The New York herald., 1921-08-03
CARUSOS HISTORIC
PLACE IS ASSURED
Ranks With Crivelli, Rubini
and Mari0-NO One Living
His Equal.
HIS TECHNIC FLAWLESS
Probable Changes in Roles at
Metropolitan Will Satisfy
Public Demands.
BY w. J. HENDERSON.

Enrico Caruso will be accorded q
place in the list of the great tenors OF
operatic history. He will be mentioned
In the future as Crivelli. Rubini and
Mario are now. His voice was origi-
nally purely lyric. smooth, mellow
sonorous but not heavy voice, but be-
yond all question the most beautiful
tenor heard by any living operagoer.
His early successes in New York were
in lyric roles in such operas as La
Boheme," "Tosca," "L'Elisir d'Amore,'
La Gioconda.' with occasional excur-
sions into the more dramatic realms
oc aida" In those days his voice
had the charm of a velvety mellow
ness coupled with richness and sus-
tained equality quite Incompatible.
When the years have made the per-
spective clearer the most sensitive
among music lovers will recall his de-
livery of the great arias Cielos Mar
and Furtiva Lagrima as the loftiest
flights of his lyric genius. His ambi-
| ton, however. was TO shine In more
heroic parts and in the course of n
few years he developed that powerful
medium register which he used with
such brilliant declamatory effect in
Samson and Della" and La Juive"
and lie Prophete" In doing this he
sacrificed something of the transparent
purity of tone which was one of the
most beautiful traits OF his earlier
singing. He acquired a new manner
OF attack, more vigorous and explo-
sive, but lost nothing OF the pealing
brilliancy of his high tones. Some
times. too. he was impelled. IL not COM
peled.. to undertake parts foreign TO
his gifts and methods, but to such
parts he gave a devotion and an I'M
selfish artistic effort which should
never be forgotten Let those who
think OF Caruso as a victor in easy
triumphs recall his achievement in
Charpentiers Julien"
The famous tenors voice was not un-
usual In range 1t extended through the
typical two octaves from c to & and In
his earlier days was almost perfectly
equalized,. but in recent years there ap-
peared a marked difference between the
upper and lower octaves. The character
OF this unique voice was due partly 10
n perfect balance of the vocal muscles
given by nature and largely to n technic
which was admirable In its ense and
freedom. Caruso had also a remarkable
lung capacity. excellently controlled
this enabled him TO sing extraordinary
long phrases with fine sustaining power
No other tenor remembered by living
operagoers had so beautiful voice.
No other had better technic. But In
range OF conception. in ability to drama
tize ideas and emotions with the voice,
In power to give interpretations COM
plete Illusion. some others excelled him
In sincerity. In fervor. In devotion 70
his art, he was the peer OF any opera
singer In history His growth In dra-
matte skill was observed with deep in
terest by all music lovers in the years
OF his New York activities. He was an
Indifferent actor and a supreme singer
when he came here. He finished Ills
career n Ginger less iawless. but an
operatic interpreter who commanded the
respect and sympathy Of the sevcrest
critics even when they could not credit
him with triumphant success.
AT this moment there Is no one who