Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
HENRI SCOTT
On the American Singers Future

FTllE future of the American singer is a
L bright one. If the signs of the present
mean anything. says Henri Scott. baSso. and
this now applies to all the forms of the vocal
art
within the lasr ten or twelve years.
said Mr.. Scott. there has been decided
reaction in favor of the American singer on
the part of the public, and this feeling is
constantly growing. AS n result the Amerl-
reception than they formerly did. although
] might say that this feeling extends to all
branches Of the art.
Before that time everything in the music
line had to be foreign 10 get across with
our own people, if il had the hallmark of
Europe it did not matter materially what the
merit Of the performanr" wa$--the nam" was
sufficient. Now all this is different, and the
American public is beginning to differcntiatt
strongly between foreign name and real
merit.
Better Singers and Better Public
This is due to two things n higher degree
Of musical education on the part of the
public and Il corresponding increase in the
merit of the American singers. 1t is really
astonishing how the knowledge and the In
terest in music have grown in this country
In the last two decades. We have practically
reached the point where it is not wise for
n singer Of reputation to put what we call n
light number on the recital programs Of
even the smaller towns. And this Is not
aff"rtarion it is because the people OF those
communities have come TO know and ike
III" better music.
"A short time ago | gave n recital in
on" Of the larger cities Of the Middle West;
and whIl" the program was under discussion
the manager sent me program which had
been given there by two singers of national
reputation not long previously and urged me-
not to put such light numbers on nv own
program The people Of the city, he said,
had got til" impression that the re"italist'
were singing down to them from the light
ness Of selections and it had created n bad
impression.
"Thc people OF the Eastern States who
do not get West would be astonshrd by
the musical development Of that section.
Cincinnati is no longer considered West but
the finest and most Impressive musical f"s-
tival in the country Is given in that city.
Americans in Opera
"The outlook for the American singers in
the great opera companies is not only bright.
but they may be said to have arrived In
the greatest opera company in this country
there are now as many singers of American
as there of foreign birth, and this in
| spite of the fact TINT the opera is national
institution in the European countries, while
it cannot be said to have attained tlnt status
| here as yet
Il believe that the star system in opera
! Is passing, as it should. Mr. Gatti of the
Metropollan, mas sara Ihhl MS company
| was through with this system forever, and
| believe that the American public will let
| this work out in spite of the national char,
acteriStic Of wanting always to hear the most
| famous. With the death Of CaruSo the last
| of the transccnd"nt stars passed. and vet
| there has been no diminutiOn of interest in
| opera. From my own personal knowledge
| of the fees received by opera singers in the
| biggest companies, | know that in this re-
spect the American singer is holding his
| own.
| las to dramatic ability in the opera
! this depends upon the individual probably tn
| greater extent than the singing OF course
great voice IS n heaven sent gift but
much can be done vocally with careful train.
ing and very acceptable singer can he
made OF fairly good voice by good teaching
| but the dramatic instinct seems 10 6e
| inbOrn to great extent. OF course, train
, ing can do much, but it can never make n
fine actor out of person who has moi thn
instinct for the work. This naturally nm.
| plies to all persons, whether American n.
foreign born. Some of the American osni
rants for the opera acquire the dramatic
end easily, and others, like many of the for.
eigners, never get 1t to any extent
In Recital and Oratorio
but 1t Is In concert work and in tho
oratprio that the American singer is suprcmc
Foq that the reason Of language is an i'm.
Y porfant one. All oratorio work and most