Evening Star Newspaper, November 13, 1921, Page 77

Part 4—6 Pages THE MAKING OF A PRIMA DONNA — — By SOPHIE BRASLAU FIRST STEPS ON ROAD TO OPERATIC FAME ARTICL ¢ months a Chicago 2L o while young to sce me and} en to her sing. | splendid voice, but Wi in of seventeen c: begged me to li me She-had a really there was something about her—per-|down about my ears and shamed me | kaps a touch of indecision—which|bitteriy, ,cigrnally, before the great < her: | artists whose respect and love I had} have you the courage|so much loped to yin, 10 begome u great singe “Courage—wh hard?" sh into that memo! g but is it sol | cred. child's teok me ment in my whole | singer—the hour | had | rd to and dreaded—the| hour of my first rehearsal at the Met- | Topolitan Opera House. in the pre ence of the stars of the compan How 1 thrilled wit as 1 found | wistfui | my to} i st terribie v career as looked for myself among those orld-famous singers! True, | had met artists be- fore. bt that was different. Here I was one of them. not an ouisider met . | through me ran a new supply and ignored at a concert, but another ok L% ncy fEbEly : {eoneen strength and hope. I could hgve artist here to work with them and| . ZABLR {kissed him. That was the typics snigre theiriglony. { Caruso.. helpful, . boyish, supremely It was. from the great of, them! e abie 3 fi'"u““‘ '[‘"“3 i all,.the beloved Buplep use. L opera he stood as the gran % aie; o3 my first- encounter of warmth | ‘ s Erande ang, as ympathetic understanding and heip! came. The rehearsal was beinz ducted by Toscanini in the 1 hearéal room just over the Broadwa: Tebby of the opera,house. Toscanini. himself a master artist, is a_terribly hard task-master. Possessed of the quick Latin mind, his criticisms can; be ax cruel as a whip. { And ‘on this particular m-casiou; thines were not going too well. A{ certuin mighty primua donna was| everinte for rehearsal and had not! vet turned up. Toscanini hates, per haps above all things. lack of pun: tuality in the matter of rehearsals, in which he is quite justified. But he vicked on me to vent his r = * Xk X % QU will do this again ttle re- and right nY Ahis timg. signor shouted in lealian, as [ react 1 end of a bar. 7 * He stopped tiwe glared | at me. ' I could feel the eyes of the| | man. who had pulled my dream castles | over ](h!'uugh the now crowded und inter-| they led. T made for down. my heart broken. where I was going or what T w ing to do. I knew only that I w to get far away from.that terrible them and ran 1 had no idea The _ steps led Straight into the droadway lobby! 1 fled io the far- thest corner of the lobby and putting my head in my hands against the wall, i Lwept Hie o chilat Allat onde T felt a firm haud on my | shoulder and @ soft Italian volee ! whispered in my vu i “You mus’ not mind! He sy that ! to me, o, you understan’t He verra | wil' man sometime—but you mus not mind. None of usx min <1 turned and found the genial, Kind- 1y eyes of Caruso looking into mine. : patted me gently and smile ‘rench e ting to be- over your- | that actually T had been weeping all my own photograph, newly placed there with the other stars! i laughed uproariou That , was something to tell! How Braslau | spilled tears on her own picture! He | put his arm through mine and led ! back to the rehearsal room, ! me ested lobb; * ok ok 2 B were scarcely back in the room before the tardy pfima donna ar- rived.. She greated us all with a lovelg smile, and all of us: returend well as we could except T it a nin ou are late!” he exclaimed She looked ut'him h; tily. 1 am a star!” she retorted, “1 come ' MAGAZINE SECTION - ‘'WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 13, 1921. . i - The Sundlny Sttt things in which I might have enjoyedjclaimed & few excited words to the - HE First of a Series of Complete Articles by a' Member of the Me ‘Opera Company—The Desire to Become a Great Singer—Inspiration From Alma Gluck—Hot Words From a Director at Rehearsal—The Great Caruso’s; Joke—Discovery of the Singer's Power and the Stery of an Enraged Teacher— = 1 | myserr effect that I was big enough to stand s Sophie!” mother would call from |anything and that he should bring it tropolltan the next room, “are you really prac-{on. He said 1 would hear from him ticing or.is that make-believe? soon. With tears blinding my eves “Really, truly practicing!” 