CONFESSIONS

AN
BY

OF SINGER
HOWARD

OPERA
KATHLEEN

NEW

YORK

/ICMXVUl

7VLFRED

A.

KNOPF

COPYRIGHT, KATHLEEN
Published

1918,
HOWARD
September

BY BAIRD

1918

Music

Library

GIFT

FEIKTKP

IN

THE

TTNtTED

STATES

Or

AMERICA

To

Marjorie

QSG

FOREWORD

So

many

fantastic

tales of and

have their

come

to

us

of

dents' stu-

life

abroad,

temptations,
that the
I have

trials,

finances,
to

successes

failures,
story
of

attempted
for
from don, Lonan

give

here

the

true

preparation

operatic
New York and

career,
to

and

its
to

fruition.

My
and

road thence

leads
to

Paris,
to

Germany

back

the

Metropolitan
in

Opera
are

House.

My
sociated as-

operatic

experiences
with the
lives

Germany
the

inalienably

of

people,

particularly publicly
and

with

the

German
in

officer fact
in

class,
town

viewed where vital I

vately; pri-

the

was

first of

engaged,
the

Metz,
house tainted

found

they
the
town

were

as

part

Opera

life the

as

singers
life the often thwarted
as

themselves.

Their here
at

arrogance

well,

and

first

became and

acquainted brilliancy
poverty,
which the
were or

with which the

pitiful
covered

attempt
a

swagger

state

of

grinding
instincts

natural sacrificed
to to

domestic the for

ruthlessly
entree

"uniform"
"

all-desirable
too

society, hope
whose

which book
is

no

price
be of

was

high
not

to

pay.
to

this

will the

interest

only

those

goal

operatic

FOREWORD

or

concert

stage,

but It

to

those

to

whom of real much

"human

ments" docureal

appeal.
obstacles of
overcome,

is

story
contains

people,
intimate

and life
in

talk

back-stage

opera

houses.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE

THE

WAY

IT

ALL

HAPPENED

13 21 30 39

II

STRUGGLE

AND

SOLUTION

III

PARIS

AT

LAST

rV

PENSION OPERATIC PREPARING

MY FIRST

PERSONALITIES'

FRANCE

VERSUS

OPERATIC

GERMANY

50 59

VI

ROLES

IN

BERLIN

VII

OPERATIC

CONTRACT

SIGNED

67

VIII

MY

ONE

LONE

IMPROPOSITION

76
SMALL MUNICIPAL OPERA

IX

THE

MAKINGS

OF

HOUSE BREAKING INTO HARNESS

85 100 110
AND THE STORY OF A

MY

DEBUT

AND

XI

SOME

STAGE

DELIGHTS

XII

MISPLACED

MOISTURE

COURT-LADY

123
PASSIONS AND

XIII

HUMAN

SMALLPOX
THAT LED TO A

139
COURT

XIV

DISCOURAGEMENTS

THEATRE

153
AND A

XV

SALARIES

TENOR'S
MUELLE

GENIUS

164

XVI

THE

ART

OF

MARIE

172
OF A

XVII

THE

NON-MILITARY

SIDE

GERMAN

OFFICER'S
184

LIFE

XVm

GEESE

AND

GUESTS

199
AND PREFERRED

XrX

RUSSIANS,
THE

COMMON

206 220

XX

grandmothers'
fashions and

BALLET

XXI

stage

the

glory

OF

COLOUR

230 242

XXII

ROYAL

HUMOUR

XXIII

COVENT

garden

AND

"

AMERICA

257

LIST

OF

ILLUSTRATIONS

Kathleen

Howard

Frontispiece

Carmen
as

Used

to

Dress

It

76

II

Carmen

I
as

Now

Dress

It

84

Amneris

I
as

Used

to

Dress

It

126

II

Amneris
as

Now

Dress

It

134

Dalila
as

Used

to

Dress

It

172

II

Dalila
as

Now

Dress

It

180

Caruso's

Caricature

of

Kathleen

Howard

260

CHAPTER

THE

WAY

IT

ALL

HAPPENED

I
we

WAS

very

young had

and

was

engaged
our

to

be
in

ried. mar-

We dramatic

just
and

lost
we

money

rather what gan beleft

into
a

fashion,

were

all

doing
sister

could
to

to

supply

the

sudden
to

deficit.
a

My
my
to

prepare

herself
school I
"

be

teacher,
home
I

brother
go

his

boarding

and

came

friend's heart had

in

office, and
of the
young

well,
in

accepted
set

the whom

hand
I

and
had

man

our

with
winter

most

pleasure

in

dancing

in

and

sailing

summer.

My
saw

heart

didn't
as

lose did but

beat
of
were

and the

turn

over

when
in

him

coming

those
we

heroines

Marion
in

Crawford's the
a

novels,
and
I

the

best

friends
must

world,

thought

that
in

anything
to

else the
were

be
more

literary exaggeration, just

as

put

make

story

exciting;

the the

heroine's abnormal

eyelashes length though

none

usually
inch
to

exaggerated
make I knew He her had
was more

to

of

an

beautiful,
like

of

the

girls

them
a

that. business
"13"
man,

young

just

starting

as

CONFESSIONS
assistant
to

OF

AN

OPERA
business of
an was

SINGER
an

his father comfortable

whose
sort

old

tablished, es-

family affair, big

extra

enough

to

supply,
young
us

in

time,

income

for

an

unambitious

couple

like ourselves.
I

Every
to

one

congratulated
towels and hem

and heartily, table

began
to

embroider about terns pat-

napkins and

dream

of flat silver. The of

woman

whole

arrangement
I

was

to satisfactory

the

poini

banality, and

might be
"

quite
a

an

old

married

by

this time, but of me,

at

I had

voice.

Nine-tenths

this age,
a

were

the normal,

tional ra-

characteristics

of

well-brought up,
last tenth
was

bright,
an known un-

good

looking girl. But

the

quantity,a great big powerful something which

I

vaguely felt,even
tenths,
way
a

then,

to

be
was

the

master

of

all the

other
its it
a own

force the

which
rest

capable of having
if I should
vague
our ever

with

of

me

give
power,

chance.

My

voice, the agent of this

late. coloured read It is
true

had

developed
had
we

rather been

that

whole
we

childhood
notes
was our

by music,
letters,and
mode
was

that

read
music

before

could
most

that

earliest and father's

natural

of expression.

My

greatest

joy

in life

music,
with
was

and
us

he
in

always played imaginative musical

the evenings.
we were

games

The

earliest He ask used

us

one

I remember

when

tiny tots.
we

to

improvise

on

the small
we

organ

had

and

questions which

had

to

"14"

THE
answer,

WAY
to

IT
his

ALL

HAPPENED
I
was

singing Seymour

accompaniment.
was

miral Ad-

and his

Marjorie

General

Wolsey.

I remember
"And
how

singing,
you
oars

would sails and

get your
were

ships along, Admiral,

shot

If your

overboard?"

I sang
"I'd

solemnly,
shubble
them

along
I

with

shubbles."

Afterwards
with him

when

began

to

sing
one

from

printed music
as

I remember

saying
unfamiliar

evening

he

was

playing hymns
me

and

English

ballads

for

to

sing,
let
me

"Papa, please
the
I
notes

look

at

the

music

and

follow

up

and

down."

really began

reading
all
I
was our

music

at

four

years

old.
jorie Marat

We

played
was

and

sang

childhood.
six
we

When

seven

and
as

sang

Even-song

the
were

village church,
ill
or

the members

of the had
a

regular choir
ish childBut I

absent. and
I
my
a

Marjorie

heavenly
voice.

soprano

heavy nondescript
father

always
voice" He round the
or

pleased
and used
our

by

singing

real

"second

not to

just following give

us a

the soprano and

we

in thirds.

note,

then

had
it.

to

run

rather

large
we

house
ever

humming
knew if
we

It

was

deepest disgrace
flatted when
we

had

sharped
He

got back
"15"

to

the

starting point.

CONFESSIONS

OF
terms

AN

OPERA
us

SINGER
dance
out to

taught us
"Vivace,"
so

musical he

by making
would "Molto

ent differ-

rhythms

played, and
had
to

call

"Allegro,"
and ever Whensang

"Adagio,"
we

allegro,""Legato,"
change instantly.
we

forth, to which
any
one came

to

the house,
it

played
been
us

and

for them, and

though
was

might

have for

rather
to

awful
to

for the visitors it

an

very

good

get used

audience. He used
to
verses

arrange

fairy tales
write

like "Bluebeard"
to

in

doggerel
and
we

and learned

accompaniments

them,

then
some

them

by
the

heart

and them

rehearsed for all the beard's Bluewere

them, and

grand night played

I remember where
a

neighbours.
We
in

way

we

showed his
wives

chamber

the
on

heads the wall

of

kept.
I stood and above then

hung
front

sheet of

and

Marjorie
closed
up

and
eyes

it, with
our

pale faces,
long
hair Another
our

open
our

mouths,
heads
across

and
on

pinned

high
was

the
us,

sheet.

sheet

stretched
was

just below
a

chins, and

the

effect
we

rather
at

ghastly in

dim

light.

I remember

sang

the last:

"Oh, Bluebeard,

oh, Bluebeard,

Frustrated, checkmated.

Dissipated, agitated. Castigated, lacerated,

Bluebeard!
"

When

school

was

over

we

always

gave

dramatic

"16"

THE

WAY

IT

ALL
was

HAPPENED
fine
our

performance;
them
in the

if the weather

enough

we

held

big garden
dressed
I
can

that

was

childhood's

ground. playof

We

behind remember
in which

huge flowering-currant
a

bush, and
act
was

performance
I, aged about

an

of "Twelfth

Night,"
my

seven,

Malvolio, Lai,

brother, Maria, and

Marjorie,

Olivia. I had

always been
my
were

able
was a

to

sing, but the sudden

growth of
school,
favourite for
as we

voice

surprise. One
a

day,
on

in

asked All

to

write

composition

our

wish.

the other

girls said they wished

as

curly hair, for pretty dresses, for they could

into eat,

m.uch

candy

for

any

other But

frivolous
it
"

thing that

came

their

heads. wish

I took

seriously and
a

told my
a

dearest with
at

in all the I could

word

great voice,
cry
or

voice

which will.

make

audiences

laugh
time

my

And,

strangelyenough, began
to

from

that
and with

my

girlish voice

grow
more

stronger
noise

stronger, until I could

it than any

proudly make
Then

other

girl in school.
it
any
was

it grew
to

louder

and
a

higher, until
I must

impossible
the

ignore such

big possession
have lessons

longer, and

family decreed
excellent
and local

that

singing lessons.

I took

accordingly from
and
arias
to

an

teacher, practised scales and

the classic songs but it was
so

exercises
as

later studied
I

seriously as

could,
were

fatally easy

be

interrupted. We

"17"

CONFESSIONS
all out

OF
for
so

AN

OPERA
and chic the
to

SINGER

of

school It
was

the much

first time
more

enjoying
go

our

freedom.

down
a

to

Huyler's
younger

in the
were

mornings,
at

when

girlsonly
in
at

year

hard the

their

lessons, than
was

the

noon afterI

when would would

whole
a

girl world telephone

help
both
arrange

liberty.
some one

just begin
call
me on

morning's work
the
or

when
go
to

to

the

maker's dressfor
a

with dinner
it
was

her,

the and

flowers

party.
easy
to

I loved

flowers

dresses, and

think, "Oh!
gone

I'll practisethis afternoon!"

and
was

fly off" to be
my

all had

day.
tell
was

In
me

the evening all the

there

fiance

who

to

absorbing
a

details

of his office, or and

I took

there

dance,
came

or

theatre and voice

party,

everything that
But

my

way
my
to

enjoyed
was

it all

equally.
in my

all the
I
my

time

reallyfirst

thoughts, and
arrange

longed
whole

study

seriously and
it and

intensely,to

life for

its proper

development.
it seemed
to

The
in
my

family,
trousseau

me,

was

more

interested

than

in

anything

else.

They
I
was

had
to

scraped together five hundred

have with. bed
voice
saw

dollars, and sounded,

to

it

all, incredible

as

it

buy clothes
in

Subconsciously all day, and

at

compellingly
do with that for
me.

night,the thought
with that five hundred
as
a

of what

I could
was

my

dollars

myself only
be

singer, and
I
were

knew

I could

never

happy

unless

allowed

first to get my

"18"

THE
instrument
use

WAY
in

IT

ALL

HAPPENED
order
out

thorough working
phrases, "working
own

and
own

then

to

it.

The

your

tion," salva-

"fulfilling your
expressions which end,
But
were

destiny," "the
all those other
at

necessity

of self -development,"and
most

nicelyturned
their

students
me.

have

tongues'

unknown

to

just felt,inarticulately.
to

my

feeling was
step which

strong

enough

carry

me

into
plete com-

action, the

phrasemakers,
Mecca.

who

find
omit.
over

satisfaction New
my
me,

in their my

phrases, often
I talked
a

York

was

it all

with do for

fiance, told him

what that

year

there
to

would

making
and

it clear
our

expected
He

sionally sing profesto

after

marriage.
I should

agreed
as

thing every-

promised that

do

I wished.

His culty diffi-

possible objectiondisposed of, only the financial

remained,
and I
more

looming
I
was

large before
in my
not

me.

Deeply
mind
my
to

deeply
marry

convinced

own

that
voice

might

in

old

clothes, but

with

untrained.
to

finallysummoned
I should
in
use

courage

propose

my

family that
for
a

the precious five hundred York instead of and ahead

a

year's study
Miraculous
to

New relate
saw

trousseau.
was

they agreed, path golden

future

boundlessly happy
me.

and

my

of

We
a

all

spoke

and

thought
of

of my of the

as

that of seemed

concert

singer.

My
else

intention
out

marrying

to

make

anything

question.

Indeed,

"19"

CONFESSIONS
at

OF

AN

OPERA
in

SINGER
York of formed America.

that

time, the
oasis

Metropolitan
in

New desert

the There

only
were

the

operatic
at

spasmodic attempts
but
no

travelling ies compana

in

English,

other the

sign of
and

permanent
breadth of

stituti in-

throughout
country.
bee buzzed
I
must

length

the

confess, however,
times

that

the

operatic ous conspicu-

considerably at
my

in the
or

less
two

portions of
of "an inside

bonnet. heard and the

me

One

musicians mine

standing,

who

sing, pronounced
strange

operatic voice,"
me

longings

stirred
on

when

saw

Metropolitan singers

the boards.

"20"

CHAPTER

II

STRUGGLE

AND

SOLUTION

THAT
One

winter
to

in

New
in

York
many

was

revealing
Numbers
in
my

perience ex-

me

ways.

of
tion. estima-

things
of

assumed the first

different
new

values I
as

things
of
at

learned
a

was

the for

comparative
a

insignificance
I

$500
one

provision

year's

expenses.

lived

of

those

boarding
and
spectable, re-

houses

which but

are

called

both inferior

"reasonable"
in

are

vastly

both

comfort
costs
a

and

society
deal

to

the
I

European
had which lessons

pension
in

which

good
and
many
at

less. all
a

singing,
up
to
a

diction

French,
dollars
an

of

counted five hundred don't

not

great
to

week.
rate,

My
and

began
know advised
means

shrink I
to

alarming
done if

what
me

should

have
a

friend

had that
a

try

for

"church the

position,"
of Besides

invaluable which
a

of

adding only
of
is
an

to

resources

student,

is

possible
chance

in

America.

offering
the
church
money

splendid

financial infallible How

many

assistance,
test

position
value
in

system
one's

of

the have

of

voice.

girls

known

Europe

embarking

"21"

CONFESSIONS
upon

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
tion prepara-

tlie expensive and for

an

dreadfully laborious
without

operatic career,

possessing a single
to
an

one

of the
an

qualifications necessary
to

success,

without

even

adequate,

say

nothing of
I love

unusual, voice!
has less has been been the

Their

singing of "Because
of their local

you!"

admiration than
to

circle, even

musical

themselves, and this little success

them
on a

enough
failure.
a

start

career,

doomed

to

certain

If

they had
in

only tried for church

had

positions in
in

l^rge

city

America,
own

competed
they would

the

open

market

of their heartbreak I heads

won

country, and much

have

been

saved

good
and

money

besides.
at

$1000

position almost
more

once,

over

the

of many
on

older
merits

experienced competitors,
alone. The

the

of my

voice

salary
eral gen-

was

my

financial

salvation, but, besides

much ensemble and

this,my
the

musicianship was
in
to

improved by
singing.
found
in my
a

practice
used
to

and sight-reading

I grew

facing
use

an

audience,
I

chance

put

into

what be the

learned choir

singing lessons.
say

Blessed invaluable of The

quartet

of

America,
sons

I;

an

institution

for the musical

and

ters daugh-

our

country.
in which I sang

church and the

had
on

many

wealthy
used

bers, mem-

dress-parade
Our

Sundays
choir,
was

to

be

quite

sight.

place, as
in
a

ing directly fac-

the

congregation,

little

gallery,so

that

our

"22"

A
hats
and

STRUGGLE
dresses The
were

AND

SOLUTION
to

subjected
of became

very

searching
for

scrutiny.
such The
an

furnishing position
a

suitable

garments
a

exalted
was

quite

problem.
in

soprano
to
a

well-known
many

singer, who,
concert

tion addi-

good salary,had
and her furs

and

oratorio
were

engagements;
my
a

and

ostrich the

feathers

despair.

