The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-24
MISS EGERTER CHATS ENTERTAININGLY ABOUT OPERA AND SONG WRITERS AND
 HER STUDIES ABROAD WITH D'A UBIGNE

TT is always a pleasure to record the l success of an American girl, espe-
 A cially in the field of music, and 1t is
 a double pleasure to record the fact that American girls succeed not only in their own country but take a splendid stand
 abroad which is the case with many of our modern singers-Mary Garden, Ger aldine Farrar and Felice Lyne-three of
 the many who have reaped laurels on
 the other side, while many of our con- cert singers, including Christine Miller and others. are equally well regarded.
 Miss Eva Egerter is a very charming young woman who calls New York home when it comes to musical matters, while Pittsburg she claims as her home the rest of the time; for the present she is a very charming visitor to Birmingham,
 where she will delight music lovers with her beautiful voice this evening in joint l recital at the Cable hall with Birming-
 hams accomplished pianiste, Mrs. Will
 liam Gussen.
 Birmingham is just a pause; you might
 say, a comma, in Miss Egerter's busy life this season, as by the oldest sort of CO.,
 incidence she happened to remain here
 long enough for a recital.
 Tt came about in this way" she was saying yesterday in her bright, chatty way. My manager, MT. J. Sanford Cor don, booked me on my present concert tour for a number of engagements near Birmingham. so, in making this city my headquarters, had the pleasure of meet ing Mrs, Gussen. found her to be such a charming woman and such an excel lent musician, that we at once formed quite friendship and decided to use our talent jointly in a recital during my brief stay here
 T practically never have had but two teachers in my life," Miss Egerter con- tinued, "one being James Stephen Mar tin of Pittsburg and the other l.. dAu- bigne of Paris. had the most ideal two years in Paris that a girl ever had. l lived in Monsieur dAubigne's villa at Sevres-you know where the china is made-With 20 other students and we l gathered all the musical atmosphere un- der the most ideal conditions. We had our lessons right at the villa, although | Monsieur d'Aubigne had his studio in i Paris also, where he had large classes. | He is considered one of the best teachers l In Paris and I was told by Mir. Martin | to go to him. I went to stay six months | and remained two years"
 Were you preparing for the operatic | stage or concert?" I asked.
 T had practically signed with MT. | Henry Russell of the Boston opera" said | Miss Egerter, when the war broke out. l Later the Boston opera was united with 1 the Pavlowa Ballet Russo and MT. Rab- 1noff became director. Of course, I was disappointed; but really it did not amount l to very much because I like concertizing even better than opera. Of course. it is | always much easier to get desirable con- cert engagements after one has had ex- perience in opera, but have not suffered from the lack of operatic experience"
 As matter of fact, I enjoy singing the great arias from the operas on my l concert programme so much that the songs become secondary, but the public | makes distinct demand for songs and of course acquiesce,' Miss Egerter said |
 Do you enjoy singing after the mod ernists and who are your favorite com posers?" I inquired
 'I include some of MT. Frank La Forge's compositions on my programme" | was the reply. 'I have coached with MT. LaForge and I appreciate his ability and his worth. I consider him one of the | most beautiful accompanists I've ever heard. He, like Toscanini, you know, never uses a score. He told me on one | occasion that his repertoire includes over | 1S0 songs that l@e plays from memory also enjoy many of Rogers compositions. Love Has Wings and The Star are two
 
 Afraid?" assisted by their mother, did work bordering on the professional, and their number was one of the pleasing hits of the evening.
 The evening was concluded with '"The Backward Child" in which little Miss Myrtis Simpson took the lead, assisted by Miss Rosamond Hill, as the governess. Little Miss Simpsons work has been watched with interest by her friends but l they were unprepared for the display of histrionic talent that characterized her. performance of Monday evening. Miss Joy Smith of Bessemer, aged 4 years, made a decided hit in her song, "Cry Baby in the Moon.'
 The poses by some of the senior pupils | added much to the enjoyment of the