1 would |7 made my way to the street, jumped fib gentiy, as 1 swiftly slid a novel|into a taxicab and rushed for hom: 1'was wild to tell my father and mother what had happened. those two of all the persons in the world without whose help and love I could have done nothing. I remember perching on the very edge of the seat as though that might bring me there a litile faster. And I remember that from the musjc rack out of ight and turned from the half-conscious strum- ming which 1 learned to achieve, | | even while reading a book, into the || tormicane of honest to i goodne hteen, things sud- Singing in Five Languages—The First Trial—When the Golden Opportunity Came. I\WWH 1\\ b the cab stopped suddenly and I was n denly 1o happen. My {leacher made me go to Mr. Adams.|thrown in o hezp.onto the floor: Thea ldirector of the us Wolfshon Bu-{] was home! Home and with such Ireau, manager of manv g stare, | nEW a appi an epgagement., 1 'was| = * % diminutive s girlish Jookink a1 the | 308 were i e midst of talking it ine. and 1 suppose my appearance | over wiien: the 1élephone Tang is nothing to starte Mr. Adams into ! 1 ay Mr. Adams: . peet. But he finally con- T oyics Braslan he began, “vou'rs doubt smiling {yeky child—a very lucky child, do the thoughi of anjyoy hea r-0ld contralto who ven-}" My heart beat so loud and so 4pply 1o his venerable and|ipae j tried to hold it stili P bureau for professional{ wpve jus; received wire from rtengagement | Richmond. Va.” he went on. “that I hud chosen to sing the|ypne Louise Homer, who was to sing " from “Carmen.” and into{there at a big festival temorrow every oun myself { uight, is taken il and can't Sing' - Mr. Adums’ son. his They ask me to send a substitute for 6od hebind his fa her: Do you feel equal to it?" | they both Jistened <o attentiv 1 nearly fainted, but 1 didu't. and {1 could have stopped and ki when our talk was over 1 had b ifor being <o kind to me. When T had ordered to Teave on the midnight tr Hinished they looked at h ather for | for Richmond and present myself 14 moment without saying a word. I{(ne festival managers as the sub 1 had failed tute for the famous contralto! hen suddendy young Mr. Ads When [ left for Richmond that night aid to his father: “Well. dad, that's | my thoughts were not on the orde but on the into way urope r the conquering, + single one. And. as I crept of quest itself. for (Pullman berth for the first time in |my life, T was as calm as the very dark porter who showed ne how o me and smiled. began, loo f him 10 ff the funny little ght, 19210 turn on and ¢ ing a of you Another article by u bi Seamd it to] | Mrasiaa — eihe First Public it ARL S o Appearance”—in the Magnzine tund all that it of next Sunday's Star. T seare rd him for fox. 1 ex- S IN THE PARK By Pierre Valdagne. ‘ l(‘uuAl sing 1o more, und sent us | Transia -d From the Fremch by take in life. and it was ‘,\x. Rebours who [~ |away with a thrown kise gloriou | WILLIAM 1. MePHERSON. | had brougitt i to sec {his, nd inepired. Turning, relu i 3 3 e friend of hers.