I would hat
smart

sit up

half velvet.

night to
an

cover

straw last-year's

with

I made
as

less endwere

succession

of the

blouses

which,

we

hidden the
same

below

waist

by

the

railing, I

wore

widi
I
structed con-

"utility" black
the
most

broadcloth and

skirt.

original collars
ends.
one was

jabots for
of

them

out

of odds I remember

and

made

of

packet
other

silver

spangles sewn
scales. One silver mesh the collar

in

rows

overlapping each
engagement
when
I
wore

like fish been

a

of my

presents
it
at

had
my
to

bag,
round

and
my

belt, and
call
me

neck, the choir

As
we

used

"Mrs.
to

Lohengrin."
smartness

took

off

our

outdoor

wraps

sing, my
cleverest for

in the

gallery was
contrive
at

assured, but
home
a

the

manager

can't the

stitute subI

furs, and
younger

soprano

had and

chinchilla!

was

years
to
me.

than

the others

they were

very

sweet

Living
who
my

at

my

boarding
have

house
to

was

young
to
me.

doctor,
But
me

also

would

liked

be

nice

exaggerated conscientiousness
"23"

would

not

allow

CONFESSIONS
to

OF
to

AN
with

OPERA
one man

SINGER
while
I
was

have

anything
to

do

engaged
to

another, and
and
to
was

I refused

all his invitations

excursions.

the
one

theatre

Saturday afternoon
in
a

My
the

indulgence
be the

standing-room tickets for

boon
to

Metropolitan.
would theatres

What

girls in

my opera

tion situa-

inexpensive municipal
of

and of of

endowed Schule

Germany

with

their

system

Vorstellungen

(students'performances)
at

standard

plays
seat

and

operas

prices that put

of
even

fortable com-

within This

the
was

means

the

most

ble hum-

purse!
would have

the

lack

the

Century

Opera
May
start

supplied.
engagement
was

My church
first. I had
my

to

come

to

an

end the had

The made
to

thought of turning

my

back

on

depressed
marry

me

fearfully.
not

given

word

and

did

think his
rare

of

wavering.
New

But York

the letters of my had

not

fiance
us

and
to

visits to

helped
hours

understand the floor

I

each

other

better.

Many

I walked

longing for
said
to

advice, and
sister, "I have
and
now. now

wrestling with
my

myself.
It all

my

foot take

on

the first rung

seems

of the ladder
so

I must

it off."

simple
her
not

Almost

any

other much

girlwould thought.
and
so

have But

broken
I

engagement
been

without
up

had

brought

that

way,

I had

hours

and

days of misery.
The
one

thought that comforted

"24"

me

was

that I could

A
go
on

STRUGGLE
any
rate
as

AND
well
as

A
it
was

SOLUTION

at

possiblein
harder done hard with be

my
to

own

town,
a career

and

though
from of
my

it would

be

much

make the
me operation co-

there,

it could

husband.
one

It

was

for
down
my

to

talk

in

those
in
a

days, but
hansom,
much
a

day driving
treat, I remember

Fifth ings feelmy

Avenue
were

rare

too

for

me,

and
I must

I burst

through
little of
as

repression and
of
you
me,
can

told him

how

develop that side

you,

and

he

said, "And
on

I'll

help

girl;

count

me."

I believed

him

course.

But

while

was

dreadfully serious, he,

singing with
his the
as a

I learned

later, ranked

my

china-painting and
sort

fancy-work
pastime,
was,
to

of

relations,
my

of

harmless The had his

occupy

leisure
as

moments.

truth
tirely en-

of

course,

that,
my

often

happens, he
made
my

mistaken
woman

character, had head, given her

ideal

out

of and

his

outward
The he

pearance ap-

fallen in love witli her.

real "me"

was

disconcerting stranger, of whom glimpses.

the
at

caught only They

had We from

occasional About
were
even

first of the

May,
to

I returned
meet me;
to

home.
my

all

station

fiance
too.

broken
seen

into his office hours

be there
my way

had

each for New

other York

seldom
was

during
a

absence

home,
was

long

and oflF,

he

for the great saving his pennies religiously

we

event.

When

married,

our

income "25"

would

be

tightfit

CONFESSIONS
in any
case,

OF
and
I could

AN
not

OPERA

SINGER
my

help rejoicing that

it. town,

singing might add

no

considerably to
positions in
our

There but
one

were

$1000

church

or

two

of the churches
I

paid respectable salaries

soon

to
a

their

quartets, and
career.

hoped

to

begin

to

make

concert

For

littlewhile
was

after my
nice
to
me

return

was

very
to

happy.
think church
I

Every
had asked
was

one

so

and

seemed

done
me

remarkable
to

things already.
solo the
a

Our the

sing

Sunday

when

bishop

expected, and
heard
my many

I held

sort

of reception afterwards
my

and
After

pleasant things about

work and

progress. rest,

hard

self-denial, the
of home

tlie

and gentle flattery,

were

the comfort

surroundings satisfactory.
the
matter;

very

welcome.
my

Only
but
no

with

fiance did
not

thingswere
know
one

not
was

so

Something,

what,

it all culminated

evening
follow

in his
a

saying that

married

woman

should

profession,that
own

she should This

was

find

"occupation enough
to

in her
as

home."
ised prom-

really a great shock

his support
a

me,
so

he

had

me

in my

work

often.

Imagine
when before

my

surprise after
had his

three tell
to
me

years' engagement, just three give

up

he the

family
I

weeks of

wedding that

was

all
me

hope
in it

singing

after encouraging professionally

entire time.

during the
never

I knew

by

then

that

I could

be

"26"

STRUGGLE
nor

AND
him

SOLUTION
up

happy

make

happy

if I gave

all

thought

of singing I asked

professionally.
him
on

very

quietly if
affirmative

those
ansvrer,
went

were

his convictions,
I took

and,

his
it to

oflF his

ring, returned
one more

him, and
as

upstairs without
been awakened

word,
a

feeling
and

if I had

out

of

nightmare,
was

though

from still palpitating

at

the shock
In my and
own

experiencing relief
I stretched
my
arms

finding
above

it

over.

room

my

head

said, "Free!"
to
me

A the

marvellous months
it

vista

of

freedom
I

opened hardly plan

The how

after
to

of
was

strain.
so

could
to

bear

go go

to

sleep;

wonderful

I could

ahead
I
saw

and
my

study, study.
mistake ensued
in

next to

morning
be
over,

supposing trying
came

the affair

for

there

many

days
solemn
cups

and

floods

of

tears

all round.

Then

the

and and

awkward and

returning of all the engagement knicknacks,

to

saucers

nearly

our

whole
me

circle of

acquaintance.

My

family stood by
task, while
I

and
up

performed
to
return to

this unattractive New

up

packed

York.
my

I had
matter

given
to

choir, and
another. for

now

found the
year

it

cult diffihad best

case

get

All the

churches and the

made I could
one

their

arrangements
was

hope for
the of altos the

occasional
unable
to

substitutingin
sing.
I

of

was

made
me

the and

round

agents' offices.
"27"

Some

heard

CONFESSIONS
were

OF
some

AN

OPERA
as

SINGER
their lists
were

complimentary,
But when
met to

refused

full. I
was

I mentioned

the word

"engagement," experience."
ence get experiwould
I

always
to

by

the

rejoinder "No
how
a can ever

I used

say

them, "But

if you

won't
answer

give

me

chance?"

They
No
no

shrug and
It
engage

that that wasn't

a

their affair.
one

seemed
me

hopeless deadlock. experience and

to

would would I
go

without
an

one

give
knew abroad the

me

opportunity
one

become of the

experienced.
difficulty was
I have
to

that the and of

way

out

get experience there.

said made

that
a

idea

singing
to

in

opera

had knew for and

as a

always
that the

strong
of the

appeal

me,

and

I had

some

qualifications necessary
stage-appearance,
as

stage

"

big (we
for

voice, good
had

abilityto
great

act

always acted)
work. But

well

capacity

hard
which

the
were

essential

without qualification, the financial

to

the others
necessary

all ineffective, was

to

support
means

get*'me there
of

and

provide
while
I

of

studying

and

livingadequately

prepared myself
I

for opera.
way
a was

despaired of obtaining this,but the opened

for
me

denly sud-

in

what

seemed

miraculous Smith

manner.

Friends and his of

of mine

in the
to

church, Frank
finance
as me

Jones
my
as

wife, offered

through
afterwards
were

years

preparation and
their aid. "28"

for

long
real

might peed

These

friends

A
behind
ever me

STRUGGLE
for years, and made
me,

AND
I
owe

A
them

SOLUTION
more

than
me

I could

repay.
me,

They
for

it possiblefor
a

to

have

my

sister with

rather

delicate heaven

girl,an
of

estimab inI

benefit.

In

the
to

seventh

joy,

prepared
recommended

to

go

to to

Paris
me

study
my

with

Jacques Bouhy,
teacher.
a

by

New
songs,

York and

packed

my

few

clothes, some
set

boundless

enthusiasm, and

sail.

"29"

CHAPTER

III

PARIS

AT

LAST

CROSSED Atlantic
passenger,

on

one

of

the

steady
I

big

boats

of

the
one

Transport
a

Line.

remember then such

only

boy

of

even

personal
as

magnetism clearly
then
name as

that
any
a

he
one

stands
I

out

in

my

recollection

have and

ever

met,

though
to

he

was

only
was

young

fellow Fairbanks He we'll

unknown and
as we

fame.
was

His
to

Douglas
stage.

his

ambition neared of

go
"

on

the
some

said

England:
the politan Metro-

Well,

day
House

read,

*Conried Miss

Opera
and 'Charles
"

presents

Kathleen Mr.
I

Howard,'
banks.' Fairto

Frohman
His

presents
which made
mine

Douglas
even

prophecy,
where he

recall
the

tlie

spot
of

on

the
eyes

boat which

it, and
at

expression
has

his

matched

that

moment,

almost

been

fulfilled.
Paris in in

I reached

the

beginning
order,
for
my

of

September
a

with

"my
of

instrument"

working
of I credit found

with

smattering
a

French,
of

letter

$1000,
voice

and

large
to

supply
all
my

courage. upon

adequate just

demands

it, but
"30"

the

money

half

PARIS

AT
the
go
on

LAST
next

enough
courage,

(itwas
I have

increased

year).

As
ever

for my

had

to

renewing that
in

since,
success.

until
Emma
not

it has

become told
to
me

the
once

largest factor
that she
success

my

Juch
difficult her

always said
make
a a

it

was

attain
was

and
at

career.

Perhaps

success

made

time
any

when
rate

the could

competition
never

was

less keen, but her.

Paris in the

at

agree

with
in

I arrived
to
me a

early
rue

in

the

morning
It

and

went

small
to

hotel

Cambon. for
eau

quite thrilled
instead that of the

ask the chambermaid

chaude

"hot

water";
meal

and
was

felt called
to

proud
this

of

knowing
a

midday

dejeuner day
"

la

fourchette.
ishes radin

I remember

that meal

it

began with

and

butter, those
on

inseparable companions
meat

France,
with for

went

to

omelette, then cold

and

salad,
grapes

small dessert.

clingstone peaches and

Red
a

little white
was

or

white

wine
cut

^^compris" and

the bread and

was

was

yard long,
down the
to

half

through
of the afterwards of the

into

tions, sec-

laid

middle
me,

table. when
rue

It

all half -miraculous

out to

and

I went

stroll under
in

the

arches

de

Rivoli

thought myself

fairyland.
the

The

jewelry,
as

lingerie and
have
over

photograph shops delighted me,

tourists, and
gave
one me a name

they

innumerable
a

"Redfem" Place de la I

doorway
seemed

thrill.
most

The

Concorde

of

the

beautiful

places

"31"

CONFESSIONS
had
way,
ever

OF
an

AN

OPERA
I still

SINGER

seen,

opinion which
a

hold, by the
an

and

I felt like drove

to

queen

when

I called

open

fiacreand
stopping
cents

in state
a

toward

the Arc of red

roses

de

Triomphe,
for

buy
a

big bunch
man

twenty
beside and torium, audiI

from

ragged
In the the

who

ran

shouting
to at

my

carriage.
at

evening

I went

the opera the

wondered

great
more

stairway and
at

big

and
saw

still which

the

poor

performance

there

but

I accounted
season.

for

by the fact that

September
That in

is the

dull
was

first

day

all thrills. for

The

next

was

spent

arranging
addresses

hours from be

lessons, and

collecting pension
as

all my

acquaintances,
to

saw

that

it would I set Prices for

impossible
out
on

do hunt

my

work
a

in

hotel.

bravely
have
at

my

for

dwelling
since
to

place.
those
very

increased that
time it
on

considerably
was

days,
for

possible
left bank

get

good board

and

lodging
a

the

of the

Seine

five francs

day.
near

My
the

professor,Jacques
Arc de

Bouhy, however,
and
up

lived be within

Triomphe,
I toiled into
a

I wished and down

many
not
a

to
a

walking

distance.

great many
without
to

stairs, and

peeped
I

great
I could
was

rooms

finding what day

to

sought.

bear bit
meet

wait

begin working, and

I

just
to

discouraged,
two

when

had who had

the
gave

good
me

fortune the

girls from

home,

address

of

the

pension where
"32"

they

stayed.

PARIS
I rushed

AT
to
see

LAST it, and

in

off

at

once

found
a

very
sort

nice

house

of

several

floors, situated
first faced
row

cite, a
on

of

garden
so

behind

the

of
a

houses of
trees

the and

street, beds flower-

that its windows with circular

view

gravel

walks

around

them, instead

of cobblestones. The looked It

in
was

head like
a

of

the

pension
but

was

an

old

woman

who

Bourbon
noon

was

really a bourgeoise.
she and
was

nearly
wonderful

when

I arrived, but
gown

still

dressing

of

purple

yellow
feet,and

on stripes,with chaussons, cloth slippers, an

her

elaborate

coiffure She

of
came

dyed
to

black
me

hair

above
a

her

yellow
narrow

old face.
room

in the

salon,

long

with and
as

French doors

windows all

framing tree-tops,
with
in

the

windows looked

hung
been sofas

rose-red

velvet the

which First of the

if it had There black

were

place

since

Empire.
same

of rose,

and and

chairs
tel-pieces man-

with
with

wooden
of

rims, tables

thousands
square

things on
in

them, and
Madame
name

an

old-fashioned
was

piano

the

corner.

most

gracious,

remembered
were

the
tres

of

her

former
a

lodgers, said they compliment

rooms

turned gentilles, showed

neat

to

the American

nation, and

me

the

herself.
a

I chose and

back
a

one

of

good size, nicely furnished

It had
a

hung
or

with

pretty chintz.

cabinet and

de

toilette,

large cupboard
"33"

for washstand

trunks,

CONFESSIONS opening
off it, and
two

OF
I
was

AN
to

OPERA
have
a

SINGER
it with

complete
The
was

board, for

hundred

francs but

month

($40).
lightand
a

price

was

really higher,
I
an was

my
extra

arrangement
for

for the winter. The

room

to

pay

heat. fire-

had
in

open

with fireplace I could

grille or

basket

it, for which

into

buy boulets,
for three

coaldust
a

pressed
sack. the

egg-shaped balls,
have had which
a

francs
one

Later, I could
small
a

salamandre,
fit into the

of

excellent
warm

stoves

fireplace,
once

really
in

room,

and But

require fillingonly
I

twenty-four
and
I had

hours.
an

wanted
Paris

something
were

to not

poke,
very

idea As
a

that
matter

winters

formidable. than

of fact, anything sunless cold

more

penetrating
to

their

damp

it is

possible im-

imagine.
was a

For

there light,

huge lamp highly

well.

for which kerosene

my

I could which bath

rangements ar-

buy luciline,a
has
no

kind and

of bums

refined

odour

I made

with with his wife,

Jean, Madame's
was

old real

servant,

who

Eugenie,
I had

the
a

head

of the

tablishment. es-

bought
me a

rubber collapsible
can

tub,
every
or

and

Jean

was

to

bring

big

of hot

water

morning.
the Madame with
water

I found

that
as

I had

to
as

tip occasionally
Jean's
room,
manners.

became showed
me

cool

her
cuisine

dining
was

and

told

me

pride

that her I went

to

of

an

excellence hire
a

nowned. re-

fetch my
"3^

trunks

and

piano,

PARIS

AT
was

LAST
over.

glad
a

that my

long

search

The
as are

piano

was

small

upright,a
en

tin pan it

for tone,
was

all Parisian
ten

pianos

location, and

to

cost

me

francs
are more

month, with

eight francs
When

for
it
was

carting. They
installed,my
music
on a

expensive
Penates
on

now.

