The New York herald., 1921-08-03
CARUSO,S PLACE ASSURED
IN OPERATIC HALL OF FAME

|, throat, which he usually overcame with
little rest and care. but rumors that
"Caruso will never sing again" were
frequently anoat.
Caruso's repertoire In America in
cluded the following: Gtalian) Aida
"Rtgoletto." la Boheme," "L'Africaine, .
La Favorita,' La Sonnambula." La
Traviata," Les Huguenots." Fedora. -
"Adrienne Lecouvreur." Cavaliers
Rusticana." Il Pegliacci,' 'L'Amore de
Ire Re. "Un Ballo In Maschera," 'I.o-
doletta." Marta" "L'Elisir d'Amore,' -
"Manon Lescaut," "Madama Butterfly .
La Fanciulla del West" Lucia di LAM
mermoor," La Gioconda," III Trova-
tore" don Giovanni" "Germania, y
Iris" 'Lucrezia Borgia." La !Tosca." /"
La Forza del Destino": (French) Les
Pecheurs de Perles," "Armide,'" Faust. +"
Julien" lie Prophetic Carmen" :"
Samson ct Della" and "Manon." One
of the tenor's more recent successes was
in the revival of La Juive" In which
ne presented a character OF great dra-
matlc intensity.
The alteration Of Caruso by the opera
going public was not surpassed by the
worship of any other singer within the
memory of living music lovers Jean
de Reszke alone might dispute with him
the claim to first place, but the admira-
don for the Pole came from different
class Of people and was. for different
qualities. Mr.. de Reszke had not re-
markable voice, Mr.. Caruso, on the
organ OF recent years, and undoubtedly
one Of the greatest In the history OF
vocal art.
1t is also n fact that owing to changes
In the character of the voice. partly un-
preventable and partly obtained through
intentional effort, the public has really
heard two ,Carusos since he made his
debut here on November 90, 1903. AT
that time the tenor was a singer OF
purely lyric type with a smooth. velvety
scale, richie and even voluptuous in quail
ity. but entirely without the burly
weight and volume of later years.
His repertoire then contained some OF
the roles In which he subsequently be-
came famous in this country, namely
Rhddnnes, Canio, Cdparadossi, RodolJo
Alfredo, Ed0ardo and Nemorsno. But
the style was not as it was in the last
few seasons. The record Of his first
Cdnio, as made in this place, said "He
sang the monoioguc at the end OF the
nrst scene very beautifully. Instead OF
tNtti iib ~ W laIAtLSt dS IFlOst OI MS
predecessors have done, he sang II with
tenderness and pathos." The records OF
the time also inform us that Mr.. Caruso
was the best Ed0drdo since Italo Cam
panini.
In tho spring Of 1909. as recently re-
counted in THE NEW YORK HERALD. Mr..
Caruso was in vocal difficulties. After
the performance OF March he was no,
heard for month. and then only once
before the season ended. II was at this
time that notice was here taken OF the
tenor's Intentional alteration of the
character Of his voice. He had conceived
desire to graduate from the ranks OF
lyric tenors and enter those of the tenor
robusti. In order to do this he began
n systematic forcing upward of his
medium register. so that by the end OF
the season he had robbed his voice OF
all the crystalline transparency which Il
originally had. But even In It's altered
state IL was the most brilliant tenor be.
fore the public, and the faults of the
organ itself and of the singers style
We're unnoticed by a public to which
Worship of Caruso had become o habit.
During his last illness Caruso was
the object OF devoted attention by his
wife, who was Miss Dorothy Park
BENJAMIN. daughter of Park Benjamin
noted patent lawyer. or this city
On December Is. 1912, daughter
was born 10 Mr.. and Mrs. Caruso ir
their apartment in the Kniclerbocker
Hotel and was christened Gloria. Dur.
ing the early years OF his artistic caree,
In Italy Caruso married a singer named
Ada Ciachetti, who had been married tc
an Italian physician. She had been as.
sociated with him in opera in Trevisc
and Bologna. Two sons were born q
Caruso and his first wife. They are
Rodolpho Caruso. who. now is about 2.
years old and lives in Italy, and Enricc
Caruso, Jr.. who had his early educa.
tion In England, where he passed hi,
youth. Enrico Caruso. Jr., was brought
70 this country year ago by his father
and IS a student at the Culver Military
Academy. at Culver. Ind. Rodolph,
Caruso served In the Italian army dur
ing the war, although he was much IN
der age when Italy entered the conflict
Enrico Cmuso, Jr,, now is II years old.
Caruso always stood ready to lend hi
vocal gifts In the interest OF charit,
whenever II was possible. His willing
ness 10 help others less fortunate wal
one OF the characteristics OF sympa
thetlc nature that made him UNIVERSAL,
popular. Frequently when II fell 20 hi
lot TO sing on Christmas Eve he woul,
distribute among the members Of IN,
chorus sum OF money about eauivalen
to income he received for the performance
Unlike other opera singers. who's,
natures are made up largely Of tenn
perament. Caruso had a fine sense o
humor which stood him in stead oi
many difficult occasion. This habi
OF looking upon the lighter side OF III
developed In him an. unusual sideligh
as cartoonist. He took delight II
making caricatures OF himself and o
his friends. and he succeeded 80 wei
that In the latter years OF his carec
his fame as cartoonist was almos
second to that as O singer. lie pos
sessed 70 . marked degree the ahilit,
to bring out facial characteristic wit
few deft. grotesque lines. When con
graduated once ON his ability as a car
toonist he replied:
This Is serious with me. When IN,
voice gives out | will be able to MAX
a living as cartoonist. IL there
vacancy in your art Department.