The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-29
Singing Is Disease Says
 Mr. Enrico Aresoni, Noted Tenor
By DOLLY DALRYMPLn

Milan" was the reply. "and since then I've sung in Paris. Nice. Berlin and in fact throughout the entire country sang otello in Nice the first time I ever sung that role and I have always liked it better than anything I've every sung. It is a tremendous part both histrionicaily and vocally and requires every faculty of the artist to carry out its conception. Many roles sing themselves so to speak they require no vitalty-no part of the singer-but just mechanical sort of in- depreciation. but with 1ago singing against Otello, and a Desdemona with all of her wondrous charm and beauty as the inspiration, a tenor has his best chance in that tremendously live part .
 T can easily see how your choice would be made In it's favor" I acquiesced. but you were speaking of opera in English. will 1t ever pay-will 1t ever be the rage?"
 Does opera ever pay?" MT. Aresoni asked in return.
 You don't mean that it Is given just as boon to humanity?' I suggested.
 Not that" said he. "but what l mean is that opera in English will undoubtedly pay sooner or later as well as any other. I speak five different languages, sing many roles in all of them I prefer Italian or French as most singers do, but l believe there Is a great field for opera in English. When I sang for the first time with Mir Sturani In Milan (the conductor of the Chicago opera, then liv- ing in Milan) I sang in Italian Later in Paris, coaching with villani, 1t was French: then again to Italy, studying with Castallano 1t was something euse; then in New York with Percy Stevens, whom I consider the best teacher of voice in the world today, I began with English. Mir. Stevens knows more about the throat, about the qualifications that the singer must have. than any teacher l have ever known. Whenever I get back to New York long enough at time l take a few extra lessons from him and deem it great privilege.
 That brings us to the point-the thread bare point. to be sure-of considering whether the American student should study abroad or right here at home?" I suggested
 Singing is a disease MT. Aresoni said. Take the average American singer. and somebody hears him sing in his little home town The nearer has perhaps only heard Melba or Caruso or Tetrazzini on the Vic trola. He tells the girl or boy that he has a voice far better than the great artists mentioned. Immediately the dis ease breaks out The parents of the singer perhaps are considered wealthy in their little home town and they begin to get up money to send their child abroad. Any singer will take a pupil-few are candid enough to refuse the money-and make good. But the germ of the disease spreads and before you know it the singer thinks he is something great. He's s been abroad. he names his teachers, he launches forth. but presently he fails to mako good. But the ger moi the disease is there I often think if these people who rush abroad to study, those with more money than brains, would only give that money to some poor boy or girl who really has a voice, we would have many more good singers and fewer mediocre singers. I am a great believer in the American teacher I do not decry those abroad but believe anybody can get tre- mendous results right here in his native country under our own teachers.