Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-02

y
the 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, February 25, 1878,
the son of Marcelius Caruso, a me-
chanic, who detested music but was
persuaded to permit his son, when / 1
years old, to sing in the churches
of his native city. An unpromising
pupil, for three years he studied un-
der Guglielmo Vergine, pledging his
teacher that when ready for a pro-
fesisonal career he should pay him
one-quartcr of his earnings for the
following five years.
He made his debut in az AMIGO
Francesca" at the Nuovo theater,
Naples, in 1894, later toured Italy
and Sicily and was engaged for four
seasons at La Scala, Milan. Suisse
quently he sang in st. Petersburg,
Moscow, Warsaw, Rome, Lisbon, Par
is, London, and leading cities of Ger
man. When he came to the Metro
politan Opera House in New York on
November %, 1903, the critics did
not go into ecstacies over him. One
of them wrote, on the opening night
''Signor Caruso Gas the Duke in
'Rigolettoo has many of the tire
some Italian vocal affections and
when he neglects to cover his tones,
as he always does when he becomes
strenuous, 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, a pair
of stage shoes, a suit of fleshings and
a neckttchief, Some years later
Maurice Grau, the intpresario, neg
otiated with him to sing in America
for $500 a month but thought the
salary excessive and the deal fell
through. Grau was quick to per-
ceive the opportunity he had lost and
finally engaged Caruso for so per-
formances at $1,000 a night. But Mr..
Grau became ill and Caruso, when
singing in Lisbon, received woAl that
again he must abandon his hope of
singing in America. Heinrich Con-
reid, who followed Mr.. Grau at the
metropolitan, >2weyer, cabled Caruso
an offer to cross the Atlantic and his
ambition at last was realized.
Although no official statement of
his earning was ever made public, it
is known that Caruso, at the height
of his Metropolitan career, was re-
ceiving $4,000 for each performance.
On special occasions, such as his 1920
season in Havana, he was paid $t0,-
900 a night.
The list of Italian and French OPP
eras in which the noted tenor's name
figures since he first sang in New
York revealed an amazing versatile
ty. In 16 years he sang no less than
549 times, in one season, 1907-08
making 81 appearances, great test
of endurance for any voice. He was
Gnsparing, if not reckless, of his vo-
cal powers. No grand opera tenor
in America, from the days of
Brignoli, Campanini, Ravelli, TaGlag
no and Jean de Reszke, it is recorded
ever reigned SO long in popular fa
vor
Caruso, after his strenuous opera
seasons, some times had trouble with
his throat, which he usually overcame
with little rest and care and at Ger
tain intervals, rumors that "Caruso
will never sing again were frequent
ly printed. In the winter of 1920,
however, he suffered a serious afflic-
tion when a small blood vessel in his
throat burst while he was singing in
"E 'lisie d'Amore" in the Brooklyn
Academy of Music. Recovered from
this mishap, Caruso was stricken with
pleurisy. After his recovery last
spring he sailed with his family for
Naples, where he died.
During his indisposition, Caruso
was the object of devoted attention
by his wife, formerly Miss Dorothy
Benjamin, of New York, whom he
married in 1918. One child was born
to them. Caruso had son by a.
former wife, singer name Ada Cia-
chetti, with whom he had been as
sociated in opera at Treyiso and Bo-
logna.
Caruso's repertoire in America in
cluded the following: (Italian)
Aida" "Rigoletto," la Boheme,"
"L' Africaine," LA Facorita,' 'La
Somnanbula," LA Traviata,p 'Les
Huguenots," Fedora "Adrienne
Leeouvreur," "Cavallieria Rusti-