The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-13
WIFE HELPS MARTIN
WHEN He SINGS
SITS OR STANDS IN THE WINGS
AND GIVES CONFIDENCE TO
AMERICAN TENOR.

The i'll wind that blew Caruso. the
greatest living tenor singer, into re-
tirement recently waited Riccardo
Martin, the brilliant young tenor.
whose voice will be heard In the South
for the first time at the forthcoming
May Music Festival OF the Wednes-
day Club. to the pinnacle of grand
opera fame.
Ricardo Martin was the artist Sc
Caruso. The young American tenor
took New York by storm. o-day he
Is idolized in the Metropolis.
There is much to interest music low
ers here in the following Interview
with Martin, written by the scholarly
Sylvester Rawling, music critic OF the
I New York World:
Really? It's very good of you. I'm
glad you thought my Radames con-
vincing." said Riccardo Martin. after
the performance OF Aida" at the Met
ropoiitan Opera House last night You
are quite right" he went on. THE
continued indisposition or Caruso has
given me, an American tenor, line
opportunity TO fill the principal parts
in the Italian repertory of the house,
| and | am not unmindtul OF all the
kind things that you ana your fellow
critics have said about me. Don't
| think me immodest. however, If point
out that l had the honor of singing
t the same parts, with the cordial APP
| prevail of the English critics, at Co.
| vent Garden last year. and shall again
| this Spring, with, | hope. similar re-
suits
The writer had sought MIR. Martin
| behind the senes after the performance
4 fFAs
! oaint of, lie said, and III talk to
you. VIM YOU come to supper with
me: We snail he more comfortable
/ there, So when the war paint was
| OFF, the three OF us-for Mrs. Martin
| is always with her husband when he
| sings had a bite together
| Mrs. Martins Influence.
| DO you know" said Mrs Martin
| that Mr.. MartIn mas never had re-
! hearsal here for any Of the parts he
sings In Aida. 'Gioconda Toesca' or
| Madame Butterfly It's true! Once
or twice T0scanini has started him on
| piano score and added. DO you
know all the rest well?' and when
I he has replied Yes. has said. Well.
that will do"
Mrs. Martin, by the by. is a Won
derful help to ner husband. When
| he sings she sits or stands In the
" At1SS "iititfci SihC AaiI sse MN AIQ
! gives him inspiration. The writer has
watched her many time with anus
ed admiration A nod of her head,
a motion of her lips. an appraised I'm
ger, or even mute observance, con-
veys 10 him an electrical spark that
makes him sing and act better tnaa
when she Is out OF his sight. IT may
sound absurd, but. from observation,
the writer can youch for its truth.
treasure.
Opera in English.
The conversation as ii inevitably
must when the writer is talking to
a singer. drifted into the desirabiiity
Of singing opera In English. Here
MIR. MartiQ proved himself a conser-
yatiye. as most of the singers, native
as we'll as foreign born. are. Give US
American operas and We viii gladly
sing them said Mr.. Martin, but
operas composed by Germans to Ger
man words. by Frenchmen to French
words and by Italians TO Italian words
should be sung In the language 10,
which they were composed. Dom
try to destroy the unique place thai
the Metropolitan Opera House hold;
for it's eesmopoiitanism Granted
that in France and in Italy and II
Germany all the operas are sung II
the Ffrnacular. we are broad enough
land rich enough 10 present every op-
era in the language in which it i,
written"
do you know interposed Mrs
Martin. that Hugh tfor that IL Ric
cardo Martins Christian namel wa,
composer and a teacher here be
fore he became a singer? One da.
somebody told him he was wastinf
time that he had a voice and that h,
ought to sing. Then generous frien(
furnished him the means to go abroad
and study. When he was ready L
appear in France he was told tina
some body by the name Of Hughes. al
Hughey, had lust made a debut tina
YRS not vi. unqualified success, ant
that he would better appear as Rich
J ard He did. Later. when he sans
In Italy, the Christian name was turn
ed into Ricardo and he has retained
II ever since, But don't You CALI hin
Dick. as / have heard you and 9th
ers address him. II You are sum
cfently intimate with him To call hin
by his Christian name. II must b.
Hugh