Lares

and

top of it, and

my

my

stool beside
on

it, I felt that

feet

were

firmly planted
And how I did
a

the ladder

leading
Then winter!
session

to

success.

began
I

to two

work.

work

that
and
a

had the

singing lessons
class the

week,

with
we

opera

lasting three
dramatic
action

hours of

in
our

which roles.
a

went

through
at

I slaved with
a

my

repertoireworking three hours

week

coach, and
at

spending
home.
"

hours
course

and
I

hours

day learning by heart

the
very

Of all

began

with

biggest
Amneris,

roles

we

do.

The

sonalitie perin

of turn,
my

Carmen,
version

Dalila, Azucena
of
course,

all in their French

occupied
and

mind

waking

and
was

sleeping. always kind,

thought of
grave
ous courte-

Jacques Bouhy
with Escamillo
me.

The his
me.

his of

having
French of

created tions tradison "Samwords.

and

real He

knowledge
lent
to
me

thrilled
et

his

copy

Dalila"
an

from

which

copy

the French

It had

inscriptionfrom
et

Saint-Saens He

"A

M.

Bouhy,
the role

grand pretre
of the Grand

grand artiste."

created

Priest. "35"

CONFESSIONS
The

OF
I
ever

AN
saw

OPERA
him

SINGER
was one

only

time

upset

day-

after the

Opera
he

class.

We
was

all
on

thought

him

safely out My
letter,

riding
written

as

always
to

Mondays.
says:
we

at

that time

my

mother,
class

"This

morning
time.

in the opera

had

rather

an

unpleasant
voice, has
Samson
score

Little N., with

in
me. one

the the

beautiful first half

tenor

learned for has

week has

of

the
a

duet which

He his

had

to

learn

it from in

only
and has

voice

part
luck

written

it. the

He

is

frightfullydown
voice

on

his

and can't

with

gorgeous
to

speaking
no

French
not
a

get anything
his and
name.

do, and
done
minutes

money,
one

cent

to

We

had
ten

that, some

else had
to

sung,

ing hav-

left, Valdejo told N.

was

sing again if he
and

would. first part

He of

tired, but jumped

He

up

began

the

"Faust."

kept forgetting it.

in walked

denly Sudwhite and

the door
as a

opened

and

Bouhy
stop

as

sheet. his

He

commanded

N.

to

singing
to

to

learn

things before
he

coming
a

again

the he
to
a

class.
was a

Said, why
tenor,

did

sing

like

baritone he
was

when ashamed

mocked sounds

him, told him

made chez

have
year

such
on

lui, that he had

was

been the

"Faust."
one

What
else had

example

he

to

others? He

Every
stormed with the

always worked
N.
on

seriously.

for five

long minutes,
dog's
eyes

standing quite still,

him
"

his brown
room.

fixed

then

he for

left
us

It

was

uncomfortable frightfully
"36"

PARIS
too.

AT
done Of

LAST

am

sure

I have
turn next.
a

just such
course

rotten
was

work

so

it may

be my been

Bouhy
to

right.
it; but

N. he
say

has
is

there

year

and
never

ought

know
says.

just tired out, and

is

sleeps he
his age. had for

They
week

Bouhy
I had

beginning
whom French
one

to

show he has
a

This

he bounced
two

his cook

years."
should
have
an

lessons

week, and

had

at

least

diction which

lesson I had

besides, but
in New
were a

for

invaluable the Yersin

course

taken

York

with

sisters.

These which

lessons I used
way

ing nerve-rackwith strain

my

experience from
feathers all rubbed
to

to

emerge

the wrong the

from

the

of

trying
the

imitate

intangible differences
But
I have

between

various

French

"e's."

always been
the
time very

grateful for this rigid training, from

I first reached

when tle litout with-

Paris, and, though speaking

French, could

give

an

address
now,

to

cocher
I
can

having
my

to
ear

repeat
for
a

it, until

when
in

thank

trained

perfectaccent
studied

singing foreign

languages.
I think
no

one

ever

more

than unrelentingly enthusiasm.

I

I, during that first

year

of hot the
was

began

early
not

in the

morning, and

only

reason

that I did
it cost
me

bum much

the

midnight

oil

that I found
I could
my
room

too

in kerosene

and

firing.
were

keep

warm

in bed

for

nothing, and
a

boulets where "37"

a

pet economy.
was

Coming

from

country

warm

taken

CONFESSIONS
for

OF
and where

:^N
the

OPERA
furnaces
in

SINGER
hotels

granted,

and

boarding
ravens

houses

might

have about
away
on

been

supplied by Elijah's
bear
to

for
my
a

all I knew

it,I just couldn't

bit
my

see

money

burning
I have
to

by

bit in

grate; and
coat

many

time

put

fur-lined

rather

than

add

fuel

the

dying heap of dreadfully expensive

ashes

in the

grille.

"38"

CHAPTER

IV

PENSION

PERSONALITIES

AT
my

first

had

no

companionship
the
ever

and fresh
as

very

little and
in

recreation,

beyond
the Paris

wonder
saw

delight daily
to

of

streets

I
went

them with mother:

a

constitutional.
visit

One
I in

day
wrote

girl

friend "We

her
a

atelier.
time

to

my
room

spent
us

long

the
It

life-class
was
a

"

nude,
A
a

(not

but

the
room,

model).
filled

mixed

class. think
over

large
hundred

oblong

with
men.

should

students,
the model of of
an

mostly
throne.

They
floor
is is

sat

in

circle but tom bot-

facing
the

The

not

raised,

effect stools

amphitheatre
different

produced
They
in
rest

by

rush their of

heights.
on a

pads
them.

or

drawing
room

portfolios
is
us

railing
because
intense

front of the

The What

intolerably
most
was

hot the
no

model.
and
mosphere at-

struck of

silence and

earnestness;

one

speaks
charcoal,
students their and back

there

is

only pencil
up

the

gentle

rub-rub
paper.
never

of

the The
move

crayon,

or

against
down

the and

look

quickly
except She

and

glance
again.

from

their

sketch

to

the

model "39"

CONFESSIONS
was
a

OF

AN

OPERA
took

SINGER

very poses.

pretty young
The of
a

girl and

graceful halfa

hour
at

one

interruption was

quiet
and

voice

the

end

half -hour, "C'est

minutes'
a

Vheure';
We
went

they
other an-

stopped for
room,

few

rest.

into

where

picturesque old wretch

with
cape,

long
well his

black thrown

curls, red velvet waist-coat, long blue back, black, grimy

hands

clasped
stuck
out

around
in

knee, and

clumsy,
seated."

rusty

boots

front

of

him,

was

Later

one

of these He he had
was a

old

models
on

used
was

to

come

to

my

brother.
of
poses

card

which
to

printed the list

"

prepared
Eternal

take.

"The "The

twelve God

Apostles," Jupiter."
I away,

"The

Father"

and

found and

little
went

English
there

tea-room tea

about
and muffins

mile which

often
were

for

in those

days

hardly procurable only about

ten

in French

places.
France.

The The
was

tea-habit

is

years
me

old

in

people
just
of
as

in the

shop
as

soon

knew

which by sight,
over

well,

I in

would
my pay

begin going
head and walk
tea.

the
renely, se-

words

some

part

out

to quite forgetting

for my
in
went

I still go

there them and could hours

to

occasionally when
of that.
I sometimes
not

am

Paris
to

and
two

remind
operas
as

the

the theatre, but

spare

nearly
nor

often

enough,
and the

neither
a

time

money,
on

late

made

concentration "40"

the

next

morning's

PENSION
work
more

PERSONALITIES
The
concert

difficult.
to
me.

world
I

was

great

disappointment
so

I think
to

longed for nothing

orchestral and
music

much

that

year,

as

hear

great

well
concerts

performed;
did
at

but
to

the

Lamoreux

Chevillard
I
was

little

satisfy this craving, and

the

amazed
scope

the of

rouglinessof
the Paris
programs. in

strings and
of the the
reason

the great

row nar-

Many
tours,

tists ar-

avoided

their
concert
a

given

being
On

lack the
was

of suitable other

halls.
new

hand,
to
me

whole

school

of composition
fellow
pen-

opened
Charles

that winter and

by

sionnaire.

Loeffler
in
our

Henry Hadley
Mr. Later

spent

part of the winter

me

pension, and
modernists. their works about
tea
me

Loeffler introduce
in the

to

the

French
over

winter

we

often

talked

together.
such
comers

He

used liked

to to

stroll into my watch

me

room

tea

time, saying he
attractive

make
to

for
to

I had the odd

fingers. He
beloved

used

take

of his

Paris, cafes haunted

by long-hairedSorbonne
where
me so

students, and

cafes chantants,
were

the

frank

propriet im-

of the ditties

for

impenetrably
written

disguised by the argot

I did French shan't
you
were

in which
a

they were
of them. used
more.

that
your

not

understand

word

"When
to

gets
be

more

colloquial,"he bring
man!" I
never

say,

"I if this

able

to
a

you

here

any

Oh! with
woman-

only

He knew "41"

always why,

ended for
my

exclamation, and

CONFESSIONS
hood did
not
seem

OF
to want

AN

OPERA

SINGER

disturb him of
me a

haps Perparticularly.

he felt the confide in. this is my mother: "We

went

sort two

of Fidus famous
in
a

Achates

to

He

took

to

and places, letter to

my

of description

them

firstto the famous

'Noctambules' in the of their

Latin. Quartier
genre
are

It is where the wittiest men

to

be found.

They

are

many

orated of them dec-

the government. One hears wittytopical of the and absurdities telling songs, chansons d"amour, such exeels and fishes in amorous travagances conversation,

by

as

the French

love.

There

is

no

garity. vul-

and Their diction is marvellous, their tone entirely, theysacrifice, around the walls
are

of

course

to

their words.

All

of famous posters and drawings The

artists and caricatures of Parisians.

are

performers

by the master of ceremonies,and in front of the take their stand on a little platform ished, When theyhave finpiano half way up the room. all called on if theyhave been popular, we are for Monsieur so and so. to joinin the douhlement which to a certain rhythm, This consists of clapping 3 4 5, 1 2 3 4 5, is thumped on the piano:12 2 3" and over 12 3 4 5"1 again." still at the "NocIn those days Charles Fallot was
called on
in
turn
" "

tambules" and

and

used

to

arise, very

black and white

and thin,

gaze at himself in the -^2"

bigmirror

oppo-

'lit;,"H.

PENSION
site,while
he

PERSONALITIES
arms

gestured with his long, skinny

hands, and
entendre delivered

and of

thoroughly
his
we

French

himself

witty double
went

chansons.

Another
a

night
Fursy,
neither

to
was

famous
at

Montmartre all the

same

place, Boite

but
of
us

it

not

thing,and
above

we

liked

it.

Henry Hadley had

told
me

the

room

me,

and
etc.,

often

my

hours

of I

playing "Carmen,"
studied
in

nearly
at

maddened

him.

always

bed

or

the

piano, without
when had and

singing, and
roles
to

rarely
memory, composer,
to

used

my

voice

committing

Hadley
in his

often
rooms,

Cyril Scott, the English

I used It and hand
to
was

listen like

with birds
were

joy

Scott's

imaginative

playing.
all

sweeping and
interwoven.
no

swooping,
He

keys
for

intervals
on

always

said, one

his forehead, "I have of

ing understandof

limitations

harmony
one

or

rules He

tempo."
ing nothbored

And

indeed older

why

should

have?
was

liked

than
or

Debussy

and and

unspeakably

by Cluck
"Carmen."

Beethoven

their ilk, though he loved

a

Hadley Wagner
much he

still retained and

strong
the old

ation admir-

for

respect

for the

school,
and

though
modem Melisande

appreciated
I first We
saw

modems

the
as

orchestra.
with the him.

Mary
sat

Garden and
to

both

rapt
was

bound spellme a

to

end, transportedby what

as

perfect revelation

to

scoring for modem

"43"

orchestra,

CONFESSIONS
the

OF

AN
and

OPERA
most

SINGER
of all the subtle Her of
to

intangible operaticform,
of

imaginative acting
suggestion
any

Mary
was

Garden.

power

of

in

those

days
or

capable
mood

conveying
the spectator.

shade That

of

thought

delicate has
me.

performance
an

always

been

and

will

always be Hadley
to

inspirationto

was

always startingoff
filled with

on

impossiblejourneys
of "material." of out-ofin
a

Egypt and
was

the Orient, in search the strangest

His

talk

scraps

the-way information,
dust used A

like
a

bright-colouredrags
door
or

heap.
to

Bauer him

lived

two

away,

and

hear
war

practisingand then hear his

rage
at
our

concerts.
at

wordy

would

end her

of
seat

the table of honour

dinner, while old Madame,

the centre,
mes

from

in

would

cry,

"Mais crush

frangais,parlez franmy
ears

qais,

enfants!
Of
course,

You
no

with

your
to

English!"
themselves

attention

was

paid

her.
not

Joining passionatelyin the

of the metier,
were

discussions, though
two

American
to

livgirls, be

ing
a

on

the top floor,who

or

were

supposed
of with

writing

play together. One usually more girls,and

or

another

the
one

composers
or

was

less in love sides

other

of and
two

the

they took

accordingly, for
of the past. The

against the recognized masters

were

amusing, always doing something eccentric.

At
one

time
a

they

had

an

incubator
we

in their

room,

the

gift of

passing admirer, and

"44"

engaged

pas-

PENSION

PERSONALITIES
The and machine
was

sionately
heated

in
a

raising chickens.

by

huge kerosene

lamp, having

they were
room

always
with

turning
blacks

it too

high

and
or

it fill the
go
out

and
two

smoke,
or

lettingit
chicks, more

altogether.

However,
to

three

mined strenuouslydeterto

live than

tlie rest,

managed

struggleout by
on

at

and lengtli,

tlieir advent We had marked when

was

heralded
our

the the

whole
eggs,

pension.
one

initials

egg

each, and

mine

showed till it shell

as was

the first

signs of

life, I held
The little

it in my

hand the
soon

partly hatched. fascinatingto

could

pecks
taken

inside As

were

feel in one's

palm.

the chicks

walk,
tempts at-

they were
to

downstairs

into

the cite,and

their

scratch of the One

gravel

were

hailed
a

by

the assembled of several guages. lanlittle

inhabitants

garden

in

rapture
to

Englishman

wanted

make

them

jackets,so he could
Discussion Their
cry
was was

take them
meat

for walks drink

to

in the Bois.

and

all these Let

people.
the
tist ar-

"Sensations, sensations!
own

experience everything in his

doctrine sounded rather
a menace

person!"
be

This

to

ing conduct, but talkto

endlesslyabout
in
some

sensations

seemed them.

equivalent
of black
muse;

most

cases

to

experiencing
in
an

Nevertheless,

of them and

indulged

desperate orgies
invocation
to

coffee and
one

cigarettesas
composers
on

their the

of the
poem

assured he
was

me

that

great been

symphonic

which -45"

at

work, had

CONFESSIONS

OF
a

AN

OPERA

SINGER
Ideal
in

inspired by breaking
a

bottle of

Houbigant's
in the
recount

closed the

cab

and

driving for They

and
were

hours
to

ing Bois, inhal-

perfume.
excesses,

loved

these
in

gantuan Gar-

extravagant
and the calm

praise of

midnight oil, attic windows,

of

inspiration

early dawn

after

nights of frantic toil.

very
was

They

were

dreadfully sincere, and

seemed
to
me

amusing
a

to

watch, but
of stage

it

that there little play.

great deal
tended such

ting set-

for very

They

the green

shoot

of their artistic that

it
was

development

with

fantastic care,
too

in

danger of dying from

I
was

much either

sideration. con-

Personally,
sensations
or

too

busy,

for
to

the

analysis of them, though I used

could be like into returned
gorgeous

wonder

what and

this Paris from

which

they

journeyed
all seemed The

which

they
and and

full of tales

of affairs and
most

lovelywomen
romantic

houses.
me.

It

to interesting

other

end

of the dinner
contrast to

table represented staid

our

in conventionality
centre sat

anarchism.

In the

Madame of
one

and of

beside the

her her

life-long friend,
Some than

the

editor

Paris
more

newspapers.
a

hinted

that he

was

something
seventy
once
,

friend, in
was

spite of Madame's
Madame
M

years.

Opposite her,
in

an

American

the

days

of

long

ago,

but with

no

trace
was

of it left except

in her
one

sistent per-

accent.

She

reputed

to

possess

dred hun-

dresses,and

the variety of certainly "46"

her

costume

PENSION
was

PERSONALITIES
as

amazing;

but
every

she
gown

was

at

least last

and fifty-five

had her
not
a

preserved
annual

for

the

thirty years,

dress

expenditure,after all, was

Her
was

probably
allowed himself
game

extravagant.
word the when she

old husband

was

never

present,

so

he

revenged
every

for

privation by
after
no

interfering with
salon
he and
"

started

dinner

in the

bridge,poker,
that he could

tience, pa-

matter

what

it was,
wrong

always insisted that

show

the them

players were
how
was

quite
done
young

it

was

in the Russian

clubs.

There and
her
at

girl with

pretty face

pretty

clothes, whose
Her
so

hands,
beautiful

however,
sister
was

betrayed
engaged
terest in-

peasant origin.
the Grand
to
me.

