The New York herald., 1921-10-29
Russia's Musical
Spirit Uninlpaired,
Says Chaiapin
Singer Declares His Country's
Art Has Not Jagged Dur
ing Troubles.

Whatever may have happened in
Russia in the last seven years has
| not impaired my country's musical
spirit" said Feodor Ivanovtch Chalia-
pin yesterday. The big Russian basso
who arrived by the Adriatic to sing
to Americans again after an absence
of fourteen years. was found in his
apartment In the Waldorf-Astorla.
You see." he said, as he walked
across the room with strides twice the
length of those of the average man,
II have lost my sea legs and have
gathered my thoughts. / have also had
the opportunity of seeing little Of a
great city that is very. different city
My soul! How you grow--and your in
fluence has grown with you. Many have
come to you from many lands. ! come
from my Russia, my great and hopeful
Russia, with a message that Russia
still possesses her Cod-given charac-
| teristlc-her musical spirit"
At the mention of the political situa-
ton in Russia. he screwed up his ex-
pansive, blonde visage and said: II
have had nothing to do with politics in
my land. l have always been free to
come and go. The Soviet Government
asked me to take charge of the Mary
insky Theatre and the Novodny Dom
in Petrograd, and the Bols Hoy or
Great Theatre in Moscow to thus help
maintain the morale af the people.
This I have done, and will continue
to do when l get back. I have promised
to be back by the end of December.
My permit to leave Russia was made
out on that understanding and. as my
heart is in the work of helping Russia
maintain her old time place in music. I
shall return at that time. unless
May Sing mt Metropolitan.
He stopped at the end Of that sentence
because he saw before him the possi-
bility of his appearance in opera in the
Metropolitan Opera House II he can ex-
tend his stay beyond the last month OF
the year.
He will give his first song recital in
the Manhattan Opera House on the night
OF November 6. He also is booked for a
concert tour during the following six
weeks in the United States and Canada.
Mr.. Gatti-Casazza. general manager OF
hopes negotiations for Chaliapin's ap-
pearance In opera may be successfully
concluded"
The gigantic basso, whose Don Bds-
.silio and whose impressive devil in
Boito's "Mefistofele" still are recalled
clearly by persons whose memories of
opera go back to 1907, would like to
appear at Broadway and Fortieth street
again In those roles. but he wants most
to have New York see and hear him
in the two roles he sings and plays in
Boris Godunoff." In Mussorgski's
opera he appears both as the tragic
czar and the grotesque. drunken monk.
II he can come to terms with the State
Department and keep peace with the
Soviet Government he will be booked by
Mr.. Gatti- -Casazza.
There Is as much and as good music
In Russia to-day as ever there was" he
said. Under the rules of the Soviet
Government certain seats In the opera
houses under my direction in Petrograd
and Moscow are free to the public. At
times there are free performances for
the army, but all who are known to
possess sufficient means to pay must
pay. The art OF music In my land has
not been permitted to lag and I am glad
Of that"
government FOSterlnS MuSucs
He said that artists OF all kinds In
Russia have received special considera-
ton from the revolutionists. and added
that he believed the present Govern
ment was sincerely trying to foster
music in particular.
And are you also Bolshevist?" he
was asked. His reply was that he was
only Bolshevist in so far as he could
commander the best he could find In
musical art in America and place at the
disposal of the Russian people.
Having delivered his message to
Americans from the music lovers of
Russia. he intends to study develop
ment In musical art in this country.
land them" he said. take back to my
Russians the best of your ar. and give
1t to my people,"
Russia may be broken in many ways.
but she has maintained her musical soul
and her musical future Is bright" he
said in conclusion.
His songs at his opening recital on
November 8 will include several Rus
sian compositions that have never been
heard by American concertgoers.