Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-19
HELEN BERTRAM TALKS
OF THE OLD BOSTON|ANS
Light Opera Star Has Big Ambi-
tion-What Is It2-Why, Grand
Opera Role, of Course

is convalescing now at Pasadena. Yes
terdav she talked interestingly and in
a reminiscent way about the Boston.
ians, and her own plans for the future.
1t is her ambition to appear in grand
opera roles.
"The old Bostonians were not, like
a theatrical company" said Miss Bert
ram. as she poured tea in her apart
ments at the Maryland Instead they
were like one big family, They mad
no rules and no guardian at the stage
door Men and women friends OF the
singers had as free access to the stage
as they had to the drawing room or
anv of the members of the company,
and good manners and innate polite
ness proved sufficient to preserve the
privacy of the rehearsals.'
Miss Bertram, who was prima donna
with this company during its most sue
cessful years, has nothing but the
kindest recollections of the players and
the manner in which they achieved the
great honors and artistic success for
which they were so noted.
"How are you passing your time out
here this winter?" was asked.
Resting and getting my health re-
stored after an illness, so that l may
go to Paris and study for grand opera
with Jean de Reszke."
"Grand opera! Why, after your sue
cess in lighter work, do you insist upon
undertaking this heavier task?"
Because I want to sing the bigger
roles, 1 want to sing Media in Pagh-
ncchi and Santuzza, and above all else
I want to sing Tosca."
Surely a beautiful Tosca she would
make with her brilliant dark eyes, sem
sitive mouth and wonderfully graceful
hands. After all the so-called hght
operas are not so easy for a singer
and the versatility and courage and de-
termination she has already SHOWN
make an excellent preparation Tor the
grand opera stage.
'T have already sung some OF these
parts in London" continued Miss BERT
ram. 81 sang Faust with the Carlo
| Roso company in Covent Garden ana
Media there, too, and when L thlhk
of the big, beautiful dramatic roles IN
the modern operas I just cannot wait
to begin my study"
Despite her assertion of illness Miss
Bertram shows no trace of lndlspo-
sition. Her manner is spirited, her
figure 1.-the and slender, and her face
as pretty and dimpled as when she
won applause and friends in the cap
+iva+,ne roles accorded her in the Bos-
tonian operas.
"How long will it take you to pre-
mare for this more ambitious work
YOU wish to undertaken" asked the
interviewer.
"1-ba+ is hard to say. / shall stay
wear in Paris anyway and perhaps
longer for 1 love it there, but with
the knowledge and experience l al
ready have, the training of brain
and body and throat, 1 will be able
tn accomplish much in less time than
if would take the unframed singer
"Has the success of Alice Nelson
encouraged you in this decision since
she, too, was a prima donna with
the Costonians?"
perhaps it may have eXerted an
unconscious effect, and perhaps II IS
merely the result of that atmosphere
of the stage in which we lived. 1t
was sweet and simple and reverent-
reverent for life and for men and Wo-
mon and for art, and every member
of the Bostonian company encouraged
MS in maintaining our ambitions and
ideals"
"Tell me something of the members
of that company now. Are any OF
them on the stage?"
ooh YES. indeed. There is Alice
Nelson, whom we just mentioned. She
Is doing beautifully this winter in Bos-
ton with the Henry Russell company,
and she deserves it every bit, too, for
| she worked and endured many pri-
vations TO get that Italian training
which developed her voice so WE'LL
"What Of the other members of the
company"
MRS. Henry Clay Barnabee has
passed away from us, but he still
lives at Jamaica Plains"
did Mrs. Barnabee sing with the
company"
mo, but the company never could
have got along without her. She was
Just as important as though she had
been the principal singer.
Eugene Cowles is appearing in
new piece in New York this winter,
sweet Sixteen it is called. Then
there is Tom Karl, who lived out here
for some time, and that is about the
list, | think. Jessie Bartlett Davis,
Josephine Bartlett and w. II. Mac
Donald are no longer with u.s."
But the tenor-you have not men
toned the tenor of the company, Miss
Bertram."
That's so, I haven't. Well, who was
the tenor? / know they never kept
one very long Tenors seem to be
changeable persons, anyway" and the
singer laughed a ringing, musical
laugh, land l cannot remember what
has happened to those who sang with
| the company while was with