Opera,
There

she

was

an

object of great
Swedes,
French
an

were

some

and

script nondea

Americans,
mother who and
two

and

charming
of

family,

bearers daughters,
up

historic name,
in the in

had

come

from

their chateau have

South

of

France

that

the

girlsmight
were

masters

various

"accomplishments," and
from
a

living

in

the

pension

motives

of economy. used officer,

On
to

Sundays their brother,

dine with them. With

young

naval

his

pale, aristocratic
the and

face, and

with

kers, little side-whissers trou-

high stock of his uniform, his strapped

narrow,
come

arched
to

feet, he
Then

was

like
was

John

Leech

drawing

life. la
-47"

there

large

Frenchwoman,

Madame

Marquise de Quelquechose,

CONFESSIONS
who lent the
our

OF
lustre

AN
her

OPERA
title and At

SINGER
her ancestral

of

jewels to

bourgeois board.
heirlooms, but
in

least,she said her

must
saw

jewels
had
a

were

her

ancestors
as

have
plicas re-

prophetic taste
of her An
ornaments

jewelry,
in

I often

the

shops

of

the
our

rue

de

Rivoli.

old

Englishwoman
In

completed
for "oon

list of

permanencies.
in

spite of twenty
still ask

years'
There
were

residence
poo

Paris, she
in
a

would

petty
were

de
sients tran-

pang"

high, drawling

voice.

of many
inmates.

but these nationalities,

our

regular

An

interesting
my

man

sometimes

dined

with

us.

Writing
"Last
many

mother Mr.

about H Sarah

him

I say:

night

dined Bernhardt. he
was

here

and He

told said
once

us

yams

about

when and

he

was

in California
went
on
a

asked

to

meet

her

they
had and

all her

hunting picnic together. She

she

dropped they gold

a

robe

when

got
a

to

the

island

where

dejeuner, undoing

wide, heavy, Egyptian

precious-stone belt, and

velvet

appeared
says

attired adores
as

in
to

man's

hunting-suit. He
referred
to

she

talk

cancan,

and After

the

manager

'that

cochon'

breakfast, she threw

and shot them

the
to

champagne
pieces at the
was

bottles far into the lake first shot. she and undid when The her

only
belt

posey

thing she did

it far
was across

when

and her
"

threw if that 4S"

the

road,

he asked

the way

she treated

PENSION
such
it
to

PERSONALITIES
said that the
man

beautiful her
at
was

things, she
domestic!
...

who than

gave

It is colder
I feel it
so

charity
I

here shall I To

present,
my
a

at

least

in

the

house.

start

fire

today
of

for the first time. do

you

Yesterday
know
are

bought

bunch

violets, and

why?
bad

keep myself

from You

buying chestnuts, which

see,
more

for the voice. I could

I
not

if I spent for

my

sous

for violets Thus

vented pre-

afford

chestnuts.

myself."

"49"

CHAPTER

OPERATIC

FRANCE

VERSUS

OPERATIC

GERMANY

AFTER
my

few I

months

of
to

strenuous

endeavour

on

part,

began
I
saw

be

little dissatisfied that

in
a

and

restless.

clearly
I

year's time,
a

working

at

such
to

pressure, my way

should

have
on

sufficient the

repertoire
but
I I did

begin
see

apprenticeship
to
a

stage;

not

my

debut
to

quite
get
their

so

clearly.
ideas
my
were

talked

with

the

other

pupils,

of

progression.
at

They
or

all said, "When "the

at

I make

debut all would

the of

Opera,"
an

Comique."
the

They

sure

opening nothing
That
was

top

and

apparently
roles
in
a

consider

less
not

than
my

leading
idea
to at

world
care

capital.
about
a

all.
to

I did act,
an

not to

debut.
over

I wanted and
my
over

learn before
to

do

my
to

big parts
sing them
and
my

again
to

audience,
voice,

into

voice,
an

learn

make

face,
of all

whole role
to

body
had
to

articulate

expression

that

the

say.

I tried had made

find their

out

how

the

singers of the
Some,
I

two

operas

careers.

learned,

though

doing

leading
so

work,
and
so

still
many

paid

for

their worth

performances
of
seats

by taking

francs
"50"

every

FRANCE
time

VERSUS
Some had

GERMANY

they

sang.

gained
Some
were

hearing by
there

the

influence

of their teachers. The Russian

not

tection. by "proful, beauti-

sister girl's

was

very

but

she

was

very

gifted either vocally or

at

trionica hisuntil
man.

and
I heard

I wondered
was

her of
a

engagement,
certain

that she

the protegee
at
or

rich

The
a

winners

of the first prize and

one

the Conservatoire
two

had

chance
a

given them,
extent,

had

made

good

to

certain

and

still sang

occasionally. But,
must

thought,if
an

the debutantes

of the Conservatoire
can

be given for for

opportunity, there

be very and the

as

little room

other

inexperienced singers,
The "France for

certainly none
French"
it
must

foreigners. impressed
in
me

spirit
all foreigners
to

had

tremendously,
Generous rewards
as

Paris.

the

city

is

them,
race

she

rightlygives her
class
one

to

those of her

own

first.

The
to
me.

opera

was

another
was

source

of

annoyance

The
a

idea

"copy
whether
matter

what

I show

you"

"

make
you

faithful
or

imitation it doesn't

it expresses

what feel moulds

so

feel
as

not;
pour
neat

what the

you
same

long
and

you
out

everything

into

turn

little shapes, labelled for use, school." and

"love," "hate,"
to

"despair," all ready

of the French
were

all "true

the

ditions tra-

The and

first lessons there

of all
my

in

standing
The

and

walking,
demanded

began

sadness.

traditions

that one's

feet be

"51"

CONFESSIONS
set

OF
"ten

AN

OPERA
to

SINGER
Mine abetted
sit down

eternally at
from

minutes

two." and
to

would them
sionally occa-

deviate
in

this rule, and

I aided
was

their

mutiny.
with
my

My
knees
at

instinct

together,instead
of the chair.
no

of

always
felt

draping

one

leg

the side

I often
at

like singing instead

movements.

quite a long phrase with

up
a

gestures

all,

of

keeping

succession

of

undulating armwho
vain

Our chewed
to

dramatic

coach,

fiery individual,
in

coffee-berries
me

persistently, struggled
hand
on

teach

to

lay
two

one

my

heart

tional in the tradi-

manner,

middle

little one fingers together,

mine
a

crooked, thumb starfish, and

taboo.
were

in. sometimes

Sometimes like
to

looked

like
were

fist,and
each

botli

Gestures diff"erent
ones

had

melt

into

other; there
woe

for diff'erent emotions, and mixed them! There

vous was a

tide beof The

you
test

if you

sort

speech beginning, ''Moi, qui

at

parle.'"
the chest

hand

"^moi"
manner.

had

to

be

laid

upon

in the

approved
the end At

I have

forgotten the middle, but je le feraijamais!"

the first
two

was,
one

"Et

je vous

jure, que
the

jure

elevated
at

right hand,

fingers raised, and

a

jamais the right arm

the upper
away
a

described

figure eight across

of

half

of the

body, with
We

the gesture

tearing
and of
never

long beard.

did

this all winter

an

reached
our

that is, perfection,

exact

copy

Valdejo,
"52"

instructor.

FRANCE
We had
to

VERSUS

GERMANY
classic walk
out,
"

practice

the

slowly

vancing, adto

foot
see,
one arm

dragging,
from

stomach

very

lordly

bent

the elbow
"

with
a

the forearm difficult

but

and

hand The
was

resting against the body

different excellent
a

most

thing.
idea tainly Cer-

versions

were

very

comic,
in

the

and

I used

it later

"Orfeo."
not

pulled
a

back
tunic.
to

tummy

would

be

in

acter char-

in

Greek
we

Later,
there

had
on

act

scenes

from
to

our

operas,

and
in the

I got
to

better.

I used

get absorbed

character of
my

the extent

of becoming
I

perfectlyoblivious
once,
as

surroundings.
so

remember
upon

Dalila,
couch of

throwing myself

hard
my

the
on

supposed
the marble
mates

Dalila, that I thumped

behind
me.

head

mantel
into
a

My

watching
real
tears

class of

burst
not

snicker, and
I

I into

anger,

of

pain.

had

entirely forgotten
me

tliem

when

their but and

giggles
great
to

wrenched

back
to

into

the

present;

their

pride
be

was

never

forget
the

themselves
in

always

ready

to

imitate

coach
I had

cold

blood.
in me,
me

He,
and naille!" "Caa

however,
used
to

appreciatedthat
thump
when
me on

something
and

the

back,
that

call
"

I did

anything

pleased him

ous curi-

expression
I
am

of

approval.
the

not

denouncing
of for
some

ordinary "opera class."

doubtless old order has
its

This

method

slavish

imitation

usefulness

people.
"53"

The

of opera

CONFESSIONS

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
But of
me.

singer was
Garden
had

often trained

by

such
to

schooling.
the
was new

Mary ing singI

own

opened
and
a

my

eyes

order

actors,

the old real

method
on

no

help
try
out

to

longed rightor

for

stage

which

to

my

ideas, and

find

by experience
I wanted
is
to

whether

they

were

wrong.

gain that subtle quality,

as

"authority,"which
that routine bones of the

nearly
makes blends

important

as

voice

self, it-

which and

one

forget the four long

into
an

body,

all its members and

instrument

of

expression, homogeneous

ous. harmoni-

In

my

researches
much

into the life-stories of French

ers, singas a

I heard

of

"the
my

French

provinces"
to

training school, and

all the

turned
on

attention

ing accumulatI could

information heard tales

that

subject that
audiences
in
a

gather.
cheered
tear

of

southern

who mob
to

their

singers to the echo, waited

from their with

the horses

carriages after
and

ance, perform-

pelted them approval

side when of
in other

flowers

expressed their
The
reverse

picturesque fashions.
is of
torn

these

tales
are

directlyopposite character,
up

benches

and

flung
at

over

the

lery gala

by
favourite

the

"gods," disappointed
the head for their missiles loud If
a

not

hearing

singer, and

of the

unlucky

tute substi-

is the target

till he makes

good

with

high

note

enough
wretched "54"

to

pierce the din of their

protestation.

singer clears his throat

FRANCE
loud

VERSUS
be

GERMANY
will be

enough by
a

to

heard,
of

he

greeted at
the

each

trance en-

chorus
a

from throat-clearing strikes

groans

gallery.
"Shakea

If his acting of
or

part

them and To
a

as

being pretentious
of
on

over-solemn,
his

cries

reward spear-r-r-e"
note

efforts.

crack of

high

is the

certain

signal for
singer
the
him

riot

yelling and
out at

jeers,but the unhappy

cost,

must

stick it

any

for

if he
set

leaves
upon

stage,

they
the

wait

for

him

outside
"If

and

bodily.
round
so,

you've made
who

the

of
once

Provinces,"
said
to

as

Harry Weldon,
can

has done

me,

"you

sing
Of

in Hell!"
not
as

course,

all

provincialaudiences
as

are

so

peramental" "tem-

the southerners, but,

far

as

I could
to

learn, paid performances and

exist

protection seemed
less

everywhere
was

in greater

or

degree.
"

The

ertoire rep-

limited

and

old-fashioned

the

standard
"Ham-

French

operas,

"Faust," "Mignon," "Carmen,"

with
some

let," were "Aida,"

of the

performed,
"The

"Traviata," "Travatore,"

Barber,"

Meyerbeer,
Fille
were

and

many

lighter works, like "La

the
more

du

Regiment."
and

Among
"Manon"

modem

works with

"Werther"
and and

of Massenet,

"Boheme"

"Butter"Tann-

fly" and perhaps

hauser"
were

"Louise."

"Lohengrin"
given, but
Weber
the and

sometimes

big Wagner
Cluck, and

dramas,
the

the classics of Mozart, like

modems

Debussy, Dukas,
"55"

Strauss, Humper-

CONFESSIONS dinck, seemed

lack of

OF

AN
Over

OPERA
all there

SINGER

neglected.
method,
confess

hung

eral gen-

musical that I

thoroughness and

cipline. dis-

I must
as

say, judge largely by hearopera

the
I have

only provincial French

any

house

of

which So Of

personal knowledge
"The Carlo

is that of
an

Nancy.

it may
course,

be

that I do Monte then all.

Provinces" and Nice

is not

injustice.
many

both But
at

offer
a

novelties. French On
opera

Monte

Carlo

provincial

the other

hand, the
of

stories

I heard

of the great
to

operatic machinery irresistibly. The

great
chain of

Germany

began

attract

me

organized system
and

of

opera,

the

opera

houses, the disciplineof their

rigid schooling, the concentration

deep musical

sincerityof their musicians, the simplicity of German

life,all seemed
dramatic
in their
to

offer what
my

was

looking for.
have
more

The
scope

quality of
more

voice

would

varied
opera

repertoire,while
houses I

surely in
a

their
to

hundred-odd work
out

might find

place

my
one

ideas

in peace.
me

Every
their
career

thought
to

crazy.
me,
a

My

teachers
me a

tried

hardest

dissuade But

promising
call
to

great
where opment devel-

in France.
to

I felt

Germany
own

hoped

find die

right conditions lacking

"

for my

which barrier
in
was

seemed the

in France.

The

great

language

^the

of difficulty I did
not

singing
know

it,to say

nothing of learning it,for

"56"

FRANCE
one

VERSUS
de Reszke said for

GERMANY
to
me

word. German
vous

Jean
as
a

later,speaking
"Avec that
I
cette

of

language

singing:

langue,

narriverez

jamais"
succeed.)
deal
to

(With
However,

guage, lanhave

you

will
a

never

said and

tliat I had
I determined

good
to

of courage Berlin
to

in those

days,

go

try my

luck. ite favour-

Not

that I

was

tired of Paris. wonderful who

a can

It is still my

city offering a
culture
art to

opportunity
get into
debt for that

ing for broadenwith

its my
true
on

those
it

touch

life.

owe

great

deepening
sense

artistic

perception, and
which and

developing
one

of

proportion
the
not
one

keeps
pedantry
Paris
as

from

exaggeration
But for has life.

hand

on

the other. school

I should

recommend
American
to

the best of
into

the
no

nary ordi-

student

singing, who
real French

portunit op-

penetrate

There

is

no

lack

of sincerity in the real the schools

French

institutions,
Sorbonne
"

the Conservatoire, there

are

of art, the

found

concentration, competition, and

But the

ness keen-

enough.
not

foreign

student with

of

singing does

ordinarily come
the Paris vocal

into contact

these institutions.

In
a

studios,
of
win
a

as

I know

them, there
of
energy.

is

dissipation instead
students
race,

conservation the
crown

The the

expect
money

to

without

running
great
to
a

and

and

influence I

play

too

role.

They

(vocal students,

mean)

tend

gerate exag-

their little emotions "57"

into

and grandes passions,

CONFESSIONS
hold the
most

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
of their I agree
own

views disproportionate I do
not
mean

portance ima

to

say

that

with tales

certain

singer who
among

brought
American

back

harrowing
students
in

of

immorality Amongst
known,
In
to

Europe.
I have

all the hundreds

I
never

of vocal

students

met

one

case

of flagrantmisbehaviour.
strive

general the girlslive quietly and

their

according
with work
is to

though lights, enough

for
a

there

is not

one

in twenty

resolution
necessary

to

concentrate
career.

on

the

hard

great
time

The
money
on

temptation

fritter away don't

matter.

both

and

the things that

-58"

CHAPTER

VI

PREPARING

ROLES

IN

BERLIN

THE
come

first
I

of
set

September,
out

without Berlin. the with this

word mother

of

man, Gerhad
to

for

My

over

during
in sister.

preceding
my

Spring,
brother
went

make Cecil them I

it
went

her and for

to

home

Paris From and has

sculptor
time
on

my

to

the

summers,

my

sister

joined
since. Paris it
to

me

when
It made

Metz,
to

and

never

left and
I

me

harder
into

leave unknown

both

family
but

behind be the

and best

go way.

an

land,

felt

Lilli found
with I

Lehmann's
her address and the train.

studio
in

was

my

objective

point.
and armed

musical of
an

journal,
inexpensive
in
to

that,
took

address

pension,
I

the

Arrived
the and that driver

Berlin,
my
on a

took

Droschke,
him

directing
the
street

pension piece
my

by
of

ing show-

number Droschke

paper.
my

Somewhere

between clock it! The

and what

room,

travelling
recover

got

lost, and

time

had of

to

apple-cheeked
"59"

maid

knew

the

/"
CONFESSIONS
existence vain

OF
other

AN

OPERA
beside

SINGER
her
own.

of

no

language
of my
no

In

I made

pendulum
tick"
"

fingerand tirelessly
of

repeated "tick,
dawned The
in her

gleam
eyes.
a

intelligence

Prussian

blue

first few The

days brought
idea and
to
,

series
to

of be
me

ments. disappointabandoned.

