The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-30

and then went to Paris. Madame Ash
forth is very remarkable woman. She
is nn old friend of PATHS and lived with
her for many years. She was a mem
Der of the first opera company that sang
at Covent Garden and the newspapel
remarked upon Madame Ashforth kndy
eonsenting to sing the role of Seibel IL
Faust She belongs to the same school
dhe Garcia SCHOOL, that Marchesi docs
and the two singers are very deaf
friends$''
when | went TO Paris later to study
worked with Madame AIarchesi ard
Monsieur Ponsont'' Mrs. Rigelow said
and recall one afternoon attending
one of Madame Marchesis musiealesl
when Madame Ashforth was present and
felt very much honored to sit between
these two world renowned singers Whild
was studying in Paris, had the honoI
of singing for Jean de Reszke, who wad
very enthusiastic in his congratulations
and came from the rear of his littAl
theater where | sang at one of his Sun1
day afternoon musicgles (that by thd
way. being the time he hears Ameril
cans) and shock my hand and compli1
mented me very highly and predicted d
great future for me In opera
And why did you discard the idea of
opera I asked
For two reasons said Mrs. Bigelowl
Il haven't the physical endurance foi|
opera to begin with. 1t Is the hardest
work in the world and requires a ply
sique that does not know the meaning
of the word ennui. Then, too it require
great deal of money to qualify for thd
opera. AIR. William Steinway, who waJ
a great believer in the future of Ameri1
can girls in opera, was aiding me amonsI
40 other girls in my studies, and jusd
as | was about to make my debut al
the metropolitan Opera house in NeV
York, he unfortunately died. That wa
about 10 years ago, when Bessie Abbott
Geraldine Farrar and the rest were bel
ginning their eareers-both. by the byl
being Ashforth pupils
After that. / was marred-and od
coruse all idea of the operatic stage wa i
then precluded. Later l took up concord
work and teaching and oratorio." Misd
Bigelow continued. Il have sung in Bosl
ton under John Herman Loud and r. il
Lang the director of the Cecilia club
and many other noted musicians through
out the east"
Your advice to the American singerl
then, is to remain In her own country, Il
l suggested.
When | sang for Mr. Henry WoAr !
son he said to me, Stay right in Amer1
lea: you can get the best foundation
here and then If You wish to you carl
so abroad. but begin here I would say N
the same thing was the reply.
Mrs Bigelow and Miss Adams will
give the first November concert of thd
Music Study club and rare treat is id
store when these two gifted artists will
appear.
Her critics say that as trainer od
the voice. Mrs Bigeiow has been uni
equivocally successful. Scrupulous card
in treating young voices, the gift to im-I
part enthusiasm for their work into her|
pupils, and admirable judgment In thd
selection of material for study and rec
tai work. have shown results wild
stamp Mrs. Bigelow as an eminently suc1
cessful teacher.
Also
That her voice is OF indescribable sweet !
ness and nexibility. She renders he'd
songs with freedom and confidence borlI
of careful training and experience Mag.I
nificent would hardly be an extravagand
descriptive word concerning her lovely
voice.
Mrs. Bigelow has many vocal and perl
sonal charms and not the least of thd
latter is her modest demeanor.