|the instinet of art of the o b 2 - enee by an intimate friend of hers, nstinet of ar ‘. OXNXE rushed into the room DL 2 i tandly, 1o leave, 1 chanced to follow | ¢ P 43 Nater 10 17 ime.d Was Fight . b W she had entercd upon an ex it k - MO | fifrem Zimbalist, whe wa later (o in me 1 ight in the poi with all the impetuosity of | o s i two prominent musieal crities, whom| R * disenss stence ' marry her iscussion. vears and threw 1 |1 knew well by reputation » and was copious| - T8 edl WIEW | cage, prudent and tranquil M. L indings” one of 1} s B e ol W he would dem Ber mOWer'S |y oure g director in an insurance com e n hep praise. My hopes vaulied, | ablaz ¥ temerity. arms pany, had salvaged ev hing—h e, Riman yeice 40|y 04 rensd that thongh kifid be i R g e r jpany, lad salvaged §—he wnes has the art of Gluck | T O ow ot it s 7 ¥ { fortune and her happinesi. For sinc. dgé van work as hard" Jinvariably frank Sines- X “i Wil do What yeu say- no o Mme. Rebours wiped her little|she had married lim. who could main. 5. : . R she -hag. often been swithering!y so.' oo rt.« g0 3¢ boi Foreiiaa tain that she wasn't happy? She hav— It the greatesty RISLini dhei W5 v Tyl gk heea - helpfal) b rt.-somewhat bold. 1|daughter's forghead .o o0, {an enviable establishment, solid con- replicd the other—“there i DM e b Jan afraid. but 1,can sulmit aiso the s« %M%fi“ Tors AT XMON the [ eotiops. and, & perfect husband. So 76 artnearer to.our.siule, o bevi|FLE hell GMCrTRe Kei a up ever tie{ pabkEEEE : peptects i dact!” T o Sluck o one i ¢ miltiont [* “T0 jiE S o seem! “Yes: - 2 Camille and verness came o ek comel 16 one in Bty gitoalrf Shinatly o an Talidn, long ro B, d seem xéd FS. mama * she had first gone upstairs to take sl d ¢ i Jong £ it 8 w there—and Andre and |5t had fr i Sl 16 this' conntess > Gabrlole, BIBCHA, &1 o o i duan. rie. We played ball and tien hob-| Mme. Iiebours liked her very much |7fME-blood Fustied o mny head w8 Iinne mudiclan and, ihe composer of f o 00 ar | deotel. and then o ‘skipyed ‘rope.| Although they had mever exchanged Teard them spealk. Agaid 1.1 many notable 2 ong them the | Order me o ol tried to steal my ball. | I aave | cOnfidences she knew that Mille "l the ferce desive to sinz. ¥ & | cemous . (ke “D¥ine rage, aul trie sy s -] Leger pitled her sometimes for hay- ‘even that very minute and make that £t ramental on with indignatio I would hima jing married a husband so @iven oy 4 CaR g i fuk: PErRMEntR. il w. Hevil i rumbling and also so inexorably per- moving crowd pause -and iixten und “temperament LHOINE Snevir tirn 10 st | i then there . | exalt’ them with my volce! Thenf,q 4% ever the sort “n unre and. i And” thren: there ‘w " asked Mme. Rebours. “how fagain 1 smiled 2t my. folly & i@l g -xonede. . weskit' fo pupii's | LReen - get along today in the fto forget. - | whims, and he is apt to force his per- ¢ ltalk sded A H madame. She pla ! But that night a strAnge Wing hap- [ gnavidy onto theirs. That It had bes (1:‘1:'~L"“.‘.\:m::\n1u S e uu{‘l:‘n.fl'fi;n‘r:ur\;ou Ipened. Without waritngsome un=| oo vecuited in elashes hetw us i misn Tlow; AT juehaved: Mot somethingcusione { controllable force wiihin'me made me | j ore nearly fatal at times There were an. e noenthanos o e e ) % Jomoundereta stroll up and down my father's study | o ae teacher and pupil. can speaic fluently Engiish. iy, 3 themselves 1 sat on a bench, Alons while h s at work. singing ¢ well S . French. Italizn and German. JGHC Wiiow.r side me thers was a man tas 1 codld an + that Alma had s . e Al of these ex Itussian are im-| ling on her toes. Yvonne dash- "'h‘-’ Y ~“m~|_ Tehours ]:‘““* - {sung that afternoon. My fgther. al¢¢CIGNORINA!M™ he would siout. “T| crative 1o the singer ; Crying: o Aot s iy haeed manr }pl' ician, has alse always been a| D have (old you that you Lo " OftenT have sat with Signor Gatti- | my doi win the Tace o ;‘m‘j."