Lehmann of Herr her.

town

had

She
to
one a

was

out

recommended
whom
I found

by
old
me

letter

certain

she

was a

sending every
dear
say
to
man on

who

appliedto
one

him

indeed, but
the heard

who
voice

had

notliingto

subject of

production

which

had

not

already. However, I decided to begin the repertoirewith him, painstakingly study of German in French, I already knew re-learning the operas
and

adding

the

new

ones

required for
a

German

engagement.
knew the operas he

Later

I found

who good repetiteur,

cheaper, as
hour.

quite sufficient and much tlioroughly, charged only four marks ($1.00) an
the had words been of
an

I studied 's wife, who

my

roles

with
a

Herr

actress

and
I
am

good proud
sons les-

one,
to

and
is

who
now

laid the foundation

a

of what
accent.

say

perfectGerman
an

These

were

five marks learn

up
a

hour

and

were

quite worth

it.

I would

role

by heart,

sentence

by

tence, sen-

looking
writing
hours

every

word
over

in the

dictionary and

in the translation

the German,
a

spending

in fruitless search

for

past

which participle

"60"

PREPARING
did
not

ROLES
if it

IN
to

BERLIN
the only infinitive,
in the

look

as

belonged
course,
to

its

part of the verb, of Then,

it with sometimes
sentence

be

given

ary! dictiongo
over

by
,

sentence,

I would

Frau

repeating each
We also

word used
to

after those

her,

twenty

times!
I found

did splen-

books, known
actor, in

afterwards of words

every

German the
same

which
or

paragraphs
combination

with and
over

vowel
are

sound

of vowel
over

consonants

given
this

to

be

repeated
I had

and

again.
for

sides Befour for the

drudgery,

German
or

lessons

months which

(at three
I had
to

marks

seventy-five cents)
write exercises.

translate

and

All and
me

labyrinthsof

the declension

of articles, nouns before

jectives adto

in three

genders and plurals, lay

The datives and

be
my

explored.
dreams

accusatives

haunted reduced
to

by night, and
first live in

by day

was

the sign I had the

language.
left my
to

pension, and
one

crushing

down

temptation

of the

big, gay
and the
a

German-

American
mercy, into It
"

pensions, where
so

justice is tempered with

to

speak,

I moved

myself
I
was

my

piano

real
one

German floor of
a

one,

where

only alien.
street

was

large house
no

in

quiet side

the top floor, and

elevator!
count
a

I climbed time I
cnme

eightyhome
steam,
were

seven

steps
a

by actual
I had

every
room,

from

lesson. for

huge
a

heated The

by
meals

with

board

four

marks "61"

day.

CONFESSIONS
echt Deutsch. table
went

OF
Breakfast
at
some

AN
was

OPERA
set

SINGER
on

ready

the

ing-room din-

miearthly hour,
when
warm

and

the guests
The

in and

helped
hot milk

themselves
were

they chose.
over

coffee

and

kept

little alcohol rolls and

two,

flames, and
the best
was

there

were

delicious Dinner We
to

Berlin
was

of unsalted
in its

butter.
way.

at
some

and

good

plain
one

had learn
to

North

German olives. but beer

dishes Hot
soup, in it

which

had
soup

enjoy, like
of,
with
mine.

chocolate sorrel
were never

grew

quite fond
soup

soup,

and

cabbage
intimates

cherries One dish

exactly
with

of and

of

baked

ham

dumplings improves
on

hot

plum

jam sounds

strange, but
and

ance; acquaintare

Pumpernickel,
than beeren We had their
names,

Schmierkaese

better Preissel-

and

Kartoffelpuffenmit
cranberries)
and
are

(potato cakes day,

and

with

delicious. coffee for

good plain puddings

every goose

black

dessert

and

quite wonderful
with

roast
cream

anian Pomeron

Eistorte
was

whipped
the life. cold

Sundays. certainly a
butter with

Supper
model slices dishes

at

eight, and

menu

was

for of of
in

the
sausage

simple
and chestnuts

Bread

and
times some-

ham,
of

big
meat,
or

roast

instead
some

cold the

potatoes

their

jackets, or
cheeses

of
to

endless
tea
or

variety of North-German
beer, and
fellow that
was

"

drink,

all.
were

My

pensionnaires
"62"

nearly

all

teachers,

PREPARING
or

ROLES
to

IN

BERLIN

students

preparing

be teachers.

They
and,

all
at

spoke

German used
to

and think

nothing but
my

German,
drown
my

first, I

mind

would

in the over^vhelmears.

ing floods
came

of it that assailed like individual

Gradually
and

it

to

sound

words
a

phrases,and
tional conversa-

soon

I dared

occasionally to launch
upon

small

barque
of

it, avoiding the

disastrous

rocks
at

gender

as

skilfully as
time
a

possible,though genders
the We had and
cases

often
were

first, by the

that my
sentence,
use

all

arranged
and

for

subject had
a

changed,
Lanz,

I could

not

it.

Fraulein
or

Fraulein Frauleins Another

Franz, and
and
no

Fraulein.
at

Kranz, four

five other

males

all. of singing used

to
came

American
in the

student
we

to

live

there, and
or

evening

go

to

the opera
in

to

concerts

together. Everytliingbegins early

those the who had tickets for
supper.
some

Berlin, and
missed

ment entertain-

eight o'clock,
(rolls with
on

So

plates of
would be

belegte Broedchen
set out

cold

meat)

for them be

the

and dining-table, with

tvar

all the others and

in.
gram pro-

would would On

sitting there
"Nun,

their es?"

needle-work,
when
we came

demand

wie

Saturdays the evening

at

paper

announced and
we

the

the opera look

at

for the week,

it.

could
are

hardly
in

wait

to

The wait

cheaper
for

seats

great
from
mom-

demand.

Students

hours, sometimes
office
on

earliest dawn,

outside

the box "63"

Sunday

CONFESSIONS ings when

arrangement

OF

AN
the week

OPERA

SINGER
We had
an

the sale for with the

save

begins.
oi
a

keeper
ourselves
to
see

little fruit We
to

and

vegetable shop, to
decide
on

the wait.
go
over

would his

what

we

wished

and

shop
him. front

Saturday
then
went

evening
down

to

order

the
to

seats
secure

from the

He
row

early enough
us

in the

top

gallery for
cents

at

two

marks

and fifty,

we

paid
is

him

twelve
a

for his trouble.

in

Sixty-two
to

cents

quite
of the

high price
The

comparison
for the

those

of

the rest
cost

Opera House,
much
in

orchestra

chairs

only eight marks.

back
rows are

top

gallery is
the

vast, and

the show
rows

cheaper, but
up

authorities of the front

seat
on

their and To that

sense

keeping

the
is
ever

price
an

I don't
concerts
we were

think
we

there
were

empty

there.

often

admitted the could

one

free,
was

saying

students, unless
in that in the
came case we

artist

great favourite, and

room,
or

buy
mark.
cars,

ing standWe
ing payductor, con-

seats

gallery for
in the
a one

always
the

went

and
cent

home with
our

street

two

fare

cent

tip to
street

the

and with
scarves

dressing in
over our

ordinary
I used
to
or

clothes,
times, some-

hair.

to

go

alone

and
way.
at

was

never

spoken
at

molested
you

in

any

No

one

looked times.
I would

you

twice, unless

looked

him On

three

Sundays

take
an

day off, and,

bad

in true

German

fashion, make

expedition;in

weather

"64"

PREPARING
to
some museum or

ROLES

IN

BERLIN
or

picture gallery, in Autumn

restaurant.

Spring
I
was

to too

some

out-of-door
to

Sometimes the

tired

go

further
across

than

Tiergarten.
have coffee

Then and

I would

stroll the the

gently
or

it and

cakes

at

Zelt,
band

big open-air
Tliey
are

refreshment the
resort

gardens where
of hoi

plays.
in

polloi of Berlin
rather rather fat

countless hirsute and tall their

family

groups:

the

father
also

with

adornments,

the

mother all

massive,
out

plump

children,
mugs,
or

drinking beer
in

of white

glasses and
and
or

coffee of

inch-thick

cups,

eating wedges
the tion addi-

highly decorated
of

Torte, with
cream.

without

heaped-up whipped
more

If I felt the

strenuous,
a

I would

take

car

out

to

Grunewald,

villa-colony suburb,
I would As I
sat

with
sit under
some

roads the

winding
trees
or

through pine woods.

invite
my

and

soul.
come

there,

girl
a

boy's

school

would

trooping by, singing

in four

Volkslied

of interminable all

verses,

parts, having
motion
a

tramped
open air.

day

for

the

pure

joy of
coffee
at

in

the

Then and

I would

have

and the of
many

triangle of

cherry pie,
an

what

cherry pie!
on

Hundekehle,
a

immense

restaurant

the border know how

small fat

lake,
sians Prus-

accommodating
at town
once

don't

with such

refreshments.
resort,

Every inexpensive
Such

German
creature
an ex-

has

some

where
a

comforts

are

the reward

of

long walk.

CONFESSIONS

OF
whole

AN

OPERA
is their
sense

SINGER
greatest
to

pedition
and often
one

of
in

the

family
have
on

treat,
as

which

they
Even

the week

indulge

as

possible.
find
a

day

afternoons
cup

the of
is

housewives

time

for

stroll,a

reviving
course

coffee, and
not

little

gossip, though of
going
this
en masse

that Hans

the

same

thing
Of

as

with

and
war.

the Kinder.

course,

was

long before

the

"66"

CHAPTER

VII

MY

FIRST

OPERATIC

CONTRACT

SIGNED

BY
The

the of the

first

of

December

had

broken understood

the
a

back

German of
an

declensions,

good
had

part

ordinary
three ambition
to
or

conversation,
four roles
to

and
in

painfully

acquired
of
I
my

German.
me

gadfly
and

began
look for did I
a a

torment

again,

determined ask
This Herr
me

"job."
get
to
see

Students

often

"How how.

you

your

first best

engagement?"
agent
in

is

went

the

Berlin,
for his of

Harder,

man

of

the

highest

reputation
head powers Some of

fair

dealing, who Opinion

is

was

the
as

recognized
the

profession.
usefulness that

to

agent's singers.

divided have made

among

maintain

they

all tell
you

their that

good
you

engagements
are

independently,
only
in

others of
a

safe

the

hands
in is

reputable
ways.
to

agent. agent
the
a

I is
eratic op-

have
not

closed

contracts

both

The watch is
is
to

omnipotent.
field and

It

his
you

business when
you.
are

notify
would

there He

vacancy
to

that first

he

thinks such
are

suit

apt
occur.

know rectors Digo

where

vacancies

likely
singers

who

looking
"67"

for

sometimes

CONFESSIONS
to straight

OF

AN
agent.

OPERA
Then So

SINGER

their favourite word that

on

he, the agent,

and So will

sends

you

Herr
a

Direktor

be
you

at

his Bureau

such
may

day

to

hear

singers. When

respond, you
many

find

yourself the only contralto

or

among
one

other
or seven

voices,
all

you

may
same

find

yourself

of six

wanting the
blanks
in
an

engagement.
and office, when

The he
a

agent
hears

keeps
of
a

contract

in his opera

vacancy
your
name,

house, he fills in
of the theatre, and

blank

with

the he

name

the salary tentatively

sends
it to you.

thinks

they

will
you,

pay,

and
turn re-

You

sign
This
is

it if it suits

and

it to the agent.
a

reallynothing more
will

than

notification
is not

that there the paper

not

is, or

be, such
on.

vacancy,

and

worth do

it is written

American
you
or

who girls,

understand offered have A

this, will tell

or

that ich," Munthese

as

they

have when

"been

Berlin,

Vienna,
one

they
it is

merely
contract

received
is

of

Agenten-Vertrdge.
such, until
opera is not

worth

nothing

countersigned by the director

of the

house, and
valid

yourself as
have house
may

singer. Even
as

then, it

until you
at

sung

many

"trial performances"
contract

the

opera
you

as

the
to

calls

for, and
I told do
as

for which Herr

have

wait
"

six months.
a

Harder

what

I wanted

chance

to

big roles somewhere,

I should

salary no
the for

particularobject,
as

look

upon

experience

the

tion complehim

of

my

training. I

sang

him, left with

"68"

MY
my

FIRST

OPERATIC

CONTRACT
and he

SIGNED

repertoire and
me

photographs,
first

promised

to

let

know In
a

of

the

opportunity that presented

sent

itself.
see

short

time, he

for des

me

to

come

and Berlin
a

the Director which

at

of the Theater that

time
was

Westens,
home
manager,
to

theatre of
was

the the

of

sort

popular
very
once,

opera.

I sang

for He

and
engage

he
me

complimentary.
but he

offered

at

added,

curiously enough,
gave

that

was

too

good for him!

"Trovatore,"
and of these
on

They only
the have

only the older

the

operas

like

which the

copyright
which
no

had

pired, ex-

ones

the chance said did

Hofoper
to

did
my very

not

give, so

that I should At
to
same

have

sing

big parts.
much like

time, he
The refuse

he

would
not
on

me.

offer
it.

suit

my
my

plans,and
work made

I decided

to

I went when This

with Herr

until
me

just before
a

Christmas,

Harder

second

proposal.
in

was

the of

position of first contralto

Metz
one,
a

the
opera

garrison
was a

town

in Alsace-Lorraine.

The

municipal

that is it of

was

subsidized

by

the town,
a

they played

season

seven

months, and
of the

gave

large repertoire
I
was

including
down liked

some

Ring
the

dramas.

to

go

there, sing for

me,

management,
the

and

if

they

begin
me

my time I

engagement
to
was

following September,
to

giving

make
a

additions of

my

German I could

repertoire. As
not

beginner

course

give the usual guest performances.

"69"

CONFESSIONS Vorsingen
have
a

OF
is
a

AN

OPERA
The

SINGER
great theatres
was

trying ordeal.

regular days for hearing aspirants,but this

theatre. The

small

appointment during,
of the

is

usually made
just after

on

the

stage,

sometimes

sometimes

rehearsal.
in the opera

Groups
house

singers regularly engaged

the

stand

in

wings, and

you

feel

nameless

hostility emanating
from the The
one

from
you
are

all of them,

cially espe-

whom
is

going
cavern,
to

to

try

to

supplant.
acoustic
or

theatre
course

Like

and
you.

the Two
dicate in-

is of

totally unknown
down of
in

three

pale spots

the

orchestra and

chairs

the the
come
are

whereabouts
and The

the

director

perhaps
have

stage manager
to

first

Kapellmeister who
"rehearsal

hear

you.

overhead
you
are

lights"
of

very

unbecoming
are

and

quite conscious

it.

If you

to

sing with

orchestra, the conductor

Herren,
Frdulein
inches It

presents you
." You

to

the

players,"Meine
your

bow, and
first

insides
was

slip a few
the

lower.
stood of
a

My
at
one

Vorsingen

with
a

piano.

side of the stage, and

whipper-snapper
or

third

Kapellmeister prelude

dashed

more

less from

rately accu-

into the
et

of the second

aria

son "Sam-

Dalila."
came a

Then office. Frau

momentous

interview

in the Director's

had
,

sung

such
no

good
idea

German,

thanks

to

that he had

that I understood he said. For

only
form's

about

three words

in five of what

"70"

MY
sake and

FIRST
he

OPERATIC

CONTRACT
verstehen he
was

SIGNED

kept saying, "Sie

I

micli, Frdulein?"'
satisfied. Hia

when

answered
she

"/","

wife, who
tried
more

thought
say
a

spoke English, was

my

present, and

to

great of

deal, but
the
two.

German I

proved the
I
was

serviceable
a

gathered that

offered

two

season

contract,

to

sing the leading

150

tralto con-

parts,
mondi!
are

at

the

princely salary of
There
was no

marks

(about $35).

aries Spielgelt. Salmuch

per

usually divided
so

into

so

month of
is
or

down,

and

much
per

per

performance, the number guaranteed; that is, one

whetlier
over one

performances

month number

paid
not,

for and

certain

sings them
above this
ber num-

any

performances
extra.

and

are

paid

If

performance

is lost

by one's

own

fault, through illness for example, the Spielgelt

that

for

performance
the
cast to

is forfeited.

Three

sence days ab-

from
may

through illness,even
sing only
once

though
those

one

be scheduled
as one

during
In

days,

is counted

Spielgelt.
a

Illness

is, in fact, almost

money,
are

crime.
to

addition
witnesses

to
to

losing
prove

your

you

have

have

that you
are a

really ill,for theatre

take of

directors

in

Germany
granted.
with
or

suspicious lot and

wake
on

nothing for
a

If you

the

morning
enemy
way

ance performvoice,

that laryngitis, fall downstairs

your

dread
on

of the
to

if you

your
must

the theatre

and

sprain

ankle, you
"71"

notify the theatre

CONFESSIONS
before
or
a

OF
hour

AN

OPERA

SINGER
ten
or

certain

in the
you

day, perhaps
cannot

twelve,

four word

o'clock, that
for
it alone
on

sing

that

night.
has
one

Your

won't

do.
you

Every
must

theatre call in
or

special doctors
of these, whether He makes
an

its

list,and

he

is your

regular physician
and

not.

examination
you
are

gives
to

you

signed
if
in

statement

that be

unable

appear,

adding,
it will

the his

disorder

serious, how
you
man can

many
return

days
to

be

opinion, before
that the

work.
in

It often

happens
your

most

experienced
in specialist
as

treating
for and

illness, the
is
not
on

best

throat

town,

example,
then have in if you

the books be the treated theatre

"Theater-Arzt,"
you

wish with
was

to

by him,
doctor.
I had

sometimes

trouble
I

In
a

the

theatre

which

first

engaged,
I
was

disagreeable
bronchitis,
that
on

experience
and
sent

of

this kind.
to

ill with

word
not

the
to

theatre

the

day before,
in

should the the and

be

able

sing Marta,
it.

