Vocal Mastery

PERSEVERANC

etfulness of her naturalistic interpretation, make every r?le notable. Her voice is a rich, powerful soprano, vibrantly sweet when at its softest-like a rushing torrent of passion in intense moments. At such moments the listener is impressed with the belief that power and depth of tone are limitless; that the singer

a R

DONNA

ed of such an impression when face to face with the artist. One would then meet a slender, graceful young woman, of gentle presence and with the simplest manners in the world. The dark, liquid eyes look at one with frankness and s

der; her manner was kind and gracious, and we were soon seated in her large, comfortable salon, deep in conference. Before we had really begun, the singer's pet dog came bounding t

nging, for what reason I do not know. We singers must think a little of our physical well being, you

until I began to travel. I now make my home in Naples. My teacher there was Madame Marchesio, who was a remarkable singer, musician and teacher-all three. Even when she reached the advanced age of eighty, she

INGER

ocal training and all the other subjects that go with it. A man in business gives his day, or the most of it, to his

for then I have the time and the quiet. That is what the singer needs-quiet. I always return to Naples for the vacation, unless I

L TR

eginning softly, swelling to loud then gradually diminishing to soft, are part of the daily régime. One cannot omit these things if one would always keep in condition and readiness. W

E V

ten years to accomplish. But this is not too much time to give, if one wishes to be thoroughly prepared to sing all styles of music. In former days, when singers realized the necessity of being prepared in this way, there existed I might say-one

URA AND

e smaller opera houses of Italy, a soprano, if thus trained, can sing Luc

ces have not so much opportunity at the present time, unless they are quite out of the ordinary. And yet, for me, a singer who has mastery of the beautiful art of bel canto, is a great joy. Galli-Curci's art is the highest I know of. For

LD TO DISC

like singing is a long and arduous task. If the work seems too difficult at times, do not give up or say 'I cannot.' I

CIAN

h to indicate the bigness of the subject. "Yes, there is the piano, for instance; the singer is much handicapped without a knowledge of that instrument

h your own, though that language must be perf

several languages?" q

or I am Russian; then French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Rou

PAT

nly know a part-a little of all they ought to know. With a longer time, conscientiously used, they would be far better equipped. The singer who spends nine or ten years in preparation, who is trained to sing florid parts as well as those which a

expected. So many unforeseen occurrences may interfere, which the audience can never know or consider. One may not be exactly in the mood, or in the best of voice; the house may not be a congenial space

L MA

he two and a half octaves of my voice, can make each tone with pure quality and perfect evenness in the different degrees of lou

find expression. In order to interpret adequately one ought to possess a perfect instrument, perfectly trained. When

may be carried to the youn

quickly accomplished; it is not the work of weeks and months, but of years of consistent, constant effort. It cannot be