The evening world., 1921-03-24

have heard Gigli are raving over the
taste and discretion with which he
produces his voice and the resultant
sweetness and quality of its tones.
And yet Gigli feels that he must
train down. that he needs q mar
rover waist line and smaller calves.
lie says so himself!
Gigli doesn't speak much English.
as he has only been in this coun-
try since last November but with
the aid of two interpreters and a
secretary we managed to talk very
well.
He was much interested when
told him how Charles Hnckett had
said that legs and voice shared fifty
fifty in an opera singers life. And
then followed a description of how
Hackett had fattened his drum
sticks and to-day boasts of the
handsomest pair of masculine legs
in the operatic world.
.Gigli sat in his apartment at No.
49S West End Avenue and listened
intently to the story, then hin eyes
snapped with enthusiasm while he
spoke in Italian quickly to his in
terpreter
Tell madam" he said, that I am
training every day An opera singer
must keep down and 1 have a long
way to go yet. have lost Is pounds
since last November. Every day l
go to gymnasium on 51st Street
and take exercise"
Then a large crossbar, all rugged
out with straps, was brought in, and
GigH showed how he exercised his
arms, holding them up to a certain
number Of counts every morning be-
fore breakfast
mo, l do not diet much" he re-
piled to my query as to whether he
avoided starchy foods and sweets. 'T
never eat two plates of spaghetti be-
cause take large enough one in the
beginning! ] don't walk much lust
now. | use my limousine too much,
know, but when go to the country
shall walk miles-perhaps ten
every morning. If l can lose eight
cen pounds in the city taking exercise
Indoors, who can tell what wonders
l can accomplish in the country?"
You believe that an opera singer
who plays lOve roles needs to he
slender7" asked.
Just round, neither slim nor
heshy" was the quick reply. an italy
We consider the voice, in France and
America the figure counts. That Is
why I am reducing"
~ SHlS' uOlu IdSl 10 your hearts.
GiFli, however, though Just thirty.
is benedict. He married a society
girl in Rome five years ago and has
two children But his career like
many opera singers, was not a smooth
one, and III he had not been most per
sistent in his desire to enter grand
opera he might hn to-day jllst a Door
woTF1ingman in Italy.
MY father was the foreman OF a
Shoe factory" he told me, "and
naturally wanted me to go into the
factory. But I had always loved to
sing. At sixteen l left my home at
Recanati. taking just enough money
which my father had given me TO get
to Rome. There obtained work as a
clerk in a drug store and at night I
studied music and singing t studio.
Things were cheaper in those DAYS
and saved every cent I earned dur
ing the day At last 1 saved enough
money to study at the famous Schola
Cantorum of the Sistine Chapel at
Rome and later studied in Rome with
Maestro Enrico Rosati"
To-day Gigli ranks high among the
worlds great tenors. He has made a
long list of triumphs since those
early days at Rome, and while his
name Is new to America he has at
tracted much attention in Italy,
Monte Carlo and in South America
He sings EMO in "Gioconda," Faust
in "Mefstofele." Mario in "Tosca,"
Chenier in ANDRE Chenier'' and the
Duke in "Rigoletto."
Glgli has never played Romeo.
When I asked him If he would include
that in his repertoire he smiled and
replied:
wait until 1 train down this sum-
mer!"