"Faust,"
committed

night

scheduled
crime
my

for of

I had
once

already
before

deadly

illness

that

season,

this time
to

defection

was

particularlyannoying
they
had
to

the

management
anyway,

because and another

me was

get
forced Nurse.

guest for "Faust"

to

they
to

would

be

send

posthaste

for

sing the

Their

irritation

with of the

equalled,
theatre

if not

passed, sur-

by

that

regular
been

doctor, whose
the last time

professionalhonour

had

outraged

"72"

MY

FIRST
my

OPERATIC
upon

CONTRACT
tlie services lived
in

SIGNED
of
a

by

insistence

very

clever whose
own.

throat aid

who specialist
had I

the
to

town,

and
to

I had

the
was

bad the
Next

taste
com

prefer
theatre
a

his

Between

them,

between the

the upper
sent

and word from

peared ap-

nether that their

millstone.

day

they would
own

accept

nothing but
the

certificate

doctor, and
bedside.
to

doctor

shortly after
out

at my

I could
a

hardly speak
that he
To
my

loud,
write

but
me

managed
an

whisper
for and
no

request

would

"Attest"
to

three

days.
and
in

surprise he
out:

began
"There

hem

haw,
reason

finallystammered
my

is

really

opinion, why
I
was so

you

shouldn't
saw

sing this evening!"

I
say
sat

furious

red. "You

up
can

in

bed, and

whispered savagely:
Very well, get
and
out

sing tonight!
I'll go
voice
to

of

my

room,

and
my

the this

theatre

sing this
you

evening, with
will
up,

in

condition, and
He

be

responsible for
his I

the his fixed

consequences!"
hands,
my
room.

got

twisting

hat

in

and
on

stammering
him,
and

something.

simply
him
out

eyes

fairly glared
like
"I
a

of

the

Then the

I dressed office.

hurricane have
come

and
to

rushed

to

director's
I

sing Marta"

announced

hoarsely.
"Oh! liebes Frdulein scared
course
we
"

began
and

the director,positively furious

eyes, you
are

by

my
want

pale
you

face
to

"0/
so

don't

sing when

"73"

CONFESSIONS
hoarse. home and
Doctor

OF
was

AN

OPERA

SINGER
go

quite mistaken; please

We'll

take
at

care

of

yourself.

get

guest

for the Nurse

once!"
go
says

"Very
so;

well," I said, "I will

remember
to

home
I
can

if you

say

but

Doctor
so on

sing, and

am

ready

do

his
my

responsibility."
illness
to to
see

I went who about

to

back
my

after

the
me

director,

surprise began
absence. would He
to

attack and

violently
the
to

my

stormed,

thumped
I tried in that

desk, and
tell him
as

listen
no

nothing

I said.
to
me

he

had

right to speak
ill,and
raved
to
me

way,

I had when

really been
well. He
it seemed

had

always

done
not

my done

duty
my

back
so

that I had futile and for

to

duty, and
out

argue,

that

I walked I went the "to

was

without and that and

answering
there

left him five

sent
to

raving.
and
at

home of

stayed
time

days,
his
my

end

the
me

director
to return

secretary

explain"
an

ask

duty.
man,
so

It I

awkward off

interview

for

him,

poor

let him

easily,graciously accepted
as

the

somewhat and
pear ap-

disguised apology, and,

eager
to

was

quite

recovered

sing again, signified my

willingness to

the following
To
return to

night.
first
contract.
"

my

There
agree
on

was

formidable

list of the

roles

which also

must

to

have

ready,
with
a

and

director well-known

insisted

my in

studying
Berlin!

certain

woman

teacher

"74"

MY
I

FIRST

OPERATIC
to

CONTRACT
well
as

SIGNED
I would intention
trust

conveyed

him

as

I
as

could, that
I had
no

settle all tliis witli my of

agent,

agreeing
to

to

all of
so

it, and

was

afraid He

to

my

German
course

say
are

diplomatically.
good
I had

added,

"Of This

you

too

for been
one

us,

Fraulein."
I
was

was

the
an

second

time

told

too to

good
I

for

engagement.
to

Every

seemed
in

think of

ought big
smaller

aim

at

secondary position
than
a

one

the
a

opera

houses, rather

leading singing

one

in

place.
in
season,
to
career
a

The

prospect

of

pages
one

or

confidants role in
one a

capital city, with

did
not meet

perhaps
needs
at

good
no

my my
as

all ; but

seemed make
a

sympathize
in
my
own

with

ideas.
were
a

I wanted German
opera

to

Germany,

if I

singer, having
house
in

recognized place

in the

which

was

engaged, singing
Berlin,
I

the

big
them.

roles

without by right, On

intriguing or
to
a

fightingfor
wrote to

returning
learn
to

Herr

Harder of roles about

that I would
in

certain I

number specified

addition
in

those

already knew,
formed Reszke.
to
me

making
of
terms

twelve

all,and

ignored the singing-teacher proposition

I had

altogether as
to

the intention On these the

going
the

coach

with
was

Jean
returned

de

contract

signed by

director,

and

was

engaged.

"75"

CHAPTER

VIII

MY

ONE

LONE

IMPROPOSITION

^'"WfY

HEN that
my

I I

make had

my

debut"
so

was

the
on

phrase
lips of
one

heard

often

the

American
opera

fellow

students. and decided

Each
in

had role

chosen she
one

her would
more

house,
a

which times Some-

dazzle modest

clamouring
choose she

public.
Monte
to

would
or

Carlo
make

in

preference
career

to

Paris,

if

intended hesitate

in merits

Germany,
of be and

she

might
and

between But

the
the
ones

rival

Dresden
one

Berlin.
half-dozen

that

theatre
in

should

of

the

leading
were

the

world,
conclusions

the

role she

her left

favourite,
America.
the

gone fore-

before
I for

In

this

respect,

quite
I
sang

shattered
my

tradition
in
a

of small

the

prima

donna,
German
it
was

first
at

part

provincial
notice,
and
in

opera
one

house,
of I those

twenty-four
which that said
a

hours'

have

least

pleasure
American
to

singing.
writer,

remember
in

well-known

living
propos

Paris,
my
a

patronizingly
"Let

my

mother that

of make "76"

first real

appearance,

us

hope

she

will

debut

later, for

this

CARMEN

AS

USED

TO

DRESS

IT

MY
can

ONE

LONE
one,

IMPROPOSITION
can

hardly be called
my

it?" knows their

"Well, after all,"

where debuts?" ines singing heromost

answered

mother, "who

of the

great

singers of today made

Contemporary
who

fiction is full of opera

into

jump

fame

in

nerva single night, like Mithe head

so
"

springing full armed

Well, perhaps
met
a some

from do

of

Jupiter,
never

of them of had
career.

^but I have

singer,
who has
in

even

the
some

highest international
dark All his checkers clouds of
may

tation, repu-

not

pointment disaphave

his

had

silver

but linings, before he

sometimes

the silver gets

in

mighty

tarnished

succeeds

struggling through
singer gets through
I cannot say
on

the cloud, and first and I have

sometimes

another

steals the silver

ever

outright.
danger
has

that the

been

in

great
my

morally
been
to

stage, but my

courage,

nerve,

sometimes
summon

severely threatend, and

most

I have
to

needed

the

dogged

determination
sure

keep
less
in

it from

togethe failingal-

I feel
my

that all successful

or

singers share

experience
who have

in

greater
been

degree, especially foreign

been
countries.
as

those Not
severe

trained
means,

all of them,
a

by

any

have American

through

school made had

as

mine;
a career

few
in
a

singers at

any

rate, have
as

foreign country
of it.
one

exactly
been
opera

if

they

been

native in

Many

have

engaged for special roles houses, and

after
several "77"

of the of

larger

years

experience, have

CONFESSIONS
sung
most

OF

AN

OPERA
have
on

SINGER
been the those

but

few
to

parts, all of which

them.
I have
a

suited

sung,

contrary,

tlie entire where

repertoireof
are

typicalGerman
of which heard.
in

opera

house,

operas

regularlygiven
has
never even

the Metropolitan

audience
In my

first season,
seven

I sang months

all fifteen
career.

different
I have

roles

in the first in

of my

appeared
music many

eighty-five, ranging
to

from

the and

Wagner singing
It

dramas of been
not

the
in

"Merry
three

Widow"

the "the

roles

difi'erent

languages.

has
I do

strenuous

life" in its

severest

form, but
effort has
my

regret any

of it, nor

feel that my

been

wasted, for I know

in

that I understand

metier,
can

comprehensively and
away

detail, and

nothing

take

the satisfaction

of that. the
season

The

beginning
in the
town

of

found
as

my

sister and
to contract

myself
we

of Metz,
six

according
the the
gave

had

arrived
was

days before dusLy, and

opening.
seemed

The

weather

hot and

town

serted, de-

for the
was

regiments which
at

it life and

colour We felt with the

still away forlorn

at

the

Autumn

manoeuvres.

very
a

first, strangers
without the

in

strange

land

vengeance,

and future

least idea for

us.

of what

immediate had the

might hold

My

German with word.

improved considerably
director, but
for
my sister
was

since

my

interview

did

not

know
as

one

Luckily

her

there

almost

much

French

"78"

MY

ONE
in

LONE
town
as

IMPROPOSITION
German. There
were

spoken

the

many

shops
treated Even
custom

of

absolutelyFrench

character, where
as

she

was

with

great consideration

coming from

Paris.

the officials of the town, and officers, others deaf

the post office with whom she

employes,
came

in

contact,

though
to

rather

in their French

ear,

would
an

make
extra
severe

shift touch

understand of

her

if necessary,

adding

rigidityto
in order
to

their

already sufficiently
"French ity" familiar-

manner,

nip

any

in the

bud.
to

We
to us,

went
as

the hotel

that had
in

been the
town

recommended
was

the
of

principal one
and
was

in

the

process

reconstruction

swarmed rather
a

with dreadful furnished

was

ers plasterplace,
with
near

and with

carpenters.
dark

It

enormous

rooms,

dingily
it

heavy
tried

old-fashioned and be
as we

furniture; but
meant

very

the theatre
not
to

to

find

lodgings later,we

depressed by
the
first it

its
we

gloominess.
did
a was

Of

course,

thing
one

to

visit the
over

theatre.

To

reach

crossed with

bridge
old

the

river, picturesquely bordered

overhanging
there, rather
On
a

houses, then

cobblestone

"Platz," and

shabby
way

but

still
my
a

quite imposing,
for

it stood.
on

the

I read

name

the first time I knew

German
way
to

poster,
the

with

distinct and

thrill.

my

stage-entrance,

through
shocks "79"

it to

the
me.

Direktor's I learned

Bureau, where

several

awaited

CONFESSIONS
that the
man

OF
who had who

AN

OPERA
me

SINGER
had been
seded super-

engaged
had
not

by
were

new

one,

yet arrived.
manager,
a

ters Mat-

in

charge of the stage

with
a

huge,
was

towering
a

creature,

great
He life

bass had
as a

voice, who
come

rather

remarkable

actor.

down

in

the and

world, having
he
even

begun

cavalry officer,
about
man

had

strange
then. He

gleams of the gentleman

was,
ever

him,
in

by

the

way,
me a

the

one

the

profession who
He
one

made
me

questionable
as

offer.
on,

grew

to

admire

very

much there

time

went

and
me

day, after I had

to

been
contract

some

time, he
the theatre.

asked

sign

further

with much

"You'll

never

get
are
a

anything

very

better," he
make
a

said, "as
contract

you

foreigner.
and

We'll later
"

good

with
may

you,
a

perhaps,
effect

who

knows?

"

you

have
to

'protection salary.'
the of his

"

He
was

paused
met

see

proposal, and
on

with

absolute
not

non-comprehension
at

my

part,

as

reallydid
he
was

understand,
He

the time, the German his

words and

using.
the
as

dropped
had
no

proposal
it

there

then, and
for
me,

affair he

unpleasant
to sort

quences conse-

never

referred of tliat
I

again.
I

And have have

that

is the

single

instance

which

encountered. had further

to

Nevertheless,
trouble with
to

might
my

possibly
in the

him, for
very

appearance

reallyseemed
winter.

appeal

him

much, later

Just before

Christmas, however, he died, al"80"

MY
most

ONE

LONE
we were

IMPROPOSITION
in the midst
von

overnight, as
of

of

rushing
He

production
informed
me

"Trompeter
on

Sakkingen."
that I should

had
to

Friday night
on

have

sing the Countess

not

the

following Tuesday.
was

I did

know

word
to

of it,and get the score,

"

on

the way
I heard

on

day Saturwas

morning

when

that he he

dangerously
dead.
real

ill

and

by
had

Sunday
some

morning

was

Poor

man!

he

good qualities and

that he
was a

talents, but
and had

it turned

out

great

scoundrel under right, This

new

been

robbing
of

the direction
new

left and director.

the pretence

the assisting had

never even

director, who
been
a

heard

my in

voice, had
his

well-known
to
new

Wagnerian
some

singer

day

and

intended
in his

take

of

the

principal
gust dis-

baritone

roles

position,to

the

intense

of the
contracts

regular
had

Heldenbariton. taken
over

All
in his

the outstanding
name.

been

This

sudden made of the

a

change

of management,
for
me
as

during
it
me

vacation

time,
None knew

little trouble

happened.
sing.

present
was

staff had
a

heard

They

only
that

that I
my

foreigner without
German
was

experience, heard
not
a

conversational
rarer

yet

perfect
accent

(a
in

much

accomplishment
therefore

than

perfect

singing), and

doubted So

my

abilityto
had me"
or

do

the work
a

of the first contralto.

meant

they
to

engaged
to

native, which

that it the first "81"

was

"up

prove

myself capable

at

opportunity

lose

the

CONFESSIONS
chance of

OF

AN
or

OPERA

SINGER
dismissed

doing first roles

perhaps be

altogether.
Our
course,
a

hotel

was

impossible for
Berlin

long stay, and,

first idea the
is

of

after my German the

experience, my
We Bureau asked for
went to

was

good
"

pension.

Verkehrsa

verein

Information
towns,

which
a

feature

of all German The

one man

and shook

pension address.
There that We
was

in

charge
but

his head. and

go

only

such
suit

place, he said,
us,
we

he and

feared
see.

it would
went
cordingly, ac-

not

might
a

and the from

newest

found

nice-enough looking
side of

house the
town

in

quarter,

quite tlie other

The inside

the theatre.
own

of the house, however, walls ture furni-

told its with

story

"

concrete

floors, whitewashed

garish religiousprints on
with red and
were

them, and
much

deal

white

table

covers

in evidence.

The

bedrooms while
a

cell-like and and

garnished by
each

with

toes, mot-

Bible other

candlestick

bedside

were

the "What

only

decorations.
we

is this institution?"

asked.

"It is the German for Protestants We neither such

a

Young

Ladies
were

Evangelical Home,
that

only," we
the Matron,

told. decided
nor we were

thanked

and

German, home,
even

Evangelical though
we

young

enough
be ladies

for and

might

Protestants.

Disappointed

in

our

hope of finding a pension,

"82"

we

MY
returned
time
to to

ONE
our

LONE
friend

IMPROPOSITION
of the Information of
to
was

Bureau, this
rooms

ask

for

addresses
to

furnished them
very

with He
a

decent

landlady
once

attend
"

for

us.

shook

his head town, house "But live?" "Oh! their smaller used
to
own we

more

it

difficult in

son garriof
a

he

said,
had do

to

be

certain
rooms

of the character
to

which where

furnished the

let. theatres

artists

of

the

usually

asked.

they either take

furniture," he
hotels. But
in such

furnished

rooms,

or

bring
in

answered,

"or

live

the and
an

then
cases.

they
who
go

are

Germans

judging

There knows
to

is, however,
the and
town

English lady living here

and find As unknown
sister set
no rooms

oughly, thorto

you

had

better

her

get her

for

you."
could
to not

we

felt tliat we

possibly ask
lodgings for
As
a

totally
us,

Englishwoman
out
on

find

my

the hunt and

was a

alone.
woman

foreigner speaking
rooms

German,

looking for
in
a

all

by herself, she by
most

received

very

curious

manner

of the
upon

landladies strong

she

visited, and
were

evidently
getting
nearer

looked

with

suspicion. We
debut
was

desperate,as
and
nearer

the time and

we

of my

coming

were

still unsettled.
upon

Finally we
of the her
a

resolved

to

throw

ourselves after
in

the mercy
wrote

known un-

Englishwoman

all, and

note

begging

her

assistance

findingtwo

furnished

rooms

"83"

CONFESSIONS
near

OF
a

AN

OPERA
who We
not
own

SINGER
would had like
to
some

the

theatre, with
and
serve our

Hausfrau
breakfast.

look find of and

after them
a

furnished

apartment

as

we

were

my pass

colleagues who
their lives in
a

possess
sort

their

furniture

of

singing journey through

the country,

always surrounded

by

their

own

hold house-

gods.

