The Washington times., 1910-06-28
ROAD TO SUCCESS
ROCKY, SAYS STAR
Aborn Prima Donna Talks
Of DiScouragementS In
Grand Opera.
By SELENE ARMSTRONG.

Tetrazzini, Gadski. or a Geraldine
Farrar. perhaps? Wen. they're well
enough in arias. swan songs. and
death scenes, but when il comes TO
a heart to heart interview on a
scorching afternoon. why give me a
member OF the Aborn Opera Company,
every time. In the first place. they
are very real. very human people
FRITZ Won Busing. Alice Eversman,
Edith Helena, and those women. es-
pecially Edith Helena
If you like to talk to me-" said
Miss Helena. not over the tea cups"
which is where they usually talk
from Gin intervieWs). but over a sub.
stantial pitcher of ice tea and a plate
of little pink iced cakes-''if YOU like
10 talk TO me, I suppose It's because
I'm like you and all the others we
woodworking like a Trojan to
make my mark in the world. Just
creeping up by inches. very happy
sometimes because 1 can feel a little
living germ Of success stirring in nv
blood. and very miserable at other
times because it's hard and dis
couraging road to travel"
The Rocky Road.
These are some OF che interesting facts
Miss Helena told me about the rocky
road a singer travels to success. Grand
opera singers usually do not ten. for
after once having Travelled q rocky road.
and arrived, what's the use OF retrac-
Ing ones steps, even in an interview?
But this is the true story, according to
Edith Helena: In the first place.. Il
you're determined to be a genius. try
The N-ray on your Uranium, and see II
some talent can't be discovered for paint
ing, writing, matrimony, or any Of the
other fine arts. For, as little as you'd
believe it, says Edith Helena, il is
easier to succeed at any of these things
than at q musical career. And why?
Well, because. Because the public will
come 10 look az your picture. The edi-
tor will read the first paragraph OF
your story, anyhow. And as for succeed
ing at matrimOny. that IS a mere mat
ter Of keeping sweet. But If you are a
singer, your goal will, Of course, be
grand opera. You VIII work and sue
il won't be grand opera
Then there comes a day when the
most wonderful thing that could
happen, happens. The man who con-
trois the destiny Of opera singers,
and would be opera singers, hear
your voice. 1t is a very beautiful
voice. he tells you, n remarkable voice
and ne would ike to give you a chance
The only thing is, one must have q
great reputation before one can be ell
gagged for opera in America, for the
public wants reputation whether you
have any voice or not, and-Oh, well
1mpresarios have troubles Of their own
And, so, YOU work, and wait, and hope
some more. and you know that in the
end you viii attain grand opera, buC
just the same, it's far more hopeless
and harder. than painting. or writing, or
matrimOny. or any Of the other fine
arts.
Wears Queens Ring.
The Washington public loved Miss
Helena's voice from the first time she
sang here last week in la Traviata,"
at the National. Carmen sylvia, the
Queen Of Roumania, loved It, too, and
Miss Helena wears today a magnifi-
cent diamond marquise ring. presented
10 her by the Queen of Boumania, when
she sang at Bucharest. Miss Geraldine
FaTar loved it. and when she first
heard Miss Helena's silvery soprano
notes in Europe. wrote her a little note.
which asked.
Why do you not go in grand opera?''
The irony Of il,
"Pecause,'' walled Miss Helena in re-
ply to Miss Farrar's kindly question II
star at the Grand Opera House in
Brussels. am making now $1,000
month-nOt a reputation, but some
money with which to pay for nv mn
steal education that costs so frightfullv
much, and with which 10 do things for
the people who depend upon me. What
shall I dO2'
IF that is the case" answered Ger
aldlne Farrar in a hurry, don't try to
exist as a grand opera singer in
EuTOpe?"
But If ons is going to make the great
reputation one has TO exist as a grand
opera singer at those bargain priced
salaries in Europe, somehow.
The next best thing to big reputa-
ton that a singer can possess is a brave
heart. says Miss Helena And to sing
operas in English is a great schooling
FOR the Metropolitan, or any other opera
house. That IS why Edith Helena and
FRITZ Won Busing, Alice EverSman, and
the others keep a brave heart and
sing on.