Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-17
Soul True
Asset OF q
Great DiOQ
Personality of Annie Russell
Suggests a Discussion
About Singers.

What is the chief asset of a publ,
singer?
This question was asked in a dis
cussion which l had with a well
known musician of Me- York about
the merits of Julia Culp. whose voca
excellencies, especially the phrasine
of the artist. had greatly pleased him
Is the singers greatest asset hen
voice? Is it the fact that she has ar
organ of so rare and perfect a quality
that she can command $500 each night
that she sings? Is it even her great
est asset when it's wondrous timbre
or color makes the price of her APP
pearance mount into the thousands
No. not even with such a power al
her command can the singer count
upon it as her principal possession
for long.
What is it then, again. that is the
precious asset of the diva? What.
indeed, is the value of a voice? Let
it be considered at once as any other
article of commerce. as something
that is to be put up on the auction
block. to be knocked down to the
highest bidder
The voice of a singer. then, is worth
only what a manager or an operate
impresario can use it for and many
other things besides vocal color go to
make up its value to such an entire
preneur One of these is personality
nay. it is the chief factor. Phrasing
Interpretation, dramatic power all
these may be included in the term
personality There is, indeed, one
chief asset Of the singer: it is her
personality, her soul voice. If it be
charming and she have an organ OF
distinction and compass she can con-
quer the world The musician agreed
with me in this.
The triumph of an artist in another
field-the dramatic-suggeste the
question in the discussion Of my
friend and myself. This was the APP
pearance Of Miss Annie Russell in
that product of wit and genius, THE
School for Scandal" No actress is
more welcome in Newark than Annie
Russell and the perfection of her art,
the genuineness of her histrioniC
efforts have been again and again &C
knowledged. But there was one Incl
dent in the production on Monday
night which the so-called critics, pur-
blind or ignorant and bound down by
ridiculous phraseology, would not
even allow themselves to notice.
sides the excellence of the acting the
grace of the actress, the perfection of
the work of the cast to enchain the
attention. There was something more
worthy of notice than the care with
which the stage setting was designed
and carried out, And this was the
personality of the star. the thing
which would have stamped her value
in the eyes of manager.
In the course of the play an adj
mirer sent in some lovely roses. AS
the bearer carried them down the
aisle their beauty caught the eye OF
the actress. She raised her hands
almost in duplication, as if to arrest
the descent Of the curtain, her face
glowing with pleasure, all her tenn
permanent, her personality, manifest
| In her gesture and her eyes. 1t was
like the fiuttering bird in his cage
eager for the bit of green or the cube
of sugar which his master holds Out
to him.
The spontaneity, the grace. the elar
of the movement indicated the delight
of both the woman and the actress al
the recognition of her art. The audi
ence proved its appreciation by its
need of applause
| And when the singer can boast of g
! personality like that of the actress
! have named then she may count or
having the chief asset of a cantatrice
But. alas! in the 80, 1000, 900 of, Ameri-
can people there are. perhaps not ter
singers who can claim a personality
which would place them in the ranl
of the supreme divas of the world.