Evening star., 1922-11-12
DAUGHTER REVEALS
SECRET OF GREAT
+ SINGERS FAILURE
By PROSPER BURANELL1.

By PROSPER BURANELLI.
TOR a situation out Of life to be
~ recommended to some one cap-
able Of writing brilliant psyche
logical novel, take this episode OF
music.
There landed In New York the other
day Fritz Reiner, the new conductor OF
the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He
is q Hungarian. young enough to be
Americas youngest imported conductor,
and the owner Of fine European con-
ing wife. who is a singer and the
daughter Of singer. The daughter OF
Etelka Gerster In this 1ies-the story.
The gray veterans Of opera will re-
member Etelka Gerster. Back in the
days Of antiquity she was great figure
for a season at the Academy Of Music.
She had made her debut In Venice un-
der the personal coaching Of Verdi, and,
after q succession Of appearances in the
capitals had conquered Europe with her
coloratura brilliance. Here In America
the dilettanti Of old New York saluted
her as a prodigy Of dorid song who
would walk among the operatic great
Of her generation. A year later. at the
age Of thirty. Etelka Gerster lost her
voice, lost 1t completely and irretriev-
ably. That was one Of the tragedies Of
music in those years. Loss Of voice to
q singer Is the uttermost of calamities.
but loss Of voice to one in the first sun
light of great success-the musical folk
OF the world understood and pitied.
But it was to me- Mrs. Reiner said.
''that my mothers voice brought the
most singular disaster
We talked over luncheon at 39th
street meeting place for musicians. Mrs.
Eeiner had straight, plumb features and
her eyes were blue. Her English was
slow and halting. but expressive. While
we talked tho conductor devoted himself
to plate Of macaroni.
y -
Nl continued. was the first thing
I remember. Our home life was happy.
My father came from an old family Of
Bologna. He had quarreled with his
conservative father over allegiance to
the Pope or to the Young Italian move
ment then in ferment and, cut off from
hereditary wealth, had turned to va
ried occupations. He had become an
tmpresario Of opera, and had discovered
and exploited the talent of my mother.
He had married her. although much
older than she, because her mother. who
had chaperoned her. had grown weary
Of endless travel with the opera troupe.
and wanted to be rid Of her charge
'On a tour In America my father had
met President Garfield. who out of
friendship and esteem had made him
American consul to Bologna During my
childhood my father had retired from
opera and devoted himself to his con-
sulship and we lived in state Of dig
nifty and tranquility. But always there
hung the regret Of my. mothers lost
voice. Little was said about it, as
though 1t were some terrible, forbidden
theme. I understood 1t dimly at first,
but 1t became clearer as I grew older,
though always there was great mys-
terry in it. Magnified by the fancies Of
childhood and by the peculiar tempera-
Iaent Of musical folk. the disaster that
had befallen my mother walked among
US like specter.
''One day. when I was twelve years
Old. governess grew angry with me.
Shs, scolded furiously. Finally she
screamed at me that l was a child of
had brought evil and mischance. She
walled that was the reason my mother
had lost her voice. 1t was my birth!
1T was true. I inquired Of others
and they confirmed the governess'
tale. My mother had had two chill
dren before me. but, with me, some
complication Of maladies had beset
her in her weakness, and when she
arose her voice had gone. In her pas
sion Of regret she had conceived for
mo a curious tenderness and had de-
termined that should not know that
had brought misfortune to her. Now
this cruel revelation cast me into the
depths Of childish grief
She saw how I brooded. and under
stood that 1 knew. She gave me all
kindness. But I did not speak, nor
did she. Only glances passed between
us. glances Of mute sympathy. We
companions, and still never q word.
The years went by. and tho silence
between US was not broken"
Certainly this was a situation Of
subtle values, this fantastic silence
over q theme that had been exag-
gerated by brooding introspections.
The climax came when the daughter
herself turned to singing
n ~ mother had me take up vocal
lVl studies" Mrs. Reiner related.
Il tried to guess the dreamy thoughts
that moved her. She wanted me to
continue the career that through me
she had been forced to renounce,
wanted to see mo surrounded by the
Eloriss that had snatched from her.
She gave mo lessons and directed all
st my practice, serving me with q
passionate devotion that moved me
almost unbearably. Often as she sat
at tho plano. playing while I sang, I
saw that she was tempted to tell me
what she felt and I. too. could scarcely
preserve tho silence. But tho wall
between US remained. 1t remained
after had begun concert singing.
The only revelations were my mothers
eager prophecies Of the heights to which
I would climb. Then she died. Even
in her last days nothing moro passed