Famous Singers of To-day and Yesterday Part 12

The next contralto singer to appear in opera was Annie Louise Cary, a native of the State of Maine, where she was born in 1846, at Wayne. Her family were all musical, and she was the youngest of six musical children. By the time she was sixteen her voice had developed wonderful qualities, and she was able to sing from C in the ba.s.s clef to F in alt, a range of three octaves and a half. At the age of eighteen she went to Boston, and secured a position in a church choir, while she studied music. Her career in Boston was much the same as that of many young aspirants for artistic honors,--"church choir and ch.o.r.es," it has been facetiously called. By this it may be understood that she earned her board by a.s.sisting in the household duties, while her church choir position enabled her to pay for her vocal lessons. Her splendid voice and musical intelligence soon enabled her to obtain concert engagements, and before she went abroad she sang in many festivals and at the Handel and Haydn Society concerts, on one of which occasions she was a.s.sociated with Parepa-Rosa.

Being possessed of much ambition, and with the energy which characterizes the natives of the State of Maine, Miss Cary organized and gave a concert in Music Hall, which brought her enough funds for a year's study abroad. Her Puritan training forbade the idea of opera, and it was her intention to study for concert and oratorio. At the end of her year she was discouraged, and declared that she sang no better than when she arrived. To this her teacher, Giovanni Conti, made no dissent, for his one idea of singing was _opera_. Miss Cary flung down her music, and left the room in disgust. And now came a curious mental revolution: having refused to consider the possibility of singing in opera, and having on that account left her teacher, she shortly afterwards met an impresario named Lorini, for whom she sang. He offered her an engagement to sing in Italian opera, and she accepted it. For two years she was in Lorini's company, taking all kinds of parts. In 1869 she went to Paris for further study, and while there met Maurice Strakosch, who was at that time forming the Nilsson concert company, for a tour in America.

Miss Cary accepted the engagement which he offered her. The company consisted of Miss Nilsson, soprano; Miss Cary, contralto; Brignoli, tenor; Verger, baritone, and Vieuxtemps, violinist. This tour lasted two years, and in 1873 Miss Cary again appeared in opera, creating the part of Amneris, with Italo Campanini as Rhadames, when "Aida" was produced at the Academy of Music in New York. The following year Miss Cary sang Ortrud in "Lohengrin."

In 1879 and 1880 Miss Cary was a member of the Kellogg Concert Company.

During the last years of her career, 1879 to 1881, she sang again in opera, adding to her repertoire the contralto part in "Favorita."

Campanini and Gerster were the tenor and soprano. In 1881 she made her last appearance in opera in Philadelphia, and in 1882 she sang for the last time at the Cincinnati festival, having taken part in each one given from 1873. So well was she known at these festivals that when, in 1884, she attended as a member of the audience, she was at once recognized and received an ovation on taking her seat. On retiring from the stage in 1882, Miss Cary married Dr. C. H. Raymond, putting an end to her public career when she was at the height of her popularity. All young singers may take her early career as a model, for it should give hope and courage to the many who are to-day making a similar struggle.

One of the members of Mapleson's company which visited the United States in 1884, and which included Patti and Gerster, was Anna de Belocca, a contralto of much merit. Her first appearance in this country, however, was made under the auspices of Maurice Strakosch, in 1876, when she was a new star on the operatic horizon. Mlle. de Belocca was unusually attractive in person, with brown hair, large black eyes, dead-white complexion, and symmetrical form. She was the daughter of M. de Bellokh, a scholar of St. Petersburg and acting Imperial Councillor of State.

Mlle. de Belocca spoke five languages, and because of her aristocratic birth was sought after by the highest circles of society.

Mapleson seems to have been well aware of her ideas on social matters, for on one occasion he made use of his knowledge to help himself out of a dilemma. His company was in Dublin, and the one suite of rooms at the hotel was claimed by both Mlle. Salla, the prima donna, and Mlle.

