Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking P!iladelphons Subjects They
KnOU Best

of the concert work are now in English and
very few of the foreign singers ever acquire
sufficient command of the language to make
them formidable rivals in these great fields
ut Is true that some of the most distin-
guishrd Of the opera singers occasionally give
reciialS, but there are not many of these
because of the linguistic limitations. Then,
too. the opera Is the national form of musical
expression Of most of the foreign born sing
crs, and they do not find the atmosphere Of
III" orht0rio or the recital congcnial
The Pacific Coast has become very dis
Ccrimnntlng musicaliy. ] returned recently
from participation in the great open air
presentation of opera in Los Angeles, and
It was received with the utmost enthusiasm
by an Immense crowd of people. 1t was an
excel lent performance artiSically and III.
people Of that city have marvellous gift
OF nature III the way Of III" acoustics of the
0pen-air auditorium. which is perhaps the
iinost in the world
Opera in English
tink that there are great possibilities
IN tn" future for opera in English, but from
What nave observed the American people
40 not seem to be inclined to give II the
practical support which it deserves to re-
"clVe. 1t is an admitted fact that opera can
never he presented at theatre prices the cost
OF giving 1t Is too great. But the uoint il
thnt the persons who ought to go to hear it
Wi! not pay tho necessary prices for opera
in English, although they will pay Willingly
enough for opera which the great maiority
OF them cannot understand
There is plan now on foot in the Wosr
ana southwest which seems to me to offer
very exceptional opportunities This il the
formation of local opera communicating il
the chorus. the orchestra and some of the
sna Her of the roles with the scenery for tho
various operas to b" owned by the theatrical
Jrn n""s' ~ "hlch III" opera is TO be given
t"Ur singers, but if they are they must ,e
very. good ones. Then all that is necessary
10 give opera is to bring the principoIs md
the conductor and have n rehearsal ur two
IN" advantages Of this plan are evident
s', gu VI t''r !ihln"nS" cost Of transportation Of
scenery orchestra and chorus would be- saved
ana N" orchestra and the chorus wouLl hovo
to b" paid only for their rchcnrsals nnJ tbo
performance. Under this plan il II work,
ont op"ra OF high grade could he civnn
at IL traction of its present cost and tLa
element or local pride would doubtless %
far toward its support. 81
American Voices Best
hnt one of the chief reasons WHY tho
american singer iS now coming to tho nnyi
,t ,to" 10 winch Il" is justly entitled is because
the American voices are the most henutif,,I
IN tn" world. This is especially tho naoa
WIN the women'S voices 4 famous Itolinn
conductor Of opera told me Years ago in it"iv
mat IA" American female voice had no riya,
III ,nr world for sheer beauty and freshness
ana mat is more than ever true today.
-, walter DnmrOsch also once said n mn
INA, mere w"r" 50 many beautiful voices in
america thnt II he were twenty ypars ynrnga,
he would like to start an oner, rn,nnnnr "Snu
with nothing but American voices riah,
ACROSS 'ie street from u certain romnms
operate institution and put it our Of hmsi'
GRAN, An%ri%a rm;a mas also irs full share of the
u" longer necessary for tho gifted vn,,n"
american singer to so abroad to loorn III
ne ever has TO know TO become IN orii., az nf
th" first rank When the American nnhIi'. m T'
i"ai.%G' ,.>'n clearly what it has At home, both
~ voices ana in instructors. tho Amoricom
singer will come fully into his own, - Il"