Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-09


job.
We're perpetually curious
about this matter of hidden tai
ent--you know. are there people
who can sing, or dance, or what
not, waiting around To be dis
covered
Well, this year. Detroit Is
going 20 have a light opera sea
son. The stars will be famous
singers. but the choruses, and
some Of the bit parts, will be
filed by what is sometimes
sniffingly called "local talent"
The other day. we met Max
Koenigsberg. the managing di-
rector Of the Civic Light Opera
Association. and asked him
whether il was possible 10 find
really good people for these
roles.
Why. yes. he said, il was en-
tirely possible. He's done IL re-
peatedly.
In fact, that's how he got
into the music business. About
Is years ago, he was promotion
manager for a big department
store in ST. Louis and one of
his Jobs was 10 round up small
bands and singers for a tea
room in the store.
After a time, he noticed that
most of these musicians were
coming back 10 him and asking:
We've worked In the store,
but do you know anywhere else
we can go? We want to keep
2 on doing things"
That was what made Koenlgs-
berg decide TO get into music.
The result was the ST. Louis
Municipal Opera, which for
years now has been famous all
over the country. It's one place
where they've always watched
out for the talented unknown,
the artist with ability who
hasn't been discovered"
Finally last summer, Koenigs-
berg left ST. Louis TO 90 TO
Dallas and attempt a light
opera season, giving melodic
favorites like Chocolate Sol
der" and Babes in Toyland.
The idea went over wonderfully.
and he's going back and do IL
again, next summer.
So, this winter, he Is doing
the same thing in Detroit, and
they'll be auditioning singers
tonight and again Saturday
night at the Masonic Temple.
The opera association gets
applications from stenographers,
housewives, school girls, sing
Mig teachers. young actresses
who are trying 10 get q start
practically anybody.
And they listen 10 everybody
who applies. All they demand Is
that the applicant come sup
piled with one song 10 sing In
English Italian arias not
wanted.
It's astonishing how much
talent is found that way. One
girl from Decatur went TO st.
Louis for an addition, got job
in the chorus. and went on 10
the Metropolitan in New York.
She's in the Met now. Anna
Mary pickey.
Then again there was young
hopeful who, when asked how
long she had been. studying
voice, replied:
well, I haven't studied,
exactly, but I've been prsctic-
ing for two or three weeks
now"
She didn't get in the chorus,
but she got an addition, Just
hike the rest. AS = matter Of
fact, when IL was her turn, she
got her mouth open. but she
was so scared that not a sound
came out
Still another girl Of about rs,
starting her addition. decided
she didn't sound very good,
stopped the acConpaniSt and
said
81 can sing better this way"
Then she took her shoes of
and tried again She wasn't any
better that way. though.
But the ones who really can
do a good natural Job of sing
ing get professional Jobs for the
l0-week season. and some OF
them 60 on 70 New York, even
tually.
There's something pathetic
ally anxious about some OF these
youngsters trying 10 break in
one Detroit laSsie mailed her
application by sirmAil, from
Detroit 10 Detroit. NJ
But it's nice IN know that
some OF these yearntng ones viii
succeed, and Koenigsberg seems
10 get q lot OF satisfaction out
Of Il, too. In fact, one Of the sp-
plicsnts for our season enclosed
newspaper clipping about her
self. Last year, she had gone
clear 10 ~. Louis for an aud