Belocca, the contralto. Neither would give way until a happy thought struck Mapleson, and, after taking the landlord aside for a short conference, he asked whether there were actually no other rooms in the house equal to the disputed ones. "There is a suite above this," was the reply, "but they are reserved specially for Lady Spencer (wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at that time), and it would be impossible for me to let any one else use them." "Well, can't we look at them?"

suggested Mapleson. The landlord a.s.sented, and showed Mapleson up, Mlle.

Belocca following. As soon as she entered the rooms she declared that they were delightful, and she should insist on remaining there. Of course the landlord and Mapleson gave a reluctant but delighted consent, and Lady Spencer made no requisition.

The princ.i.p.al contralto at the festival at Cincinnati in 1896 was Marie Brema, who is to-day considered one of the greatest interpreters of Wagner. Miss Brema was born in Scotland, and made her first appearance in concert at St. James's Hall, London. She was introduced to Frau Wagner, who was so well pleased with her that she offered her an engagement to sing the part of Ortrud in "Lohengrin" and gave her personal instruction.

In 1888 a London theatrical manager saw her play in some amateur theatricals, and was so struck by her talent that he wanted to star her as an actress. She declined his proposition, feeling that the operatic stage was better suited to her capabilities. When she appeared at the Bayreuth festival, in 1894, as Kundry and Ortrud, she made an immense triumph. She sang with no apparent effort, naturally and gracefully, as all true singers do. Her voice was full, round, and well placed, and her coloring perfect.

Since that time she has fully maintained her reputation, and has been heard in America with the Damrosch company, in 1894-5-9, and with Abbey and Grau the following year. During the opera season in London in 1898 her work elicited the highest praise of the critics. Miss Brema is still young, and is likely to hold a high rank among singers for many years to come.

The singer in an opera company who shares with the contralto the hard work, but seldom reaps much of the glory, is the ba.s.s, while the tenor is always an object of adoration, or should be, if he is a good singer, and the baritone has many good parts. The ba.s.so not only has thankless parts allotted to him, but, from precedent, one generally expects him to be wobbly and to sing frequently out of tune. Some ba.s.sos have broken through the law of precedent, and then they have been delightful. An operatic king or duke, who is usually a ba.s.s, is very seldom heard to sing in tune, nor is the heavy villain of the opera, who is always a ba.s.s, able to keep within half a note of the path laid down for him by the composer. Two ba.s.sos who made their appearance at about the same time were Signor Foli (1862) and Signor Agnesi (1864), and for many years they were a.s.sociated with Italian opera and oratorio throughout Europe. Signor Foli was an Irishman whose real name was Allan James Foley. He was born at Cahir, Tipperary, and went to America when very young. His voice was a rich, powerful ba.s.s of more than two octaves, from E below the line to F, and he had a repertoire of over sixty operas.

Of late years several singers of English and American origin have achieved distinction without the necessity of Italianizing their name,--Bispham, for instance, being a striking example. There are various reasons a.s.signed for the necessity of a change. One is that the name must be possible of p.r.o.nunciation by the Italians, in whose country the opera singer germinates, and the other is that Americans and English have not yet learned to appreciate a singer by his merits, but rather by his name. One of the most ridiculous instances of Italianizing was in the case of Mr. John Clarke, of Brooklyn, who became Signor Giovanni Chiari di Broccolini. On the other hand, Santley never found it necessary to become Italian, nor did Sims Reeves. Myron Whitney is a name needing no Italianization. Emma Eames has found her name no bar to renown, and a score of singers who are now climbing the ladder of fame are not ashamed of their Anglo-Saxon origin. Louis Ferdinand Leopold Agnesi (Agniez) was a native of Namur, Belgium, and in his early days essayed to be a composer. He brought out an opera, "Harold le Normand,"

which met with indifferent success, and then he became a singer, receiving instruction from Duprez. His career was not long, for he died in 1875, but he was a most popular singer.

