New-York tribune., 1910-12-18
Dromafisf Thinks Puccini Has Helped Oos0ard Tbi4
End BY P~epresentfne Real Life


tn hegin with. il was in fasryland-a
>airvland Of strange and beautiful things,
of faded tapestries intricate in design, OF
stands of ancient armor, OF walls lined
with volumes bound in vellum and crushed
revant And at the gloriously carved oeSh
OF ebony, his fingers toying with a little
rflver paper knife sat the man himself,
the savant who had brought these beaut-
full things together. David Belasco at first
view has much of the Catholic priest IN
his appearance. He wears the clerical col
lar he dresses invariably IN black, his
manner IS quiet, polished, always courteous.
When he speaks II is rare that ne raises
his voice his tones come as If from some
where far beyond. The education that he
received from the Catholic father in the
wflds OF Vancouver Island has never been
forgotten In the exquisite taste Of his
workroom. IN the quiet courtesy Of his
demeanor. the melIowness that is the re-
suit of the training given by the Jesuits
shows itself unmistakably.
And, strange TO say. the fatryland was
In West 44th street. under the caves of the
Belasco Theatre, Yet in atmosphere It
might have been ten thousand miles away
from the garish wllirl Of the Tenderloin.
II was here that the Tribune representa-
tive sat and talked with Mr.. Belasco over
the work that for the last three weeks has
been occupying him body and soul-the pro-
duction at the Metropolitan Opera House
of Giacomo Puccini's latest opera, THE
Girl Of the Golden West
Night and day Mr.. Belasco has been at
tending rehearsals Of the opera, drilling the
European singers in the impersonation of
cowboys Indians and pioneer women. No
light task indeed. Vet those who witnessed
the first performances Of the opera could
scarcely believe that 10 these same singers
a bare three weeks before the idea Of
cowboy MAS about as vague as that Of the
North Pole to Or Cook
'.You know said AIr. Belasco. that
when Tie reheareals Of The Girl began l
lad mo idea really Of staging the work OF
course. I was interested Ia II; Mr. Puccini
had founded il lspon my play, but I had no
idea Of going into the production heart and
soul Then / went up 10 the rehearsal room
and En- five minutes [ WAS lost. J simply
couldn't get away from the rehearsals-
went t. them night and day. 7 even gave
~, the rehcarsals % nay latest play 1t
was the first opera 5y a composer Of the
first rank written on an American theme
and produced here in America, and my
,atriotieln insisted that whatever ! could
DO toward making it a success must be
done"
DID you find the singers hard 10 train?'
asked the interviewer
..,lot in the least was the quick reply.
..F.asier even than any native actors. 1t
,-eeI1s 70 me ghGt men and women simply
lecause they happen TO be opera singers
l1.4ke been told that this pIecludes thelr
acting Yet i found Miss Destinn Mr
Caruso. Mt. An1ato, M Gilly, even the
,,,i=,-il,,.l --,fn1Ters OF the chorus. remark
.iJs. ouicl IN learning. They were all. 70
start with. thinkers. men and women VINO
had devoted wears to study. Even the
chorus were different from the average
stage mob. Each membe- Of it hoped at
some time to become principal. and the
intelligence and energy that pressed them
forward there helped them marvellously
IN their aCJc.g-
Few Of the singers could speak English.