The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-02

over the results of which surgeons were
pessimistic. Caruso was extremely
weak yesterday afternoon, the weak
ness of his heart necessitating injec'
ton of camphor every two hours.
Fnrico Caruso, for more than 20
years celebrity in the world of song,
then tenor with "the golden voice
idolized by millions in America and
abroad, had an artistic career as well
known as that of any famous states
man or military leader. He was born
in Naples, Italy, Feb. 25, 1873, the son
of Marcellius Caruso, mechanic, who
detested music but was persuaded to
permit his son, when II years old, to sing
in the churches of his native city. An
unpromising pupil, for three years he
studied under Guglielmo Vergine, pledg-
ing his teacher that when ready for
professional career he should pay him
one quarter of his earnings for the fol-
lowing five years.
He made his debut in IL AMIGO
francesca" at Nuoyo theare, Naples. in
1894, later toured Italy and Sicily and
was engaged for four seasons at La
Scala, Milan. Subsequently he sang in
st. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw,
Rome. Lisbon. Paris, London and lead
ing cities of Germany. When he came
to the Metropolitan opera house in
New York on Nov. %, 1908, the critics
did not 90 into ecstacies over him.
One of them wrote, on the opening
night: "Signor Caruso las the duke in
'Rigoletto') has many of the tiresome
Italian vocal Alterations and when he
neglects to cover his tones, as he al
WAYS does when he becomes strenu
Gus, his voice becomes pallid."
1t is interesting to observe that when
Caruso made his Naples debut he sang
the title role four times for which he
received 100 francs, pair of stage |
shoes, suit of fleshings and necker- |
chief. Some years later Maurice Grau, |
the impresario, negotiated with him to
sing in America for 800 month but /,
thought the salary excessive and the
deal fell through. Grau was quick to
perceive the opportunity he had lost
and finally engaged Caruso for 81 per-
formances at 81 900 a night. But Mr..
Grau became i'll and Caruso, when sing
ing in Lisbon, received word that again
he must abandon his hope of singing
in America. Heinrich Conried, who fol-
lowed Mr.. Grau at the Metropolitan,
however, cabled Caruso an offer to cross
the Atlantic and his ambition at last
was realized.
Although no official statement of his
earnings was ever made public, it is
known that Caruso, at the height of
his Metropolitan career, was receiving
an average of $4,000 for each perform
1920 season in Havana, he was paid
$4,000 a night.
The list of Italian and French operas
In which the noted tenor's name figures
since he first sang in New York re-
cealed an amazing versatility. In 10
years he sang no less than $40 times,
in one season, 1907 -0S, making 81 ap-
great test of endurance for
my voice. He was unsparing if not s
of his vocal powers. No grand {
opera tenor in America. from the days
" Brignoli, Campanini, Ravelli, Ia a
nagno and Jean de Reszke, il is record
ID, ever reigned so long in popular ia |,
ior. Y
Caruso, after his strenuous opera Y
easons, sometimes had trouble with n
lis throat, which he usually overcame h
With a little rest and care and at I
ertain intervals, rumors that "Caniso a
yill never sing again" were frequently
,rinted. In the winter Of 1920, how
ver, he suffered serious affection 9
chen a small blood vessel in his throat
'urst while he was singing in "E1isie
iAmore" in the Brooklyn Academy of Il
iusic. Recovered from this mishsp,
'sruso was stricken with pleurisy. u
During his indisposition, Csruso was e,
he object Of devoted attention by his .
rife. formerly Miss Dorothy Benjamin
{ New York, whom he married in u
als. One child was born to them NJ