Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-15
ATLANTA STARS
To ILLUMINATE
OPERATIC SKIES
Two Hundred Ambitious Perform
ers Given First instruction in
Ways Of Grand 0peraa.

Two hundred Atlantans. more or
less. will be going around and about
next week telling their friends conf
dentially:
I'm going to act in grand opera.
The manager has engaged me and I've
got swell costume. Keep your eyes
open tonight"
And next day your operate friend
Will dodge you. But when you catch
him he will explain;
who. me? Why, ! was the tall
guy in the leather bath robe and the
red plume in the southeast corner Of
the second act Didn't you see me?
Wei, it wasn't my fault the soprano
fell over me making her exit That
darned sword belt slipped down and
tied my knees together so I couldn't
move
Some" Singers Won't Do.
The advance manager of the opera
company soon will be ready 10 drill
the recruits recently advertised Tor
and instructed to answer by general
delivery Inquiries at the postOffice
SHOW that enough would-be opera
stars are in Atlanta TO build regi-
ment OF iii a suffrage parade. Some
of the wiser ones sought advice from
a veteran opera singer before facing
the Metropolitan manager.
Got q good voice? Like to sing?
Always ready to Join the chorus when
the soubrettc invites you?' asked the
veteran.
Sure, said one applicant. My
friends say I've got a cracker jack
tenor. and ! know all the principal
tunes in 'Traviata.'
supes Not Singers Wanted.
Then you won't do said the vet
eran. AN opera supe should be deaf
and dumb. or they'll have to put a
gag on him. They'll stand for his
getting i'm the way Of the baritone and
pushing over the scenery, but there's
one cardinal commandment for a supe.
and that's Keep your mouth shut
One misguided volunteer a couple Of
notes off the key can do more 20
huOdoo an opera than yellow clari-
net in the orchestra. and the player
who brought that jonah into the pit
would have poison dropped into mis-
sphaghetti next morning.
The tip to keep your mouth smut
goes double. Whether you are vocaliy
inclined or not. keep your teeth IN
close iuXtaposition from overture TO
finale There is nothing which 30
hampeus the enthusiasm Of an audi
cnce or detracts from the versimili
tude Of the ensemble. to use tech
meal phrase, as to observe a plumcd
and belted Knight of the Royal Guard
standing down by the footlights with
ell. gs+f.. -
rube watching Circus con man taxi
ing the little pea from under the
wrong shell.
Chewing gum. unless il is done
with a careful and accurate regard 10
the tempo then being delivered by the
orchestra, should also be discouraged.
a careless gum consumer chewing
away in allegro while the conductor
is in an andante passage has been
known so to distract the soprano in
dulging in an aria that she galloped
three bars ahead Of her acCOmpani
mcnt and had to be hooked in l;|
the finish.
Faces and Costumes.
III there is any makeup TO adOrn
your counteuance, let the profession
ais fix it. a bit Of extravaganza with
red grease paint win make your face
look ike a summer sunset on a pie
ure postcard and cause jealousy
among the ocershadoWed principals
which might seriously interfer with
your future in grand opera. You
would be conspicuous. but not
recherche. as we say in the French.
Also. il is wise TO wear the costume
handed you by the wardrobe boss,
and not indulge your fancy by picking
4 more attractive one off the next
nail. For instance. the doll dress in
The Tales Of Hoffman would seem
scarcely in keeping with the cathedra.
scene in 'Tosca.'
You needn't worry about the spiri.
Of the opera or what the soprano is
about. The manager VIII
say: Here, you, march in with this
stick i'm your hand. stand up right
next to this guy and don't let your
knees knock together so loud they'll
disturb the trap drummer. Stay there
until thta tall rummy marches on.
and then follow him and be sure -
pick up your feet
THAT will be about all for the first
lesson. You'll get the next on the
FIRST night YOU go on and that Will
be plenty. And the first. second and
thing TO remember il: Do
exactly what you're told to do. ana
nothing else. II YOU have any ideas
you think would improve the opera,
write them on a postcard and mail
them TO Gatti- CasazZa.'