Emil Fischer, who for many years has been a.s.sociated with Wagner opera, was the son of musicians, his father having been a well-known ba.s.so and his mother also a singer of renown. He first appeared at Gratz at the age of seventeen. In 1862 he took the management of the theatre at Dantzig and held it for eight years. In 1882 he became a member of the Royal Opera at Dresden, and remained there until, in 1885, he went to New York and joined the German opera. Since that time he has become well known in America, having appeared in most of the representations of Wagner's operas.

Emil Scaria was for many years known as a versatile singer and actor, more particularly in German opera. He made his debut in 1862 at Dessau, after having studied in the conservatoire at Vienna and with Garcia in London. From 1865 to 1872 he was at Dresden, and then at Vienna for several years. Later on he visited America, and was one of the celebrated Wagner trio, consisting of Materna, Winkelmann, and Scaria, who in 1884 sang in the Wagner festivals. Scaria was born in 1838 at Gratz. He created the part of Gurnemanz in "Parsifal," at Bayreuth. In 1885 he became a victim to insanity, and died the following year.

In 1876 Edouard de Reszke made his debut at Paris in "Aida," and entered on a career of renown. He is the younger brother of Jean de Reszke, the tenor, and it was at the instigation of Jean that he abandoned his proposed occupation and took to the stage. Edouard had undergone a course of study at the Agricultural College at Prikao, with a view to developing the resources of the great estates in Poland belonging to the De Reszke family. He accordingly proceeded to Milan, and studied with Stella and Alba, and later on with Coletti. At the end of four years he went to Paris for further study, and to make his debut.

His voice is a full, rich, resonant ba.s.s, capable of sending forth notes of immense volume, or those of the most tender quality. His appearance is that of a great, tall, broad-shouldered giant, with fair skin and blue eyes, and his stage presence is imposing.

Four years after his debut in Paris he created the part of Il Re, in Catalani's "Elda," and Ma.s.senet entrusted to him the creation of "Le Roi de Lah.o.r.e" when it was produced at La Scala in Milan. He has also created the parts of Carlo V., in Marchetti's "Don Giovanni d'Austria,"

and Don Diegue, in "Le Cid." He was engaged in London during the seasons from 1880-84, and became immensely popular. He has many friends in England, for he has a weakness for everything connected with sport, in the best sense.

Notwithstanding the many parts in which he has made the greatest success, his a.s.sumption of the role of Mephistopheles, in "Faust," more than any other, established his reputation as a great lyric artist, and he is generally conceded to be one of the greatest ba.s.sos of the century.

Of late years a French ba.s.so has arisen to share the popularity of Edouard de Reszke,--Pol Plancon, who for more than a decade has been one of the permanent stars of the Paris Opera House. M. Plancon was intended for a mercantile career, but having been an enthusiastic singer from the age of four, he rebelled against the decision of his parents. He was nevertheless sent to Paris, and entered a large and fashionable store to learn the business. One day Theodore Ritter, the pianist, heard him sing, for he sang upon every possible occasion, and was so pleased with his voice that he advised him to turn his attention to music. Through the influence of Ritter he was admitted to the ecole Duprez, and thereby incurred the severe displeasure of his family.

M. Plancon made his first appearance at Lyons as St. Bris, in "Les Huguenots," and remained there for two seasons. In 1883 he returned to Paris, and made his Parisian debut at the Grand Opera House as Mephisto, in "Faust," a part in which he excels. Since that time he has sung all the chief ba.s.s roles at the Grand Opera House, and has created the parts of Francois I., in Saint-Saens's "Ascanio," Don Gomez, in Ma.s.senet's "Le Cid," and Pittacus, in Gounod's "Sapho," when that work was revived in 1893.

