Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-02
WOULD-BE OPERA STARS
GIVEN TRIAL IN PARIS
Competition for Tenors Proves
Amusing, Though Keen
Among Aspirants.
Foreign Correspondence OF The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
PARIS. June q, 1912
Some time ago the theatrical paper
Comoedia, organized competition for
tenors, the dearth OF whom was a COM
plant OF long standing with the public
who for years had listened to the same
excellent artists in Paris. The result
was very satisfactory, many really fine
voices being discovered and among the
prize winners, NJ. Franz, has become one
OF the first tenors OF the Paris opera.
while NM. Lassalle, Marie and Foy are
all starring now in opera, opera comiqus
and operetta in Paris. This year the
journals Excelsior and Femina have
Joined Comoedie. and 20 entries We're
received. This necessitated two days pre-
liminary elimination in two separate
halls. with two distinguished juries act
ing independently.
The candidates come from all ends of
France. and few from Algiers. while
one Is from Geneva, another from Ohio
and third from Russia The iuries are
composed of a phalanx OF critical author
tiles enough to terrify the boldest heart
and voice. and in the first are to be
found Massanet. Dubois and Faure as
composers. Gailhard, Care and Isola
brothers as operate managers, and De
Reszke. Saleza, and Mines. Breval and
Care as singers: while the second jury
includes Saint-Saens, Widor, Xavier Le-
roux and Erlanger as composers, Mas
sager and Broussan managers, and
Muratore. Salignac and Mines. Hegion
and Litvinne as singers.
Friday was the second Of tho preliui.
nary trials. and both the Theatsr Femina
and Excelsior hall We're crowded, while
the 5uries sat enthroned In the front Of
the balcony. the one being presided over
by Jean de Resxke and the other b.
Xavier Ix0rnnY The cnN1nokifnrR
drawn from all ranks ana profeasiooaL
The ages vary from eighteen to SoEl1A
but the average Is about twenty-eighA
Characteristics Of Candidates
It IS very interesting 10 attend on -
these competitions and to watch IA
characteristics OF the candidates. HpND
comes a youth who is described - q
cultivator. He stands boldly forward aA4
attacks an air Of ''Werther'' with ggoaA
resolution. He has a clear piping votca
but small tone and depth. and after sinsS
Ing page Is disappointed at hearing NJ
de Reszke's ominous bell tinkle. This 10
the most agonizing moment, for It may
mean that the jury has condemned the
singer. or that 1t has heard enough to
be satisfied as far as the piece chosen
goes. and in that case the aspirant is
stopped and made to sing three or four
scales. The cultivator is succeeded by a
salesman, who announces aida" All
his effects, however, seem to necessitate
a weird corporal wriggle which is ire
sistfbly comic, and although the audience
Is as restrained as possible in expressing
its amusement, subdued laughter cannot
be repressed.
Then comes jovial, burly painter, who
bears the meridonal stamp on every fea-
ture He trolls forth his air in a rich
and easy fashion, but his voice seems
scarcely true tenor The bell rings.
and he is made to sing a scale. This
puzzles him, and though he CLIMBS up
successfully, he comes down with long
thrill.
Half the singers are paralyzed with
fright, but this does not damage them
with the jury, who all know what the
"trac'' is. In one way 1T is as good as
any theatrical performance, but what Is
fun to the audience is deadly earnest TO
the performers, and one cannot help feel
ing real sympathy with the crestfallen
look that comes over the faces of those
who have advanced with high hopes OF
rivaling Franz and Lasalle land who
hear the fatal tinkle from the balcony In
the middle Of their song.