there she is usually able to discern
it. There have been times, however,
when her confidence has been mis-
placed and the gratitude which was
due her Interest and kindness was not
forthcoming. The singer tells about
some Of these experiences.
Il obtained a fine role in Bayreuth
for a young soprano. While h sue
coeded admirably in the artistic re-
Quiremcnts. yet my. what a case OF
s'wclIed head Madame CosiIna
Wagner, the widow Of the great COM
poser. who by this time ought TO he
used to the temperament Of artists
was quite exaspcratcd. Our young
Miss Vain %dcnurrcd against rehcsrs-
ais. against wearing costumes allotted
10 her. She said she wouldn't wear
clothes that others had worn. Now
those actions won't be condoned there.
The are OF such richness
- - rar.r.ars 1rffgf1 4la moi
expect fresh ones Tor their especial
benefit. As to rehearsals. the great
est artist must be as faithful in at-
tendance us the holder Of b small
est art II ended by her being dis
missed. She is exhibit A OF those vic
inns of exaggerated ego.
Another instance \ second youns
woman begged me TO take her 10 Bay
reuth. She had so longed TO 90 there
sing on its historic stage. she
would be my servant Tor life. she said,
Tor lust one opportunity 20 sing i'm
this immortal theater ] succumbed
and she a her wish The manage
ment offered her a small part. that of
Freyu. But would she accept it9 No.
II wasn't big enough Brunnhilde she
would condescend To sing. but not
Freya. Madame Wagner then refused
10 tolerate her impertinence further
and accordingly she lost her chance.
The same old silment-sNelied head.
I've often wondered whether il was
.ontagious-i seems So prevalent.
When viii these singers get il into
their heads that thes cannot begin at
me top2 II Is against All evolution
Another protege was OF the con-
tralto persuasion When she left her !
home 10 Ssn Francisco I opened my
house in Eurore 90 her. Although I
have been blind 10 her imper-
I found faults hat necessi-
a eacher. when ! returned
from a concert tour she told me that
she had nothing more 10 re-learn.
Her faults were more giaring than
Her body svayed and her
arms moved like a windmill when
she SAM She Old ne that her
method was OF the new school Tn
I wasn't IN need Of swim
ming lessons and So our Acquaintance
m 20 a terminus
Ny weakness for nrotescs was stli
-ampsnt and accordingly I Was next
victim 10 a man He had "a superb
enor voice but / could not resist the
impulse 20 point out several conspicu-
faults much TO the surprise Of
I'm and his teacher i was a west
town where ! met him in ant
thsr ycsr I Ucut asain 70 the same