The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-04-24

outfit Of a nobleman Of the Queen Anne
period, and had not yet worn off the |
naughty manner that he SO cleverly as
sumes IN portraying this character on the |
stage. The visitor felt as if he were in |
truding upon His Lordship," and for a |
moment was hesitatng about how to start |
the conversation. But in moment Mr. |
Schuster relieved me of my embarrass
ment by putting on again his everyday |
oH-stage mien and babe me take d seat.
"'What would YOU want me to tell
YOU he said i'll most pleasant manner |
Any relation to Morgan Schuster, the
late Persian minister of Gnance?" | que
ticd.
A Native of Brattleboro.
q see you want to know my biography.
We'll, then, here it is: I am an American
of German descent, born in Brattlcboro.
Vt. My first musical education / re-
celved at the conservatory in Leipsic. Ger
many. Later studied privately with
Otto Schclpcr, the then famous Leipsic
baritone. On my return TO America |
commenced my professional career at the
metropolitan opera house, New York, un-
der the direction of Anton Seidl During
my two wears engagement at that institu-
ton | had the pleasure Of Singing parts
alongside Of Lili Lehman, Mariana
Brandt, Emil Fischer, Theodore Reich
man, and many other celebrities of that
day
"A change Of policy was brought about
by the directors OF the Mctropolitan, who
voted to substitute Italian repertoire for
German At that time | was offered high
~ encouraging inducements from Gustav
Hlurichs, which prompted me to leave
the metropolitan and to JOIN the Gustav
Hinmchs' company. .
Nv hen ! was associated with the IA
nous Del Pucnte, Albert CULLEN the
ceIebrted tenor who sang with Adeina
Patti on her first American tour, the great
I Campanari, and many other famous sing
crs. After that | sang for seven consccu-
tive Years at the Iivoh opera house, San
Francisco, during which period Tetrazzini
/ became famous there. / then returned to
/ New ork and have been associated with
Mcssrs. AboIn ever since
I The old TiyoH in Frisco" is a fertile
subject for "reminiscences, and Mr. Schus-
! ter talked of them like an old soldier
telling of past campaigns.
/ "One OF the most remarkable incidents
! recall was when am operate company
: touring South America and Mexico was
stranded and left penniless. 1t was
! through this misfortune that Lui~a let
razzini was started on her way to fame
and fortune. When she was presented in
! New York, YOU know, her fame had al
ready been established. San Francisco was
the first city in the United States to rec
ognize her talent. .s
Stranded in Mexico.
1T came about through the cuterpri.
ing ability of a Mr.. Lcahy, a san Fran
cisco manager. In that year Mr. Lcahz
happened to 20 down to Mexico City
where the company / spoke Of was strand
ed. benefit concert was given under
circumstances similar to that one recent
" held IN Denver for the stranded mem
bers Of the Canadian Opera company
Lulsa Ictrazzini was the leading soprano
OF that organization and Giorgio Polacco
the present conductor OF the METROPOLITAN
opera house and likewise OF Coveut Gar
den, was the principal conductor. Mr.
Loahy was 50 tayorably impressed will
! the artists that he immediately decided
to engage the entire company, Whcrcupol
he brought the principals, chorus bale
and orchestra to San Francisco. 1t tool
an outlay of nearly S2J 900 to transpor
the company, scenery and baggage to tina
city from Mexico The new compan
opened at the Tivol opera house, present
ing DonizattI's Lucia di Lammermoo
with Tetrazznj in the title part One q
the unique procedures Of Mr.. Lcahv wa
the doubling of the prices of the Two
opera house, although not Il single men
Der Of this South American Italian opcr
company was known in San Francisc
music lovers. The regular prices Of tn
IIvoll were popular, ranging from >
cents to $50
"On the opening night the house ba
! only fair attendance. Between the act.
n after Ietrazzmi had appeared. the con
ments Of the people who were presen
y were so enthusiastic that the news of til
wonderful singer spread through Frisco
like wildlire The next night the polio
had to be called to handle the crowds tn;
| sWarmed around the opera house, and
| was Impossible TO get within a block
the TlvoH. This was the making of re
razzni- Here is a case where pure mel
| won by itself without pull or even q
/ glaring blast of the press agent
i MIR. Lcahy was we'll rewarded for Ii
| discovery. Out of this one venture
made a fortune Madame Tetrazzl
sang at the TivoI II weeks in successio
packing the house each night Mr. Lcal
Immediately realized the value Of such
wonderful artist, and signed contra
with her whereby he still remains II
manager on all concert tours At t
end Of that season Tctra2zini returned
Italy. After brief stay in her natl
country she went on a tour through Gre
Britain. AT Covent Garden, London, S
also made an overnight triumph. Lat
when she was brought back to the Nj
ropolitan opera house, she took N
York by storm, but she had already
- come established as a world famous co
. ratura soprano.
a Mr.. Schustcr had become SO absorbed
his enthusiastic narration of Tetrazziu
fame that he had almost forgotten Il
in the evening he would have another D
iornmnce. He also suddenly remember
an engagement he had for dinner, 50 Il
the entertaining story he started to
u - l..--.la..a-- Ll...1n.