"

84r"

CARMEN

AS

NOW

DRESS

IT

CHAPTER

IX

THE

MAKINGS

OF

SMALL

MUNICIPAL

OPERA

HOUSE

EARLY
our

the

next

morning,
friend
we soon

before
came

we

were

up,
us,

English
her

kindly

to

see

and
we

with
were

help
for,
in

discovered

just what

looking
the
we were

an

eminently
the shadow wife of

respectable
of the
a

house,
so

where that

Hausfrau
under

was

policeman,
majesty
of

the

the

law.
A
us

young

doctor
was

had

the

rooms,

but and We of had

she that
we

assured

that
our

he

moving
the

immediately, following day.

might
arrived
and

send the found of

trunks afternoon that the before

duly

next

with
poor
young

an

avalanche
man

baggage
no

had the month

intention

leaving

the that

end
very

of

and Floods

had of

even

invited

guests
ensued

for

evening!
and
our

man Gerwhile

between

him
on

the trunks

Hausfrau,
in

we

sat

philosophically
Presently
to

the

hall heated and

to

and of gin be-

waited.
countenance,

she that

emerged,
it into
was

rather

say

all

arranged,

moving

our

things

the

bedroom.

The

doctor

"85"

CONFESSIONS
called
us

OF
the

AN

OPERA

SINGER
aside
our

into

sitting-room, waived
for

planations ex-

and all the doors

in

thanks

his

and gallantry,
to

shutting
the

mysteriously, proceeded
power
"

only
and

revenge

his

to
our

defame future
I
warn

the

character

impugn "Keep
locked!"

the

honesty of

hostess.
you,

things locked,
he

keep
while

them
ming cram-

repeated earnestly,all
garments

the

books, bottles and

a

promiscuously
of

into

trunk. We made his allowances

a

for his need

and reprisal,
as a

took

warning with
our

grain of salt; and

touched
considered
our

matter

of fact

landlady

never

anything
her proper kerosene.

of

ours

except what

she doubtless
upon

mission" "comShe she

levied
was

coal the

and

quite satisfactoryon

whole, except
her her.
not

that

would
time
to

quarrel very
time,
and
or

noisily with
he
we

policeman
When stand she
we

from
monstrated re-

rather said

with

that

could

it and

that

she
too

shouldn't, she

answered of her

that

would

be

only
had had

glad

to

get

out

bargain, but that she

and therefore

put her
to

money

into

this marriage

stay in it!
small him

Her called

boy
hair

was

named

Karl, but
She had
a
a

she few of

always
wisps of steeringmy

"Schweinsche'."
wound
in

greyish
wheel
sister

drab

round back.
a

sort

of

celluloid
for

the

On

Christmas

hunted

hours

for "86"

present

for

her, and

SMALL

MUNICIPAL
with
I
a

OPERA
set

HOUSE
of rhinestonewhat could the
not

finallyreturned
set

magnificent always
them,
as

haircombs.
woman

have with

wondered her
hair

poor

did
an

have The former she

know
us

covered
reason

eighth of
for
was,

their prongs.

the of

summary
course,

dismissal
the
extra

of

her that

tenant out

money

made

of

our

being foreigners who

the fact that there
were

did
two

not

the tariff,and
to
a

of lars, dolof
pose sup-

be

served.

We

paid sixty marks,

service
as

fifteen breakfast
I don't

month and

for the rooms, little

and

coffee

rolls,and
doctor had
us

this seems,
penny
over

the

paid

forty.

Our

colleagues thought
as

spendthriftsand
about marks thirty

eigners, gullible forand

they paid
had
supper,

got their

own

breakfast.

My
cooked

sister
our

two

chafing
the
two

dishes o'clock the

on

which
was

she
a

but
too

dinner

problem.
of

was

tired
at

after
ten

strenuous

ing morn-

rehearsals

beginning
follow
go
to

o'clock, and
I

the strain
in

trying

to

all the the Hotels

directions
or

received for

German,
as

to most

restaurants

ner, din-

of

my

colleagues did.
should crack have

Our

landlady
from

suggested
officers' barracks

that

she of
near

it fetched

the

mess

the

cavalry regiment, whose

She
a

were

by.

said

this

was

usual

arrangement.

We

bought

sort

of tier of enamelled carried

in
a

into each dishes, fitting

other "87"

and

kind

of

CONFESSIONS
wickerwork
meat,

OF
One

AN

OPERA

SINGER
soup,
or

handle.

contained bread

the
dessert

next
posed re-

the third
in

vegetable,while
We
can

the
are

top.
not

testify that
in the

even

crack

regiments
for

unduly pampered
more

Fatherland,

anything plainer, or
I have
never

unappetizing than these

to eat.

dinners,

tried

Perhaps
in

they

gained something
Casino, them,
time,
had
we

when

served
it almost

hot

the

officers'
to

but

we

found of
our

impossible
dishes. the

down
a

eaten

out

enamel-ware of
I

After

when
worn

the off
a

newness

everydiing in
began "to feel
where
a

theatre

and little, dine

at

my

feet,"
of the

arranged
met

to

the hotel This

was

many

colleagues
as,

daily.
to to
a

far
we

better had I
my
a

plan,
did splenurally nat-

in

addition

really hot meal,

improve
our

opportunity making
still had
to

German.
in

was

rapid

progress
to

it, but

sister

confine French.

herself One told

me

the

shops where
I
came

they
home had

understood
from

day

when
our

rehearsal, she
to

that

Hausfrau
in
not

repeated

her
my
woman

long piece of gossip

that
you
over

German. stood, under-

Seeing by
the Fraulein. Then she
"

sister's face

she

had

said, "Oh,
it all

don't

understand,
in French."

Well, I'll say

again

proceeded
in

to

repeat it again, very

loudly and
called but

slowly
Of

German!
it is rather

course

dreadful
in

to

be

just
the

"Fraulein"

by

your

landlady
"88"

Germany,

A
social

SMALL

MUNICIPAL

OPERA

HOUSE
in
to
a

standing
is

of the singers and

players

cial provinwarrant

theatre

usually
A
in

not

high enough
in
an

anything

else.

position
a

opera

house social
to

in

capital city, or

Hoftheater, confers
its holder before
to

portance im-

enough
prefixgnddiges
Frdulein,
which
a

upon

entitle her the

the

(gracious)
in

ignominious
used
a

society is properly
a

to

nate desig-

only
in
a

governess,

companion,

or

saleswoman

shop.
and forms
at

Titles in the

of
any

address
time.

are

ticklish
to

subject
hend compre-

Fatherland,
the
mazes

It is hard

of male the

progression

from

the of

simple
Hofrat
court

"Rat,"

through

subsequent
Geheimer

variations

(court councillor), councillor),

licher the

Hofrat

(privy

Geheimrat

(privy councillor),

Wirk-

Geheimrat

to (really truly privy councillor),

lofty dignity
Old-fashioned

of Excellenz. ladies used

to

employ

the feminized I
once

version
an

of dame

their who

husband's insisted

titles,and
upon

knew
as

old

being
The this

addressed

"Frau used
to

Oberlandgerichtsrdthin."
copy

bourgeoisie
and
at

the

aristocracy

in

respect,

the afternoon would

Kaffeeklatsch, Frau
the health
his

Hofcondittor

Meyer

inquire about

of Herr the

StrassenbahnsFrau

inspektor Braun,

from

wife

StrassenModem

bahnsinspektorin (streetcar
life is
too

inspectoress).
for such

crowded

perhaps
"89"

lengthy addresses,

CONFESSIONS
but
Frau

OF
and Herr

AN

OPERA
Braun
are

SINGER

Meyer

certainly less artistocracythe

many

picturesque
proper

cognomens.

Among
of address
I used
every
to

the

titles and

forms

have

pitfalls fairly
than
dle," "hancase

for the

foreigner,though

dodge them
woman

successfully by addressing myself

as

older

''Gnddige Frau'
the
men

irrespective of her
at

and

by
of

no

title

all,except
has
to

in the

of

prince

not

royal blood, who

title of
way

be

called

by

the Of

mouth-fillingcourtesy
course

Durchlaucht.
round
are

in

this letter-writing here the

is not

ways al-

and possible,

complications
of from insult
a

simply
any

terrifying. The
title
at

salutation

lady without
"Wertes
to
a

all ranges

all the way almost

an

Fraulein" of
any

(Worthy Miss),
gentility, to gnadige Frau"
of the

person

punctilious "Hochvereherte
and

und

(Highly honoured
the

gracious lady)
a

high society. Even

form of insult
or

envelope provides
In

tle subis

of

flattery.

Germany
or

one

simply
born
to
as

born,
the
case

well-bom,
may

highly well-bom,
If you
are

high

be.

rightlyentitled
on

the third, how outside of

a

to be publicly branded irritating

the other

letter

as

only

well-bom.
among

On the

the

hand,
what
a

if you

really belong
attention
to

merely

bom,

delicate

be

acknowledged including the

to

"Hochwohlgeborene'"
Portiers
Frau your
to

for all the world,

see!
is

Shops good)
"90"

in

writing
to

you

(as
latter

long

as

credit

love

employ the

A
on

SMALL
the

MUNICIPAL
it in

OPERA
the

HOUSE
of and the
letter

envelope, repeat

body

which Miss"

always begins "Highly

and
"

honoured

gracious

sign
"with

themselves

"Mit

HochVorziiglicher of

achtung"
course,

magnificent respect." Friends,

just Fraulein
except
stick for
to

call you

So-and-so,
if

as

we

should
men,

say

"Miss

Brown,"

they

are

young

when
must

they usually
never

the the

"gracious
members
or

Miss." of
a

You

inquire
the Frau
is Herr

person's
added: Fraulein

family
"How

without
is your

Mr., Mrs.,

Miss

being
or

Mother, Herr
a

Father,
for

Sister?"
"How
correct
are

There
your

curious
en

phrase

parents
the

"

Parents?"

being

strictly

form

of

question.
is very

Yes! and

Etiquette
a

complicated
of

in

Germany
the "Out-

requires

great

deal

study

from

lander."
To
return to

tlie theatre
run

"

we

expected

that my and

sister

would she the

have

the

of
at

my

dressing-room,
We rules
to
one

that
on

might

be present that

the rehearsals.
most to

found
were

contrary
to

the
entrance

rigorous
the

forced en-

forbid

theatre No There

any

one

not

regular
to

member the

of the staff.

else
were

was

allowed

pass

lodge. porter's
the

lar regu-

dressers
was

provided by
only
once or

theatre, and
at

my

sister

present
two
seasons

twice

rehearsals

during

my

in

Metz

and

then

only by special

request.
"91"

CONFESSIONS
The

OF

AN
next not

OPERA

SINGER

rehearsals for the

day

stage door.

They

were

postedat the printedor typed,but

were

written in German

every

with chalk on script, They would be placed there at evening,and my sister used to go over what

the blackboard.
six o'clock
to

find out German

for

me

at script

She could not read they were. all,neither could I, very well; so and

she used
thing every-

to

take paper
on

and laboriously draw pencil calls and

the board, chorus

all,for fear of

would we missingsomething. Then, letter by letter, it out, and find out the hours of my rehearsals, puzzle if they had been written in cipher. She was ways alas

performances. I had to write,"I beg in the most for manner polite for my sister for this evening's seat performance," a box before half past eleven and drop it into a special
present
at my

in the
vacant

morning.

Then

in the

evening,if there

were

placein the orchestra chairs,she would have often ausverkauft, it. On Sundays the house was sold out, so we generally boughta seat if I were singing that night, the safe side. The to be on on so as prices ranged from four marks for box seats, to five cents in the gallery.The orchestra chairs cost three marks (75 cents), but nearlyevery one had an
or

Abonnement,
them low

sort

of The

season

which ticket,
for officerswere

made
very

much

cheaper.
The

rates

indeed.

chief

cavalryregimentshad

the

"92"

A
boxes of

SMALL
between

MUNICIPAL
them, and
or

OPERA

HOUSE

the less important lieutenants

the

infantry
first

the

despised engineers
Years
ago,

had

seats

in the
erate

balcony.

in the young

old

unregen-

days, these
almost had

boxes
more

full

of

cavalrymen
the stage. the
to

furnished The
young

entertainment
to

than
at

boxes

curtains

be

drawn

will, and
served

rascals

would drink midst

ones

order
toasts

champagne loudly
to

them

there, and
in

their favourite Some them

times

singers
of the

the

of of

their the

performances.
town

frail

fair

would
were

visit

behind

the drawn This

curtains, and
has all
come

there
to
an

high
gone

generally.
road
very

end,

the
I
saw

of other

equally charming
among

old customs,

and

little misbehaviour when One

over

the lieutenants, except

sometimes for them.

the

provocation was
a

reallytoo
young in in the half

strong White ness darkand

evening
six feet

very

solemn

Dragoon,
after

tall, coming
was

the

curtain sabre

up,

missed

his

chair

plumped
instead,
Christmas

down,
to

and

all, on

the floor of the box

the

joy of his comrades;

all
a

and

once

in

pantomime, they
at

forgot their military

fat young chorus the ballet

dignity

the bad

spectacleof judgment
most

very

girl, whom
mistress

on

the

part

of

had

costumed
rabbit.

for realistically

the part

of

white

Sunday

is

usually
of

chosen the

for

the

first
is at

night, as

larger proportion

inhabitants

libertyon

"93"

CONFESSIONS
that

OF
our

AN

OPERA

SINGER
of opera and
were

day.
on

At

theatre, peformances

given

Sunday,
or

Tuesday,
Possen

Thursday
mit

Friday

nights,with plays singing)

on

Gesang
bill

(farceswith
every
or

alternate

nights. The
opera
was

changed

night, but each

four
times in

standard the
were season.

repeated three
operettas
if like
ful, success-

New

the

"Merry
ran

Widow"

also
times
was

produced, and,
during the
a

eight or
season.

ten

seven

months

of the

There
a

company

of

sisting singers cona

of

"high

dramatic"
an

soprano,

"young

dramatic,"
all sopranos. contralto
a

coloratura, and
There
was a

"opera

soubrette,"

leading contralto,a second

parts, who
a was

to

do

the very
pay,

small and the

usually
woman,"

volunteer also

without took

"comic There do

old

who

part

in

plays.
to

was

times some-

another
like.
sort
some

volunteer there
was

soprano

pages

and

the
is
a

Then of cf

the

"heroic

tenor," who
management

King and
the

is treated

by

the

with the

ceremony

used
in

toward

royalty, and
a

lyric tenor, quite humble

buffo for

comparison, and
sometimes
was a

tenor-

"funny
tenor two
a

parts," with
the

special

operetta
There
were

when

theatre

prospering.
ous" lyric,a "seritwo

baritones, "heroic" bass, and

one

and
or

and of
act
more or

"comic"

other "fill in"

men

less anomalous The

position who

and
thing any-

in the

plays.
sing, were

only singers who

the
two

never

did

but

"dramatic"

sopranos,

the

"94r"

SMALL

MUNICIPAL
the heroic of
actors

OPERA
tenor

HOUSE
and baritone. and all of

first contralto, and There

was a

company

besides

these,
to

no

matter

what
operas

their
as

standing, were
"Tannhauser"

expected
in the

appear

in such in the

ing singand the

contest,
as

church
in

scene

of

"Lohengrin,"
to

Flora

guests

"Traviata,"

help

"dress

stage."
It is stand
not

the least of one's the stage

as

troubles

as

beginner to
see

on

Ortrud, perhaps, and

come

these
as

superciliousreal
court

actresses

filingout
your

dressed

beauties, cynically watching

attempt

at

acting.
Actors Fach
in

have

their

proper

range

of

parts,

called the

Germany,
chief

and

special designations
are

like

singers. The
or

of them

the
to

Jugendlicher Held
the Heroic

Young
his

Hero,
partner

corresponding
the
are

Tenor,
as

and

Erste

Heldin.

Nearly
or

portant, im-

however, Lover,
Salondame and
"

the Erster

Liebhaber,

Young
Erste Drawand

the

Jugendliche Liebhaberin
Lovehaveress
are

und First Vater

Young

and Helden

ingroom
Heldin Vivant

Lady.
Mutter,

There the

the

Intrigant or

Villain, and
who hero.
is
a

the Bon
sort

(pronounced Bong
fellow and
a

Vivong)

of

general good
Komiker and has
is

occasional

The the

Erster

always

popular figure with funnyman,

to

public

his

subordinate
is
a

usually much
the saucy maid

younger.

