The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-15

after his little fish story, "I have always been fond of music all my life, and began my studies in Boston with MT. J. Harry Wheeler, afterward studying with his brother, Lyman Wheeler. Then l studied with Alberto Laurence and afterward went abroad, where I studied with Ren- dagger. I also studied with Dudley Buck, whom l counted as one of my very close friends besides, and after I began my professional career, one of the first things that I did was to sing the tenor role in his The Nun of Nidaros.' Dudley Buck, by the way, was one of the greatest musi- clans that America ever produced. His compositions for choir and oratorio work are without equal. His ambition was never satisfied, though for it was his cherished wish to establish a school of music in Washington that would be the greatest school in America, but he did not succeed. So, too, his operas were unsuccessful.
 q am really more identified" contin- ued MT. Fellows, with church music than I am with any other. I have been director of the largest chorus that has ever been brought together in Buffalo, besides my choir in the Delaware Avenue Baptist church there, of which Dr. Karl Case is the pastor. is composed of over 120 people, all of whom are volunteers
 And how do you manage about your concert tours?' I asked.
 II have always been able to carry on my concert york; said MT. Fellows, without any apparent disparagement to my choir and oratorio work, but now l have elected to adopt concert work entire ly and after giving The Redemption in Rochester on the 24th I shall join Victor Herbert's orchestra, en tour for six weeks"
 And speaking of Victor Herbert, what do you think of his opera 'Natoma,' which has just been produced at the Metropol- ian? I asked.
 ITO write grand opera is a great amb- tion," said MT. Fellows, "and we Ameri- cans have been clammering for long time for a typical American opera MT. Herbert's music far outclasses the libret- to of 'Natoma' and has been highly commended by the critics"
 'fWill it answer to the roll call of the Typical American opera I asked.
 "'That remains to be seen,' said MT Fellows. "There are many aspirants for the position. Charles Wakefield Cadman, I understand is engaged on an opera-ln- dian and American in theme. Then there is Arthur Nevin. whose one act opera, Twilight is to be produced at the Met ropolitan very soon, which stands a 'Poia.' and it's production in Berlin, nc doubt"
 "To revert to Er Herbert and his work" said Mr. Fellows, "I recall very pleasantly that I heard the premiere of Naughty Marietta in which Emma Trentini has made such an impression Since her impersonation of the Doll in Les Contes D Hoffmann." she has done nothing so well. MT Herbert Is at his best in this composition and 1t has been the vehicle for Orville Harold, the tenor to step into the limelight and make a great name for himself. I recall Oscar Hammersteins son telling me of hearing Harold with a quartet at one of the Hammerstein music halls and being greatly impressed with his voice he asked him to sing for his father. When 1m- pressario Oscar heard him he was so de- lighted with the beautiful. flexible quail ty of his voice that he took him to Sanger and asked him to teach him, which he