{',,':fi‘- for it 18 true, madame. This is how !1over and a keen critic of the musical | sing this Lar so—the wa; B B ew up her stock- |1t appened. | T was sitting on il 4 i 4 reas h 1 o X 3 (s as a S enich not far from is person, whom arts. It is for that reason lhfl'! 1nad| indicated. \nlu i atara s when young | M€ salolin it oo iTThad Thardly movicet | Eemae. man jingver.evem dired to sgllly by s sing 1059, Hlelit,ava Syl Zer to enter the opera in some | clared. absolu indifterent to so;lear me. She was talking fo another lence before. - But now I sang with| ~“But maestro.” I would reply meek- foino o ould ting for i Seaiaibia 8 Mloaiir Hittle girl ‘whom 1 didn't’ know, and {11 the power in my Soung throet. |ly, even though firmly, “I feal that Ui would always be fearfulls an- |y Mme: Rebours smiled at the chitd. | Who asked her "What name Suddenly he uppeared in the door- | that is not the way for my voice 1t} 2o, W B RIS Be ATIIE S0 fvaking abonnet for the doil would ¥ vonne: vonne wi onng way, a strange look in his eyes. For | gtrains—it is not natural. Ple tet cenvad Eatbien ’h”n"‘ e 5 };;;‘dl;'"»"m;‘”lu;”‘l:f‘ 1...: he -{ VAt this the man gave @ start. He ta moment he regarded intently, | me——o ! Seiman A Nw‘(,"iu“ of thel €rness. w there se€ that ilooked at the el He h-‘{)lv for- and 1 thought he was about to re-| “Douna mia!™ he would interrupt o i AL oy |studied. Hesides. M. Rebours wasn'tjward in his [Stared L Maone . ot isteiting i T ¥ i pirants, and 1 have no doubl thal'en hand to scold her and stretched out his hand. But ske prove me for disturbing him. But, to! gesticulating. wild Who is the| influence his de Rebours alded often. Iready running away. Then he |my astonishment. he said, with af her here and who is.the pupilt| oo S0 S rided his Mite. Leger . and asked mc in a trem- e G R i What 1 say you must do—even if YOU| i oy only in 2 language one is And the O o moiselle. is this little girl's “Sophie. ehild, your voice is a beau- | think it wili kill you—because [ say | o R o SN, L E S e o ~Vou might ‘sas even | name Yvonne Norail tiful one. You must study. If youlit is righ B aean that if & sinevr 1S 1 o |that o Was alwaye in the right. His| . Yes, monsieur. Why? work, and work hard, you will be| jje would pause. expectant, asi e Samn o “|wife found that insupportable.. He grew very pale and said g s¢me day a fine singer tated. He felr sed to h 11 | concerned about his accent he Legins a lively disposition. She Will you ailow me to kiss her s P 5 = ated, e Jelt apposed. to all} 10 Tose sight of oung. H i mademoiselle? She resembles a littl. It v turally Al 1o lose sight o rt. oung er spirit ran to|m 3k It was' quite naturally to. Alma{he strength of my personality and| e the & unexpested. | girl whom 1 lo; Gluck, my first. inspiration, that 1| il Re less of his beimg my| Then there was that plano! That| Ty had brought | * o k¥ soon turned for counsel and en-|ieacher and regardless. of my + terrible u:mm-m‘;‘tr stole .xrun\ me hn:m:”!\;“ she. ‘;’i'l‘_*:“",‘r‘,‘fi’jh.\"l-:Lb madame. that was a great couragement. A% awed as any Lon-|ing that there was much, | the few minutes left over from other . louy mis Sanpiiss. %o M. He Tpk A ‘FAMOUS OPERATIC TRIO IN “CARMEN.” LEFT TO RIGHT: LEONERA SPARI other artists in the room. among whom were Caruso. Didur and Bada, fixed on me pityingly. T could have sunk through the floor. I had so hoped to make a good impression with them all at the very start. Again I sang and again he found it wrons. Again and again he made me try only to his greater rage and dissa faction. At length, h&rried out: “Signorina. you have no right to be here. The Metropolitan is no Rlace for operatic hvginners!" Besides anger. there was tife cut of profound sarcasm in his voice.. The musi¢c stopped and the room grew deathly still. 