The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-08-02

WAS PCltpi tIlNNs
Enrico Caruso, Tor more than 25
years Il celebrity In the word OF song,
the tenor with the golden voice idol
lied by millions in America and abroad
had an artistic career as we'll known
as that OF any famous statesman or
military leader. He was born III
Naples Italy, February 25, 1873. the
son of Marcellius Caruso, mechanic,
who detested muse but was persuaded
to permit his son, when IL years old,
To sing In the churches OF his native
cly. An unpronnsing pupil, for three
Years he studied tuider Guglielmo Yer
4 ne, pledging hi, teacher that when
ready ior professional career he
should pay Ii m one quarter OF his ealn-
ings Tor the 10 loving rive years.
He made his debut in II AMIGO
Francesca" at. the Nnoyo .Theater, in
Naples, In 1894, later toured Italy and
Sicily, and was engaged for four sea
.on, at La Scala. Milan. Subsequent
ly he sang IN ST Petersburg, Moscow,
Warsaw, Rome, Libson, Paris, Lon
don aud leading cities OF Germany.
When he came to the Metropolitan
Opera house in New York on Novem-
ber 23 1903, the critics did not go
into ecstacles over him. One OF them
wrote, on the oiening night: "Signor
Garuo (as. the Duke in Rigoletto) }
has many or the tiresome Italian vocal
affections and when he neglects to
cover his tones, as he Always does
when he becomes strenuous, his voice
becomes pallId.'
IL is interesting to observe that when
Caruso made his debut in Naples he
sang the title role four times for which
lie received 100 francs, u pair of stage
shoes, suit OF feshlngs and a necker-
chief. Some years .ater Maur ce Grau,
the impresario. negotiated with him
to sing in America for $500 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 80
performances at $1,000 night. But
Mr.. Grau became Ill and Caruso. when
singing in Lisbon, received word that
again he mu / abandon his hope of
singing In America Heinrich Con
ried, who followed Mr.. Grau at the
Metropolitan. however, cabled Caruso
an offer to cross the Atlantic, and his
ambition at last was realized.
Although no oific al statement of his
earnings was ever made public, II is
known that Caruso, at the height Of
his Metropolitan career, was receiving
an average OF $4,000 for each perform
ance. On special occasions, such as
his 1920 season in Havana, he was
paid $4,000 night,
The list Of Italian and French op-
eras In which the noted tenor name
figures since he first sang In New York
revealed an amazing versatility. In
g years he sang no ess than 5i9
times, in one season, 1907.0S making
81 appearances great test Of endur.
ance for any voice He was unspair-
ing, II not reckless, of his vocal pow
ers. No grand tenorJn America, from
the days Of Brignoli Campanini, Raw
el Tamagno and Jean de Reszke, It
is recorded, ever reigned so long in
popular favor.
Caruso, after his strenuous opera
seasons, sometimes had trouble with
his throat, which he usually overcame
with little rest and care and at Ger.
t9n intervals rumors that Caruso
will never sing again were frequently
printed In the Winter of 1920, how.
ever, he suffered a serious aft lction
when small b ood vessel in his throat
burst while he was singing in "E'lisie
d Amore" N the Brooklyn Academy
OF Music. Recovered from this mis-
hap. Caruso was stricken with pleur.
isy.
During his indispostion, Caruso was
the object Of devoted attention by his
wife. formerly Mis- Dorothy Benja-
mn, of New York. whom he married