Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-17


may hear Regina yicarino and be re-
warded. II is a source of wonder
where this apparently frafl singer
gets the force to produce such won
derfuiiy clear, strong notes; how she
runs the scale with such apparent
case and control
Off the stage Vicarino is as uncon-
scious of her power as two-year old
child in pinnafores. When reporter
for the Star-Bulletin found her in her
rooms in the Moana, she was deeply
engaged in sending out acknowledge
ments to those who had sent her
floral tributes.
Though very unlike the impulsive
Adaberto, Ficarino is as sweet in her
own way. While her features, dark
hair and complexion are those of an
Italian, Yicarino insists upon being
put down as an American production.
I come by my dark hair and eyes
naturally" said she, for my mother
Is of French descent and while father
was Swiss and grandfather and great
grandfather, we can trace our an
cestry way back to Italy"
Though none of the prima donna s
relatives are professional musicians,
both her father and mother sang in
the church choirs. When Vicarino was
seventeen she, like the others, was
sent to music master. AT that
time" she said, my voice was small
but it kept getting bigger and bigger
and kept doing more tricks until final.
ly ] decided to go into grand opera.
don't know what made me want to do
operas for though heard some good
singers | did not 60 to the opera very
much. Perhaps it was because liked
the arias which I had sung with my
teacher"
Five years ago the little lady. de
cided to go to Italy though an uncle
who Is practically the head of the
house advised her against any such
proceeding None of your family has
ever had a wonderful voice and Meth
er have you" were his encouraging
words.
Her Mind Made Up
Vicarino had Already made up her
mind, however, and. she and her
mother embarked for Italy, the land
of great singers. II must have been
the enthusiasm of youth that carried
her through, for when she went to
Italy she could not speak word OF
Italian. She studied for six months
and learned five or six operas, then
started out looking for. an engage
ment. She finally met an agent from
the Island|of Malta who, after hear
ing her sing once, signed contract
for six months and in her own words
''at the magnificent salary of sixty
i dollars a month. That was five years
ago and since that time she has
learned and sung twenty-one operas
Learning an opera, understand. is very
different from. learning drama; fol
one must know the traditions con
nected with the opera as well as the
opera itself.
After remaining in ItaIy a year
Vicarino returned to America and
cince that time has sung mostly in
this company. She has played small
parts with the Metropolitan Company
but until short time ago was not
! very well known. Since she appeared
in California, however, her fame has
been sung from coast to coast. Sem
brich heard her and liked her. That
great prima donna fancied Wearing
because she says that the coloraturs
sopranos are disappearing and as she
is one herself, she is interested in the
few that are left. When she passes
on she wishes to beQueath her mantle
to one of the younger singers and has
already invited vicarino to train with
her next summer. III Vicarino's voice
improves In the coming years as II
has in the past. who knows but tbs
mantle may fall on her young shoul
ders? All who have heard her in Ho
nolulu will surely wish that ii may.
II is well known that most grand
opera stars live for music Not sc
Vicarino. OF coarse music is the
greater part of her life but she Is
keenly interested in everything about
her, and very much SO in her hus
band, for she is bride of but a year
what do you think. of the Homo
lulu audiences in comparison with
those on the mainland?" she was
asked
They are more lenient, perhaps II
not quite so enthusiastic. Speaking
of enthusiastic audiences the Cubans
are more demonstrative than any
people / have ever played before