The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-02-18


of two of our programs, and to show
how much | appreciate the music, |
thought it had been a month, and that
Wednesday was March II instead OF
February Il. Thinking this meeting
was the anniversary of Manuel Gar
cia, | had thought | would remind
our club of this wonderful birthday
| shall send it on and let it be pub
lished, even if it is a month ahead,
for ! know | shall let it 90 if do
not.
Ten years ago, on the 18th of
March, one of the most memorable
birthdays in the history of music
and surgery, too-was celebrated
The subject was NJ. Garcia, "the
teacher of Jenny Lind" March II,
1908 was his one hundredth birth
day. He was received by the king
at buckingham palace, and his mai
esty was absolutely amazed at the
vitality Garcia displayed
Distinctions of every description
were showered upon him, including
the insignia of commander of the
Royal Victorian order (English), the
Great Gold Medal for Science ICON
ferred only upon the most disting-
uished scientists,) grand cross of the
Order of Alfonso MI. (Spanish) Mu
sical and laryngological societies
from all over the world sent repre-
sentatives, and the entire day was
full from start to finish.
1t is unlikely that those present
no, nor ever the world, will ever
hear of similar birthday or hear of
a similar career, for it was Garcia
whose honor it was to know person.
ally more of the great composers,
singers and performers of the world
than it is likely any other musician
will ever know. Manuel Garcia in
his one hundred and second year,
ClOSbu HIS career do a ltuNh'l, +"
singer, an author, and an inventor
That this man had been an import
ant factor in the first real Italian
opera season in New York. and had
been the teacher of Jenny Lind,
should live TO congratulate his friend,
Charles Klein, upon the success of
his play, THE Lion and the Mouse y
seems almost beyond belief.
Both of Garcia's parents were no
ted opera singers. At the time of his
birth Beethoven, Schubert, Auber,
Bishop, Burney, Hyden, Cherubini,
Halevy, and Spohr were all living,
and many of them had yet to become
famous.
Chopin, Schuman, Mendelssohn,
Brahma, were not even born Gounod
Wagner, Verdi, and List were still
schoolboys when Garcia was a full
blown operate baritone.
Manuel Garcia's operate debut was
made in New York City on Nov. 81
1925. His sister Maria Mime. Ma
libran) made her debut at the same
time The opera was III Barbiere,' y
and the company was one which the
elder Garcia had brought to America,
largely through the managerial en-
terprise of Signor Daponte, who had
acquired fame as the librettist Of
Mozart's Don Giovanni" ana "Cosi
Tan Tulle." The performances were
exceedingly successful. Later, the
elder Garcia took his company to
Mexico, and upon the arrival, found
that all the scores had been left be-
hind. Nothing dismayed, the impre-
sario showed his ability by sitting
down and writing out the entire
score of Don Giovanni" from mem
ory. A later investigation showed
that he had made comparatively few
omissions. 1t was customary in
those days for managers to allow
their artists nine days to learn a
two-act opera. For three acts the
time would be increased to twelve
days. That the elder Garcia did not
always allow so much, is borne out
by the statement which Maria NJ.
used to make. On. one occasion her
parent bade her learn role in two
days, and sing it at the opera. 81
cannot do it, Father. You will do
it, my daughter, and if you fail in
any way. | shall really strike you
with my dagger when | am disposed
to kill you on the stage, and he
would have done it, too she would
say $50 | played the part" Work
of this kind proved such a great
strain upon the younger Garcia that
his voice was seriously impaired. He
resolved to devote his time to teach
ing. and after a short time spent as
soldier in the war in Algiers, he re-