1 felt myself growing hol and veld alternately and them, suddenly, unable to stand it longer, I rushed out of the room, tears blindin, my eyel 1 saw steps close at hand and, with- out eithgr knowjng. or_carfag..where ‘with the imputation that she was not AND SOPHVE, BRASLATU. (Photos by White.) Toscanini sniffed. “The. only stars 1 recognize." he replied, “are those in the heavens, and they are always on time!” i He laughed at his'own joke, which made every one breathe a bit easier, and even ‘the “star”-had to smile, even though shie was none too pleased a star! So it is that I came to know that of all the. qualities necessary to. be- come a great singer, courage stands easily first—courage to bear dis- couragement, to stand up under failure, to accept - criticism and try to benefit from it and above all, courage to work and work hard, steadily and persistently day in and day out. : \ 1 d6 not know what I would have done ‘In’ the early days of my caresr ad it not been':for-the inspiration | of Alma Gluck, for among the many| great xi{gers whose continued suc-! cess has depended upon faithful and unceasing work, Alma Gluck stands ‘pre-eminent. I-shall never forget how 1 first got this inspjration. re negie Hall. fairly rocking with ‘the| roar of applause Alma finished her program and the audience rose as one man and rushed to | for encores, their eyes turned in sheer worship up to tae ‘little woman in white. standing, th of that throng, and more excited than any other person in it, was I, poor little I, 8 school girl of thirteen, my brown hair still. falling- about my shoulders. _Then. it ended.-She-sang: KLES, GERALDINE FARRAR & ¢ i There comes to my mind a vivid |, collection of a densely filled Car- and approval as the footlights calling. rapturously almost timidly, on e stage. And there, in the midst Yvonne by the hand and said softly “May 1 kiss you. Mademoise Yvonne™ And how he looked at her How he looked at her! Tle first d her on the cheek. Then suddenly he r in his arms and covered hey You could tell that he moved. 1 saw that h. ‘What did Yvonne say to Le much astonished n't afraid. When it w jover she went back to her play. Then the man said to me: Mademoiselie, 1 Jost a little girl whom I loved very much. She isn't dead. But I have lost her, all the same. becu n a moment of folly 1 abandoned her mother. Since then 1 have lived a miserable life. I left the country. 1 have suffered pov- erty and fallen very low. I am in hiding. I bave been in hiding for tf last five years. I was a weak thoughtiess man. I was an artist. somewhat erratic, somewhat of dreamer. I loved my wife and child. But I was led ast by : villainous creature. I am paying for it. 1 am paving dearly for it. today I am paying for it atrociously. “Did you understand, mademoi- selle?” asked Mme. Rebours, who hud turned as white as a sheet. Mile. Leger bowed her head. “Yes, Madame. That man is your first husband. He is Yvonne's father. 1 understood all this when he told me his story, and I understood wh. he kissed Yvonne in such a transpert of tenderness and grief.” ‘And afterward? ‘Afterward he got up_and went away without a word. He walked with a limp. He looked so broken down.. I almost wished—-" Mme. Rebours struggled to suppress a cry. She recovered her self- possession presently and said: “No! It is better so. What's fin ished is finished. He was a poor fel- low—very weak, as he said. He wax a child when it came to facing the problems of life. Bu# be was.an ad- mirable artisi. All that has gone lo wreck. Yet he was cnaeaiag. Ah. my how charming he was—s0 gay, 8o j full of fantasy and imagination! Hec made me suffer afterward. But now +I have nothing against him." After a. silence e added: “If you see him in in' the park, mademoiselle, let kiss Yvonne Aany time he asks to.” - WITH! T NI¥ROPOLITAN- OPERA -CHORTS. - MAESTRO-SETTI: Is- DIRECTING - THE, m'tms.