The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-22

s.il, :tS os
..a, ... ii u!li have the
chance t1 m.!,r ;uur debut without
humiliation 81 paving large sums tc
INSCRIPTIONS mptc.sarios
The prize oiicr also Will result In
bcttcring the condition OF the local
opcratic market. and vii, mark an
end to the era of iicccinG unsuspect"
ing Young American artists. In the
future the owners OF good voices Will
not he Obliged t. fight to have their
merits recognized by unprcjudiccd mi.
dienccS.
Notwithstanding tho Sencral belief
tina, italy is land in which young
singers can start on the road to fame
with comparative facility. in reality
tho Italian theatres seldom open their
doors To beginners. and then only to
those Who ave furnished with tue oest
roconm cndaiions.
sine. Ad.lira Patti and other con-
ton,poralr, artists established I'm imper
ishable reputation for Italian vocal
teachers students steadily have hocked
here from every country with tho OK
notation I'll speedy training. to be
followed Us u career leading to wealth
aud fame. While II Is extremely DIM
cul, To eay how MANY OF those who
come rinal,v achieve success. yet II Is
mn established fact that every year n
large majority OF these students re-
turn 10 their homes disappointed and
0isheartcncd.
rhtv fall through no fault OF their
OK, :tnd they study hard and nrc high
iy encouraged by their persuasive
teachers. but VIXEN the time for
DEBUT comes they are unabl" Ia pay
the huge fee demanded Ivy the impress
sario. owing to the exhaustion of their
resources during the long years of
tuition.
When Mrs Mccormick visited Parma
last year, - the guest OF Conductor
,,aup.iiiili, on the occasion OF the
Verdi centennial celebration. she first
conceived the idea ot establishing the
lriyc. Siuuor Gampaniui thcrupon told
h,-. - III. many American Girls who
had applied t. hin. for letters of intro
ductiou Ia the two publishing houses
for Tire purpose II having their voices
heard. with 4 view OF a debut on the
profcs s!oaal stage. IL added that he
WAS powcrlcss to hold all, and suS-
gcstcd that practical means might be
devised To enable American girls to
receive i verdict on their voices from
an unprciudiccd audience, instead of
some unscrupulous teacher In league
with u dishonest impressario.
~ tho time. according TO the mes
sage from Parma. Mrs. Mccormick
said nothing. except that she would
talk the matter over with her hhs-
band Ill Chicago Curing the operate
season. adding that she certainly
would like to do omething for those
deserving Of assistance.
The news Of the establishment Of
the prize was received IN Parit;, some
days ago Sirnor campaniui. In Il let
ter from Philadelphia, informed Pro-
fossor Xuclli director Of the local con-
scrNatory If music. OF the fund. TO he
called the Edith Mccormick prize for
Tive encouragement OF young musicians.
by the terms OF the gift, the fund
Will hc administered 10y committee
selected from among the conservatory
professors. These professors. besides
examining tho new opera, also will
hear tho voices OF all local students
WHO apply.
Permission for q debut later will he
free. Signor Cnmpanini
VIII dcfrav tho expenses of those
chosen to sing. All the new operas are
TO he produced In the Parma Theatre,
and each will be sung several even
ings at popular prices