Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-03
Career of Cnruso

Enrico Caruso. for more than 25 years a celebrity in the world of song, the tenor with ''the golden voice. idolized by mil lions in America and abroad, had an ar tistic career as well known as that of any famous statesman or military leader. He vas born in Naples, Italy February g, 1873, the soh of Marcelitus Caruso. mechanic, who detested music but was persuaded to permit his son, when Il years old, to sing in the churches of his native city. An unpromising pupil, for three years he studied under Guglielmo Vergine. pledging his teacher that when ready for professional career he should pay him One-quarter of his earnings for the following five years.
 He made his debut in "L Amico Fran cesco55 at the Nuovo Theatre, Naples, in 1894 later toured Italy and Sicily and was later engaged for four seasons at La Scala Milan. Subsequently he sang in St. Petersburg, Moscow, War saw, Rome, Lisbon, Paris, London and l leading cities of Germany. When he cape to the Metropolitan Opera House in | New York on November 22, 1903, the critics did not 20 into ecstacies over him. One of them wrote, on the opening night: Signor Caruso Gas the Duke of 'Rigolet- ! toO has many of the tiresome Italian vocal affectations and when he neglects to cover his tones, as he always does when ne becomes strenuous, his voice becomes pallid."
 It is interesting to observe that when
 Caruso made his Naples debut he sang
 the title role four times for which he re- ceived 1e0 francs, a pair of stage shoes,
 suit of feshings and a neckerchief. Some years later Maurice Grau, the i'm
 pressario negotiated with him to sing in
 America for s7OO a month but thought the salary excessive and the deal fell 1 through. Grau was quick to perceive the 1 opportunity he had lost and finally en-
 gagged Caruso fir 50 performances at s1000 a night. But Mir. Grau became i'll and Caruso when singiug in Lisbon, re- ceived word that again he must abandon his hope of singing in America. Heinrich Conreid, who followed MT. Grau at the Metropolitan, however cttLled Caruso ar offer to cross the Atlantic and his ambi. tion at last was realized.
 Although no official statement of hi.
 earnings was ever made public. it i: q known that Caruso, at the height of hi;
 Metropolitan career, was receiving ar
 average of $3,O00 for each performance
 In special occasions such as his 1s2t i season in Havana, he was paid s10,0o0 z
 night
 The list of French and Italian opera!
 i'll WHICH llle uOtEu l'IlOE HdIl6
 since he sang in New York revealed ar
 no less than 549 times in one season
 1907-9 making 51 ppernce. a great tes
 of endurance for any voice. He wa
 unsparing, if not reckless, of his voca powers. No grand opera tenor iIl Ameri
 ca from the days of Brignoli, Campa
 mini Ravelli, Tamagna and Jean de Res zke, it is recorded, ever reigned so lon:
 in popular favor.
 Caruso after his stl eouous opera sea sons sometimes had trouble with Iii
 threat, which he usually overcame wit a little rest anu care and at certail intervals, rumors that "Caruso will neve sing again" were printed. In the winte of 1920. however, he suffered a seriou affliction when a small blood vessel il
 his throat burst while he was singini
 ''E,lisle d'Amorc" in the Brooklyn Acad
 emy of Music. Recovered from this mis ; hap. Caruso was stricken with pleurisy
 During his indisposition. Caruso wa f the object of devoted attention by hi
 wife. formerly Miss Dorothy Benjamin , of New York. whom he married in 191S , One child was born to them. Caruso ha l a son by former wife a singer name ? Ada Ciachetti. with whom he had bee 1 associated in opera at Treyiso and Bo
 Iogna.
 The famous singer was the guest O s honor at a silver jubilee celebration O ! the 25th anniversary of his operatic de ? but. in November. 1919 at the MetroDol
 itan at which prominent New Yorker
 includingthe mayor and otter official. spoke of his great artistic achievement! He received an illuminated parchmen from 8 families holding boxes in tb ] .SG0o0,000 Golden Horseshoe" a flag fro- the City of New York. several medal ! ~ad numerous gifts from his fellow al ! tists
 ] Mr, and Mrs. Caruso resided in Ne7 , York city during the opera season. The ! had summer home on Long Islan s and another residence Vile ale Panch, I at Florence, Italy.