New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-07
CONTINUED

I would hear me sing He told me that ne
was busy at the moment, but asked me
10 come around the next week.
"Mr Nikisch,' / said. II you do not
hear me now you will never hear me.
! know it,
He assured me that he would. but the
next time | saw him he had forgotten
me. He had asked some % my fellow mu-
sicians about me and they said | was
crazy. crazy 'cellist who thought he had
a voice. And so for the whole period or
Nikisch's conductorship. until just before
he left finally for Europe, | remained
just crazy 'cellist'
"A few weeks before the close of his
last Bosom season Nikisch consented to
play the accomplishments at a benent
concert which was being arranged oy
one of our musicians | begged that mu-
stefan to put me on the programme. lie
consented, and / sang the great air from
The Barber of Seville 1t was a tri-
umph such as | had never dreamed OF.
and in the midst of it Niksch came up
to me. the tears rolling down his cheeks.
~ have done you a great injustice
Sgnor Campanari, he said, I beg your
forgiveness. They told me you had no
voice. I want YOU TO come with me TO
Budapest
II did not go with him. but | did go TO
New York. where / sang in dollar opera
at the Grand Opera House. after which
the Metropolitan engaged me. When L
next returned to Boston ii was as soloist
with my old orchestra. to stage banked
with flowers, to an orchestra that rose as
one man and cheered me as | came upon
the platform That was the greatest tri-
umph of my career. But even with such
triumphs a singers life is short one.
! and sometimes / doubt whether IT is
worth the cost.
I Musical conditions are peculiar in
America Here the critics are supreme.
They can absolutely make or break an
artist the public, outside Of a small mi
nority. following absolutely in the path
they lead. Theirs is a great responsible
| ity. | sometimes feel that the Latin sys-
tenn of the audience showing its disap-
prevail is an excellent one. II keeps the
artist ever at his best, and instead Of
having any one who Kisses arrested for
one believe the system should be encour-
aged. Perhaps our public is not as yet
| educated up enough for this. yet | see no
reason why a person paying money for
! admission should not be permitted to
| show disapprobation, as well as praise.
| A singer advocating the violent express
sion of disapproval is a rare case, surely!
But those who would really know Signor
Campanari should see him when his mind
| Is far from the field Of his triumphs.
They should see him on the golf grounds,
taking a lesson from his friend former
| Police Magistrate Flammer. He VIII
never be the golf player that he was a
singer, but he appears to enjoy it quite
as much. They should see him on the
tennis court watching his son with ad-
miring eyes: or, better STILL in the even
ing in the Casino bowling alley. in a blue
shirt and a cap. rolling up the biggest
score of the season, while his daughters
bowl in the adjoining run and Signora
Campanari. who has brought her sewing,
sits near by. Escamillo domesticated-a
rare sight in an opera singer. at least IN
| these days of calliope advertising
II have never loved society but l have
| loved my art and have loved my home,
said Signor Campanari.
And in these words Signor Campanari
gave the touchstone to his character.
!
1 A pound of wool makes a yard Of clotc-