New-York tribune., 1921-05-15

Young America
Has Chance i'm
Merry Widow
cal. Savage VIII Not Look
FOR Voices i'm Europe;
Casting rs :, Process

ubere are our young American sing
,v.s When Henry W. Savage went
.,road last week, he aeft the engaging
~. east for "Ths Merry Widow" in the
s.nds of John Mckee, his general stage
.,r.seor. and George Marion, whe-
...ges the original production of tha
...,stta and will also stage the re-
..rs, The new s'Merry Widow" is
..Aesuled for early fall presentation
!, Broadway, with scenes by Joseph
Tv,san. costumes by Peggy Hoyt and =
..ors incorporating Franz Lehar's ad
s;s;onaI and ssflnishing touches during
.hs fourteen years since his score Wa
srst sung, under Mr.. Savage's sponsor
AIN. a. the New Amsterdam Theater.
n ia principally to confer with
cshsr that Mr.. Savage planned his
gurOpean trip, for if possible he hopes
a tempt the composer to come to New
york for the premiere of the new
susrrv Widow" Meantime, upot
uss.rs. Marion and Mckee devolves
u, responsibility OF finding singer,
for the principal roles and ensemble of
sss wWidow.n IL am not locking fef
yoicss in Europe" announced Mr.. Say
age on the eve of his departure aTh1
hsst singers are In our own country
snd YOU can find them among our own
.oune people. Every time have been
q, Paris, where thousands OF voca
stpdents from all parts of the globe
ara studying, have noted the natural
sunsriority Of the American voice"
However, comments Mckee upon
these praises, our own young peop.e
so not seem to appreciate this natura
superiority. That is--where are Ct
voices? "Mr. Marion and have be.
tryins out singers for month"
norss Mckee, "and of 1000 voices
sight really thrilled US with their gu
ty. tone and volume. Yet, on the 9th
hand, | think 500 of these voices We
potsntially good. Their owners ho
neglected them, that is all. After
wear or two of study the stern regin
Of the singers life began to pail.
New York 1t is hard to lead student
life, with no late parties, no cigarettes
but instead a simple normal routine.
With increasing hours of vocal prac-
tise. This schedule sounds dull, in
New York, doesn't it? smiled Mckee.
"Yet foreign artists, with perhaps
not half the natural talent to begin
with, are content with this existence
year after year. Often it takes them
half lifetime to arrive While the
young American singer who can find
quick fame and fortune, too, in light
opera or musical comedy let's his voice
90 to absolute ruin in five years.
"Still, as Mr.. Savage maintains" ad-
mits Mckee, "we have the voices here.
suppose Mr.. Savage is as experienced
with voices as any living impresario
outside Of grand opera. For thirty
years he has been q student of voices
for grand opera, light opera and musi-
cal comedy. He has travelled TO the
far parts of the earth to hear singers.
believe he would go to China if his
agents reported a find with sufficient
enthusiasm"
In his grand opera productions, as
McKee recalls, Mr.. Savage has secured
Europe for good voices and has dis
covered and developed not one but
hundreds Of foreign artists. NOW,
however, repeats Mckee, "his ambition
Is to develop American talent. The
music Of The Merry Widow Is only q
step below grand opera. Some of the
greatest opera stars of history have
been tempted by the score of the Widow
for instance, Adelina Patti. What
We want are the young, potential Pat
tbs Of America for the new Merry
Widow and not for this production
alone, but for other operas to which
Ar. Savage has already secured the
rights and which will be announced and
staged as soon as we get perfect as-
serblage of voices.
The ambitious young singer who
enters one Of these operatic COM
paniss.1 promises this stage director,
whether In principal role or as q
member OF the ensemble, will fnd Mr..
savage eager to help him or her to
lame as well as to fortune. Given a
good singing voice, we will provide
instructors in diction, dancing and
stage technique. Of course, the appli-
can't must have youth and charm-or
saat Is referred 80 as good stage
personality
Our principal need is for lyric and
ffamatic sopranos" explains Mckee.
hcwever, at this moment not one
'oie In the Widow has been really
sssigned, and we are eager to hear
seoe voices Of all registers. Artists
sno quality for principal roles. even
saough unknown, can write their own
aeset as to salary. It sourds like a
aoaaerfui chance, doesn't it?' sighed
mckee. "And 1t Is. But where, oh
Naefe, are the American girls and boys
sao have youth, charm and glorious
vciees?'
Jewish Arr Tha.snu -.