The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-09

Juol bSCduSt ti1 pittui tSiuO iiiPi So- sario oscar Hammerstein has so ire ~euently been depicted as cutting fran tic zigzags in and out of the wings of his famous Manhattan opera house, lodging Italian tenors or indignant French soprani, and in imminent dan ger of having that famous plug hat of his slammed down over his ears, is no reason why the general public should entertain the impression that grand op- era stars are dangerous and to be fought shy of.
 Certainly Madame Rita Fornia, the well known star of the Metropolitan opera, certifies to the fact that these ideas are not true, for a more charm ing and cordial woman I have never met and when I said that I had heard her the evening in New York when Madame Flames was i'll and could not appear in I'll Trovatore," she laughing ly said:
 That was the third time I had ever been on the Metropolitan opera house stage. I was notified at o'clock that must sing in Madame Eames' place and you can imagine my plight. MT. Caruso was lovely to me and really kept my spirits up all through the opera. I don't know what l should have done had it not been for him.
 linen you have been on the operatic stage only a short timer" I said. Three years abroad and three at the Metropolitan" she replied. T made by debut in Hamburg as the Princess l Ia, hot ic la heard nowadays, but it is very beauti- full"
 | 'Is MT Caruso agreeable to sing with?" I asked curiously. We have read so much of his peculiarities and his-well-er-would you say temper or temperament?
 "The things that are said about him are really not true. half of them," re- | piled Madame Fornia. He is the sweet est .nan in the world-I consider him absolutely unique-different from any body I ever knew"
 How does Mr. Ricardo Martin com pare with him, and MT. John McCor- mack, musically?" asked. MT. Martin has a lovely voice, but he is mere boy" was the reply. "Of course this se2son is the first at the Metropolitan with MT. Mccormack, but both of these artists have fine voices ' Do you consider Caruso quite cap able of engendering the terrible riots at the box office at the opera in Der lin that we have been reading about lately?" I asked.
 "Quite--his voice Is the loveliest thing in the world and I consider Mr. ~ II. greatest drawing cards in the musical world" said Madame Fornia. What will you sing at the Metropol- itan first this season?' I asked
 T imagine Suzika in Madame But terfly," said Madame Fornia-
 Gan you sing contralto role with so high a voice as yours?" I asked. "Puccini, the composer of Madame Butterfly. has requested that the role should be sung by a high voice and so I shall essay it this season. said she.
 Your repertoire includes what?" I asked.
 "Santuzza in Cavaliera Rusticana." !" was the answer. "Lenore in Trovatore. Nedda in Pagliacca. and then I have sung many Wagnerian roles," said Ma dame Fornia.
 Have you heard the new Strauss opera?' I asked as I arose to say good by-'The Rose of the Cavalier'?" Being produced now in Dresden 9" she replied. "No but should like very much to hear 1t. l love Strauss. He Is inimitable."
 "Do you like concert work as well as opera?" I asked.
 Quite as much, only it Is terrible travelling" said Madame Fornia T met Madame Sembrich two weeks in St Paul and we both npread that touring is very difficult work. shall really be glad when December comes as I shall be stationary once more My last concert is in Denver and then back to-opera."