M. Plancon was born in the Ardennes, but since his position as a singer was a.s.sured he has resided in Paris, where also his parents, whose objections were disarmed by his success, have joined him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Plancon as Ramfis in Aida._]

Before closing this chapter of ba.s.sos a few words should be said concerning three eminent singers whose reputation was made in oratorio and concert singing,--Stockhausen, Henschel, and Myron W.

Whitney.

Julius Stockhausen was one of the most remarkable singers of the century. He was born at Paris in 1826. His early career was of a varied nature, for he took part in concerts as singer, violinist, accompanist, and even drummer. He did not finally decide on music as a profession until 1848, when he took the part of Elijah in a performance of that oratorio at Basle, and his success decided his future career.

Stockhausen's singing in his best days must have been wonderful. Even to those who heard him only after he had pa.s.sed his prime, it was something never to be forgotten. His delivery of opera and oratorio music was superb in taste, feeling, and execution, but it was the Lieder of Schubert and Schumann that most peculiarly suited him, and these he delivered in a truly remarkable way. The rich beauty of the voice, the n.o.bility of style, the perfect phrasing, the intimate sympathy, and the intelligible way in which the words were given, all combined to make his singing wonderful. His highest achievement is said to have been his delivery of the part of Doctor Maria.n.u.s, in the third part of Schumann's "Faust."

For many years Stockhausen has been one of the chief vocal teachers of Germany, and has recently celebrated his golden wedding to the musical profession, which he formally entered in 1848.

Although not an opera singer, but rather a broad musician, the name of Georg Henschel will be remembered from the fact that for a few years he was considered one of the most excellent oratorio and concert singers before the public. He was born at Breslau in 1850, and at the age of eleven commenced his studies under Doctor Schaeffer. A year later he made his debut as a pianist at Berlin, where he played Weber's Concerto. He had already composed a good deal of music and shown much talent in that direction. In 1867 he entered the conservatory at Leipzig, and studied under Moscheles, Richter, Reinecke, and Goetze.

After spending some time in Weimar, he settled in Berlin. One of his most marked successes was in 1874, at the Cologne festival. In 1877 he went to London, where he soon acquired a great reputation as a ba.s.s singer, and in 1879 he produced the Triumphal Hymn of Brahms.

In 1880 he visited America on a concert tour, and while in Boston became the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which was organized and established during the three years of his conductorship. In 1881 he married Miss Lillian Bailey, a Boston lady, who was a concert singer of marked ability. In 1884 he returned to London, where he has since organized the London Symphony concerts, and won an enviable position in the musical world.

Myron W. Whitney, who was born in 1836 at Ashbury, Ma.s.s., decided at an early age on following a musical career. For ten years he sang in concerts, and then went to Italy, where he studied under Vannucini, and later in London under Randegger. He now made a tour of Great Britain, and at the Birmingham festival sang the role of Elijah in such a manner as to make an immediate reputation for himself. He has a superb ba.s.s voice, which under long and careful training became flexible and even, and which extended for nearly three octaves. After achieving a reputation in England he returned to America, and from 1876 he has sung only in his native land, where his reputation is unexcelled.

For many years Mr. Whitney sang in light opera, but he also gave an interpretation of the King in "Lohengrin," under the baton of Theodore Thomas, when the American Opera Company was floated, which is said to have been finer than any heard in this country. Of late years Mr.

Whitney has retired from the stage and settled in Boston, where he teaches singing.

To give an account of all the singers who have appeared in grand opera would require several volumes. Of American singers alone there are many more who have achieved fame than can be placed in this little book.

Alwina Valleria, of Baltimore, was well known, and is now married and settled in England. Emma Juch, Helene Hastreiter, Marie Litta, Emma Abbott, Louise Dotti are all of American origin and became well known.

Margaret Reed, Suzanne Adams, Susan Strong are singers whose stars are in the ascendent.

As time pa.s.ses on, the number of singers whose names are handed down as "famous" is very small in proportion to the number of singers who come before the public, and it is possible that even some of those mentioned in this book may become dim in the distance of years.