The Washington times., 1912-11-27
Says Young Singer Owes Her
Success to Native Gifts
and Energy.

One Of the rarest birds in the musical
cage. an Infant phenom' who. after
childhood. came up to the promises of
early years. will be heard singing the
lovely songs allotted to Maid Marian In
robin Hood" at the New National
Theater this evening. The singer IL
Miss Anna Bussert, still quite young
American girl. for whose success and
promise Of future successes on the
opera stage the American public 10 in
debted to three things: her native
gifts. her energetic study. and the gen.
erous aid extended her in her studies
by Charles NJ. Schwab. the steel mag
nate.
Perhaps one should mention as first
Of the three Miss Bussert's own ef-
forts to make herself the singer she 10
today. for one cannot but admire self.
help. withal the recollection should be
kept in mind that there must have been
great native gift. for everybody knows
how many not well endowed are hope.
lessiy pursuing tho ignis fatuus OF a
musical career. and also that oven
talent and industry must have some
thing to eat, and that 1t costs real
money to study abroad.
MISS bGbbeTt HLauc ueE ucUut ~ tuS
age Of three in q church entertain
ment in her childhood home. in Lima.
Ohio. Unlike many youthful prod.
iges, "the little Bussert girl" con-
tinued to develop her musical pow
ers. singing at school and church
affairs until when only fourteen
years old che was a professional con-
cert singer. Her clear. sweet voice
and her charming. pretty youthful
ness were a combination that created
a sensation wherever she appeared.
A self-reliant miss was Miss Bus
sert, conducting her own business
correspondence. arranging dates for
her appearance and travelling inde-
pendently and cheerfully about the
country just like a mature and sea-
soned concert singer.
Steel Magnate's Interest Gave
Her Start In Education.
The first time I ever saw her. she
was u little girl in a short dress ana
with her hair hanging down her
back. She had come from her homo
In Ohio to Pittsburgh to sing with
the Delphos Choral Society In the
annual Welsh Eisteddfod. which Is
the big yearly musical event In the
Iron City. There she was the most
important feature OF the day. win
ming in every competition In which
she took part. Charles NJ. Schwab.
the steel magnate. was one OF the
Interested listeners, himself being
music lover of taste and discernment.
He Is a musician OF high merit as
well. his handling Of the pipe organ
being especially mastery. lie was
present that day AZ president OF the
day, and after the little girl had done
her part. he turned to one or the or
ficers OF the organization and said
that little girl will be heard from
some OF these days"
He made thorough inquiries regard
Ing the girl and her work. and then
and there offered to start her In her
musical education. He sent her to
New York. where she developed so
rapidly that within six months she
made herself self-supporting. chief
" through a fine church position.
which she secured over several hun
dred applicants. by tucking her hair
down inside her coat. SO that tho
committee might not think her q
child.
Very soon followed concert engage.
ments with the Victor Herbert and
Damrosch Orchestras and others. 80
that within a couple OF years Miss
Bussert was able to see her way clear
to crafty her ambition to spend sew
eral years In Europe preparing for grand
opera. During her first years work In
Italy her progress was splendid. She
made her debut in Venice within the
year, singing at several important royal
opera houses during her first season.
| Her debut was made as Gilda In "Rigo-
Ietto." Among the other operas In which
she sang were 'Traviata," Faust =
| "Boheme," and Micaela in Carmen"