Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-08-02
WORLDS GREATEST
TENOR DIES IN ITALY
Enrico Caruso Passes Away In
Beloved Naples Whittier He
Had Gone For Rest
(By Associated Press)

Sdl uSO, tllC WOllQ ldlIlOuS lt1lOI
died here today.
Caruso until a week ago was
on his way to recovery after a
long illness which began .a Now
York last winter. He was then
at Sorrento, where uncHpec:. eily
he suffered a relapse I'hvs;.sans
ordered his removal TO Naples
He arrived here Sunday n'2ht
and specialists were tailc n
who decided to operare II ne
diately. His condition became
grave yesterday. Peritonitis de
velpped and another operation
was performed. He grew worse
steadily during the night and his
career came to an end this n,rrn-
ing. The first operation here
was for an abscess between The
liver and diaphragm. Then peri
tonitis developed and the secpnt
operation was for that.
Enrico Caruso, for more than
Is years a celebrity in the world
of song, the tenor with the gold
en- voice idolized by millions in
America and abroad, had an artis-
tic career as we'll known as that
of any famous statesman or mill
tary leader. He was born in
Naples, Italy, February q, 1873.
the son of Marcellius Caruso, d
mechanic, who detested music but
was persuaded to permit his son.
when II years old. to sing in the
churches of his native city. Ar;
unpromising pupil, for three
years he studied under Gugliel
mo Vergine, pledging his teacher
that when ready for profession
al career he should pay him one
quarter of his earnings for the
following five years.
He made his debut in "L'Amico
Francesca at the Nuovo Theatre
Naples. in 1894, later toured Italy
anG Sicily and was engaged foi
four seasons at a Scala, Milan
Subsequently he sang in St, Pc
tersburg. Moscow, Warsaw.
RonesI Lisbon, Paris, London and
leading cities Of Germany When
he came to the Met1cpo1itan
Opera in New York, on Novem-
Der q, 1908, the critics did not go
into ecstacies over him. One OF
them wrote, on the opening night
"Signor Caruso Gas the Duke in
RigolettoO has many of the tire
some Italian vocal affectations
and when he neglects to cover his
tones, as he always does when he
becomes strenuous, his voice :3e
comes pallid.' %
1t is interesting to observe tha,
when Caruso made his Naples de-
but he sang the title role four
times for which he received 100
francs, a pair of Stage shoes, a
suit Of heshings and neckerchief.
Some years later Maurice Graz,
the impresario, negotiated with
him to sing III America for 500 a
month but thought the salary ex-
cessive and the deal fell through
Gra., was quick to perceive the
oppoi tunity he had lost and final
ly engaged Caruso for SO per-
formances at $1,000 a night But
Mr.. Grau became i'll and Caruso.
when singing in Lisbon, received
word that again he must abandon
his hope of singing in America.
Heinrich Conried, who followed
Mr.. Grau at the Metropolitan.
cabled Caruso an offer
tc cross the Atlantic and his am
bition at last was realized.
Although no official statement
public, it is known that Caruso, at
the height of his Metropolitan ca
reer, was receiving an average Of
$1,000 for each performance. On
special occasions, such as his
1920 season in Havana, he was
paid $4,000 a night.
The list Of Italian and French
operas in which the noted tenor's
names figures since he first sang
i'll New York revealed an amaz-
ing versatility. In 10 years he
sang no less than $40 times, in
one season, 1oOz-O8, making 81
appearances, a great test of en-
dt.sance for any vc.ce. No grand
opera tenor in America, from the
days of Brignoli, Campanini, Ra-
velli, Tamagno and Jean de Res
IKE, it is recorded, ever reigned
SO long in popular favor.
Caruso, after his strenuous op-
era season, sometimes had trou-
bic with his throat, which he us
nally overcame with a little rest
and care and at certain intervals,
rumors that "Caruso will never
sing again were frequently print
ed. In the winter of 1920, how
ever he suffered a SeriouS af-