Evening star., 1927-09-11


n United States, the Queen of
a Rumania and Charles Angus
"A tus Lindbergh. there is prob
ably no type of personality that is
more full Of real interest for the
American people than an opera
singer, and, preferably, a prima
donna. Therefore, it is easy to
imagine the appeal Of an opportunity
to visit a real, honest-to- goodness
(not retiredD prima donna on vaca-
ton location the movies would
c.t it. The particular prima donna
presenting such an opportunity re-
Gently, was Rosa Ponselle, of Italian
ancestry and American birth and de-
velopment, whose glorious voice has
enchanted thousands at the Metro
politan Opera House and many more
thousands of individuals IN the audi
ences ION tour" and via the radio.
1t was the little Connecticut town OF
Meridian which originally produced
Rosa PonselIe, and there are few who
are not familiar with the general out
line of her struggles and the training
gained first by hard knocks on the
vaudeville stage and later by con-
centrated years of study and concert
appearances which gradually built up
until at the present time she is one
OF the two outstanding sopranos OF
the leading opera company OF the
world and a real prima donna III
every sense of the word.
Therefore, the adventure of mo-
tor trip OF 20 miles across the plumed
shoulders of the AdirondackS to visit
Rosa Ponselle and lunch with her at
Lake Placid was full of pleasure.
Arrived at the beautiful lake, the
visitors were greeted by Romano
Romani. operatic coach and indIvld-
nal extraordinary. He shook back
leonine name of black hair, and the
real sunshine of Italy cleaned in his
welcoming smile as, the party settled,
he slid into his seat behind the wheel
of the little motor launch and the
Nestor II glided into the gray-green
waters with silver-tipped ripples that
f]irted with the drops of shower
falling suddenly from a cloud, brood
ing over the lake in transit from one
mountains peak TO another.
** X
A S the boat slid into the landing
"A smoothly Rosa herself, in SIM
ME sport costume which emphasized
her name i'll its rosy color, a gay
painted scarf flung about her shoui-
ders, hurried down toward the pier
with gay greetings and dimpiihs
smiles. There followed Eibbie Miller,
well known concert manager, and
Miss Prick, Miss Ponselle's petite
and capable secretary. Then, after
short. hospitabIe chat, the charming
hostess was merged again INTO the
earnest, hard-working prllna donna.
The adiectives may sound lnappro-
Driate to those who are not tamilfar
with what goes on behind the scenes
to make real prima donna and,
more important, to keep her one, Dut
these adjectives certainly describe
Rosa Ponselle. - ,,s
"Iunch won't be ready for halt
hour vet. / wonder if you'd mind It
! finish my practice:" she querled,
anxiously. Mind? Everybody was
thrilled to listen. >,
In the rustic studio, with its red
walls and dark timber beams-the
furniture also of heavy dark. WOOD
Offset by colorful rugs and draper
ies-with Signor Roman at the piano,
Rosa Ponselle carried her audience
entirely out of this sphere as she
sang the famous "Casta Diva from
Reilini's opera, Norma, which is to
be her new role this season. ANY
one who has ever heard her IN opera
knows the lusciousness OF her nigh
notes taken pianissimo and beauti-
fully sustained, the dramatic viv:d-
ness OF her rich forte notes and tie
flexible marvels of her cadenzas. L ne
onera impresario chose we'll when he
chose Rosa Ponselle to interpret
"Norma." There is probably no
other soprano in America at TINS
time who could sim the role as she
is promising to sing The premiere
of Ponselle in this role will be pre-
sented some time during the third
week of November, and the indica-
tions are that it will be memorable
occasion. 1t is many years since TINS
opera has been heard at the Metro
politan. Norma is most eXactlng
role. The fair Rosa is putting IN
hours of real labor in her so-called
"vacation" learning the role, and she
smoke with a smile with sigh how
ering over it of her cold hands and
nerve strain in even practicing the
role.
1T is hard said the beautiful
Rosa, with melancholy in her big
brown eyes as she took deep sigh
while her audience came slowly out
of the magic of the aria. Just think,
too, how much harder it is going to
be singing the first night, with all
the confusion OF the glaring lights,
the new scenery and, most OF all, that
great sea of faces out front"
x x
THEN again. after real Italian
! luncheon de luxe and an hour
spent in chat and relaxation. with a
little strategic urging, Rosa Ponselle
entered her workshop studio again