There

soubrette "95"

do

CONFESSIONS
parts,
a

OF
what
or we

AN
should

OPERA
call

SINGER

Naive,

Ingenue, and
several "draw-

Komische

Alte,
ladies"
or

funny old

woman;

ingroom
gen
are

and

"gentlemen"
actors.
men

and The

minor

''Char-

Spieler"
soubrette do the

character

small

parts
the

usually filled by chorus

or

and
tenor,

women,

and
to

opera

the operetta
or

have school

double

and

cheeky maids
officers in the
or were

giggly

girls and

giddy
actors

young
were,

plays.
to

Many

of the minor

assumed

be, sufficiently sical mu-

to

take

small
as

parts

in

operas

requiring
four

large
as

cast,

appearing
in

Telramund's
act

nobles, and
or

Meister

the
in

first the
very

of

"Meistersingers"
in

as

competitors
The
opera
actors

Preissingen
much

"Tannhauser."
these

gains

by having
of about

enced experi-

in the small
was

roles.

Our

chorus and the

in the

composed
of

thirty members,
to

orchestra brass and

from

forty
instruments

fifty,reinforced
from the held

wind Three

local
sway

military bands.
over

Kapellmeisters
an

them:

the
power

First

Kapellmeister
directed the

autocrat

with
operas,

arbitrary

who lead and

important
tha" like "Marthe third

the second

who

the old stagers

and who and

was

"Trovatore"

the operettas, and

usually
acted

volunteer

learning his profession,

the the if he soloists

who

as

repetiteur for
the
once

and

directed "Haensel

pantomimes,
und Gretel"

songs
a

in year

farces, and
was

good.

"96"

A
He
any
are was

SMALL

MUNICIPAL
on

OPERA

HOUSE
to

always

duty during performances

the
scenes.

direct there for

to

music

behind

In
men,
as

good
in

theatres

several

of these young Rhine there

"Rheingold"
to

example

each

daughter ought
is
a

have

one

herself, and
chorus Our about
terin
or

special repetiteur
besides. of
a

for

the

chorus
was

master

ballet
sixteen

composed

solo

dancer

and

coryphees,
shared of who the the

directed

by

Balletmeiswith
a

who

also One

leading parts
"

the

solo

dancer.

girls, Irene, usually

danced

was

big

some hand-

creature

the had
I

boy's parts. apparently

told
you
one

She
no

had

little girl of about

six, who
year

father. "This
to

During
is

the

second

was

day:

Irene's It

wedding

day;
she

will and

say

something
husband but them The had

her?" been

appeared
to

her for

clown
years,

had

devoted the

each
as

other

neglected
earn

ceremony

they
support
could

neither the

of
two.
an

could clown

enough
of

alone

to

("August,"

course)
and
a so

not

find

engagement
He
now

in the theatre

diey had long

world

just waited.
tour
was

had

just
were

returned
to

from married.

and

they
Last

be

Every

one

lighted de-

but

not

least,

came

the
spears

supers, in

called "Aida"
were

in

Germany
returned from the

Statisten, who
victorious in

held "Faust."

and drawn

They
and

infantry regiments
"97"

received

thirty

CONFESSIONS

OF
a

AN

OPERA

SINGER
with wanted
into

pfennigs (7%c)
Vnteroffizieran
were

night.
before

They they
to

arrived
were

their and
riors, war-

hour
a

turned

into

big

room

be

made The

captives,or
sometimes

happy
In

peasantry.
"Aida"

result
to

was

amusing.
cotton

they used

put
so

on

their
one

pink
saw

tights over
outline

their underwear, of socks and

on

that

the

dark

the their

garters
elasticon

gleaming through, and

sided

they

all

kept
to

military boots, with the tabs

before but
in
a

pull them
before the

by,
dience au-

sticking out
had
were

and brief

behind.

Fortunately the

glimpse of them
mass

they
of

ranked

conglomerate
on our

at
we

back
meet

the

stage.
men

Sometimes
on

walks
in

would with

these

sentry

duty,

or

batches

their

who Vnteroffizier,

would

call out,
us

"Au-gen

rechtsT with

(Eyes right!) and

give

the

officers' salute

mighty grins of recognition.

The
young
some

principals of
singers
on

the
way

opera
up,

are

usually talented
older with

the
on

or

singers of

reputation

the who The

years,

way

down,
obtained

perhaps
ments engage-

sprinkling of by
from
two

those

have

their

influence.
to

contracts

are

usually for
very

three

and
go

are

not
to

often

newed. re-

The and have

a

talented
it is "better

ones

on

better the

ments, engageto
main re-

business"

for Great

theatre

change

of

principals.
get

favourites

longer unless they

something better.

Many

"98"

A
of

SMALL
those who

MUNICIPAL
were

OPERA
with
at
me

HOUSE
in

engaged
Two
were

Metz

have

made

careers.

the
outbreak

Charlottenburg
of the
war,

Opera
and
was one

House
in

in

Berlin

at

the
in

Hamburg,

both
at

leading positions.
in

One

stage-manager
in
a

the

Volksoper

Vienna, and

one

teacher

conservatory.

-99-

CHAPTER

MY

DEBUT

AND

BREAKING

INTO

HARNESS

I
well left the
one

HAD without
upon

to

sing Azucena,
rehearsal.

my

first part
reason

on

any

stage,
dawned German still that
no

The

for
I

this
sang powers

me

afterwards.

Though
conversational
I have heard and

by

this

time,
to

my

something
present
knew that
a

be

desired. had
never

explained
my

director of
I

voice;

what would

was

capable,

they quite
and had for

pected ex-

prove

incompetent,
to

gaged en-

native

bom

contralto

provide

this

contingency.
When I heard
on one

evening,
next, I
me

that confess for

onto

should that
a

have

to

sing
rather The

Azucena like

the

something
minutes.

panic
manager
an

assailed called
in
me

few

stage
half and

me

the
the

stage,

and and

spent

hour

showing
the the
merest

me

entrances

exits,

giving
That
is

outline
I

of had the
year

the for
cast

sitions. pomy

all The

preparation
members
times

so-called
sung

debut.
opera

other
many

of the

had

the

together
the

before,

which
tenor

made
was a

performance
enough
"100"

possible.

Tlie
an

lyric
ab-

decent

colleague,

though

BREAKING
solute

INTO

HARNESS
with
an

peasant
which

in

behaviour,
was

extraordinary
use. mis-

high
and

voice

rapidly degenerating from

was

The
a

baritone

of

tlie tried the

soprano

and
was

true

type,
easy
to

great with.

favourite, and

get

on

They
do

were

all nice and

enough

to

me,

if had

somewhat
as

uninterested
so

indifferent,for I had
them
me

yet

little

to

with

that
a

we

hardly

knew
at

each

otlier.
I

They

thought
I
was

rich

dilettante

that time

fancy.

so

horribly
I tried

nervous

all that
up,

day that
when
voice. I

I fainted
to

whenever

to not

stand

and
my

began

sing
I

my

sister
very

did well
were

recognize

However,
criticisms
was
no

was

received

indeed,

all the
there

the

next

day

favourable, and
as

question after

that

to

who

should

sing the leading roles.

It
was

fortunate

for

me

that

I succeeded make
a

in
success,

ing pullas

to myself togethersufficiently at

that time

the old

system
a

of

Kiindigung
was

was

still in until

force. the

I have

said that

contract

not

valid

singer had

successfully completed the number

stated therein. I had
I
not
was

of
been
a

guest
called

performances
upon

for these

Gastspielebecause

ginner, be-

but
contract.

they

are

almost
your

invariablyincluded
engagement
these that
is

in the

Now-a-days
you

settled

after

have
you

made successfully then and

remain in

trial appearances,
for
you

and
a

engagement
must

full

season;

the

management

let

"101"

CONFESSIONS
know before

OF

AN
first be

OPERA

SINGER

February
you
are

(sometimes

January
This

whetlier first)
is in

to

re-engaged or
time
to

not.

order for

to

give the singer

make I
was

ments arrange-

the

coming

season.

When of
a

engaged
the

in
to

Metz dismiss made had

the

management

theatre

had

right
he not, the his This
rangement ar-

any

singer
guest
in

after

three

weeks, whether
beforehand
or

had if he

his

appearances

failed He
was

that time liable

to to

make

good

with after

public.

also if he
were

dismissal

first appearance,
was

proved quite impossible.

expecting
unfair
to

what

they
was

in

my poor

case.

The

most

the

ing singer, leavof work

him that

stranded

no (with practically

chance

year)
artists'

after he had

moved

all his for the

possessions and
season.

thought big

himself

established

The
is the

society,the Genossenschaft,
institution in

which
in

only protective
has
at

for

singers

Germany,
dition con-

last succeeded of affairs.

abolishing this unjust

was a

There

flagrant case
weeks

of this of my had ished fin-

kind

in the theatre

during "high
weeks
to
own

the first three dramatic" of her

two

engagement.

The

soprano

the first three which she had

at

engagement,
new

during

had her

learn

parts, providing
a

costumes,

expense,

for

role She
secure.

which had had In of

she
a

had fair

not

expected
and

to

have

to

sing.

success

thought

herself had had

the

meantime,

the management
"102"

no

idea

keep-

BREAKING

INTO
but

HARNESS
had

ing
to

her

on

permanently,
the

merely engaged her

were

fill in

time, while
was

they

waiting for
out-of-season

other an-

singer, who
elsewhere,
weeks. that her. this she The When
had she
not

filling an
and could
not

gagement en-

report
told

for

three
one

was

free, they

the

first

and pleased sufl"ciently did

not

dismissed

good theatres
course,
was even

take

advantage of

privilegeof
second ladies would

while
very

it still existed.
one,
one

My
court

role of "Les

small
A

of the first
tralto con-

Huguenots."
not

native

probably
there
I

have
no

been

asked

to

do

such
my
use

small
in

part, but
the

being
think

regular part for

were

voice
my

opera,

they
and

glad
as

to
a

good stage
I made
no

appearance,

of

course,

ginner be-

protest, being glad of every

used
to

chance

to

become
upon

more

the

stage.
I had
a

The
no

part

was

sprung

me

suddenly, and
also had offered white

dress

for
to

it.

The and

second the

contralto
creature

court

lady
me a

do,

good

to

lend

gorgeous

Elizabethan she and could told she

not me,

dress she

of also

satin
to

and
wear

silver
as

(which,

intended

Amneris!)
I

would

"go

in black."

was

touched, but
so we

deprive her
out

of of

her

splendour,

ranged ar-

something
one

the

pointed pink bodice

the

of
a

of my

other

gowns,
a

and

long white
arrangement

skirt of of

summer

dress, with
bands
sewn on

ladder

pink

velvet

up

the front.

"103"

CONFESSIONS
I

OF
as

AN
my

OPERA
entrance,
eyes

SINGER

remember and

made the
on me

looking
Carlliof He

up

suddenly

seeing
fixed
my
not

sinister

of

the
ceeded provery

stage manager,
to

from

the wings.
was no

mock and

walk, which
that of
a

doubt
at

American,
never

court
me

lady
and have

all.

forgot the
that

mental
every

joltit gave
role

the sudden
a

realization walk. The

range

should

different

of parts that

one

is called

upon

to

form per-

is

astonishing. Formerly
of

the

limits

of

Fach than

(line
at

parts)
when
is
more

were

more

rigidly observed
a

present,
to
a

the

personalityof
often taken
into

singer

in

relation

role
a

tion. considerathe first Fach

Still,if
of
to
a

role

definitelybelongs
is

to

certain

singer, he
arise

supposed

to

have the

right
in

it.

Difficulties
operas,
to
a

in

apportioning
composers
a seem

parts
no

very

modem

whose

longer
prano so-

disposed
or

write serious

definitelyfor
bass, but
mix
up

coloratura the
voice in
one

range

and

styles of singing indiscriminately

second
I had

part.
in

My
which

real
a

part great
a

was

Fricka
success

in

"Walkeure,"
but the

vocally,
younger

tunately unfor-

looked Briinnhilde and

great deal
more

than

portly
her

far

like her the

in

daughter
Lady
in

than

stepmother.
"Faust,"

Then

came

Third

"Magic
in in

Flute," the Third

Grace
in

"Tannhauser,"
Frau

Martha Reich

Orlofsky

"Fledermaus,"
"104"

BREAKING
the

INTO
of Windsor," Pamela

HARNESS
the
in

"Merry
von

Wives

Grdfin
"Fra

in "Trom-

peter
Witch

Sakkingen,"
"Haensel these
one

Diavolo,"

in

und before

Gretel"; and
Christmas
on

men." finally "Carfirst year.

I

All
I did
not

of my

have
in

of them

my

repertoire when
Carmen,
and

arrived

Metz, except

Fricka

and

the

latter in French. The beauties three graces of the We

in "Tannhauser"
two
were

done
danseuses

by

the and

theatre,
to

premieres
in
as

myself!
with

were

dress

white
were

Greek
to

draperies
seductive,

jewels,and
roses.

of
wore

course,

we

be

pink

my

beautiful
Paris.

lace, Bergcrystal neckladies of

course,

made
contain

for

me

in

The said

could

not

their

jealousy and

"aufge-

donnert"

(thundered out)
from them. the diamonds and
course

like that I
at

naturallywould
their

stand
removed

out

Annoyed
flowers
to

pettiness I

and

all ornaments.
any
to
ments orna-

They

then
was

said

of

go way

without of
at

palpably
remember
in

the best

all that.

make

self my-

conspicuous.
I well

So

I let it go

the this

Third
opera,

Lady,
and

for I had

there
to

are

spoken
German

passages

speak
of
at

for

the

first time

before

an

audience German

critically listening natives, and

that! Pamela

Mozartian
me nervous

nearly
were

gave

tion. prostrashould
an

They
because
she

determined
to

that

do

it

had

speak
"105"

German

with

English

CONFESSIONS
accent,
so

OF
it
was

AN
made

OPERA
for
me.

SINGER
As
in
a

they said

ter mat-

of fact, after the months

I had it

spent
was

carefully-

eradicating
to

my

English
it
to

accent

difficult suddenly
to

exaggerate

order.

I had
in

learn,

hearse re-

and

play the
should
go

entire

part
I

five
never

days, and
seen

I the

thought
wretched

mad. baritone
to

had who
me

thing, so
came

the
over

played
with

my

band hus-

kindly
Otherwise eat'and
an

help
I

the business.
to

my

sister

and dialect

hardly left the piano

part of the libretto
torn,
was

sleep.

The

in

ancient

manuscript
written in

copy,
an

marked

and

dog's-

eared, and

almost
time

illegibleGerman
to
over

script.
out,
so

I my

could

not

take

enough
poring

puzzle by

it

sister

spent

hours letters

cipherin it, deone

the

German

literally one
again
not
on

by aid of
I had and modem called
no

key, and
for

writing
it,as
but
it

it

in Latin
my

script.

clothes

was

repertoire
it for
me

it

plays

in 1820,
so

they costumed
my
summer

in
was

dress,
into

again

wardrobe

service. it
so

I learned
me

quickly
or

that

the

colleagues called
but the strain

"Die

Notenfresserin" I remember
me

note-eater, I
was

was

awful.

when
at

studying Pamela
times, how
father's the atre the-

the

Kapellmeister told
who who

least ten

contralto and
had
so

played
was

the
an

Pamela

in his

also father's

English-speaking woman,
fancy
in that

caught his

role, that from

"106"

BREAKING
then he
to
on

INTO
a

HARNESS
affair with her.
This

he

had
me

tremendous

repeated to
take
As

again and again, but I

never

seemed

the hint. Erda

in

"Siegfried"
director had

I had

most
as

trying
I

perience. ex-

The
a

been,
and

have

said,
no

well-known could had when

to
a

Bayreuth singer,
but
to

he

thought
the

one

sing Wagner
strong he had
an

himself. "look

Unfortunately
upon

he and him

tendency
a

wine,"

part

to

sing

nervousness

attacked
in self-

such
to

extent

that he
to

began drinking
the than
strain.

defence his

enable
were

him
more

stand

Perhaps struggled
that of that bottle
was

beverages
was

potent

usual, but that

night he

decidedly irresponsible. He
s

through
he
was

the Wanderer

first scene, he
sent

and
out

conscious

doing
as

it
a

badly,
bracer.

for

champagne
in
our scene

The
act, he

consequence
was

in the third
sang

utterly incapacitated.
in

He bits from

all kinds
in

of

things not
from

the text,
in

Hunding
from

"Walkeure,"
He

Daland about his Eva

to

"HoUaender,"
stage
and
at

"Fidelio."
in
my

rolled with
to

the

lurched
me,

direction

spear

pointed
I
was

shouting Pogners
responses.

advice

while
go
cue on

singing Erdas
but
at

It seemed

for ages, the and I had

last

Siegfried, waiting for his

must
save

in

wings, realized
escorted made his
up

that he befuddled
a

the scene, from

grease

entered

relation white

the

stage.

with

creamy

paint and

"107"

CONFESSIONS
no

OF
sister

AN

OPERA
did
we

SINGER
make
up

red.

My
and

said, "Why
the scarlet have

you

with

rouge

not
were

have
so

pallor
from

agreed upon?"
that
no

My

cheeks

mortification them.
must

grease

paint

would

paled

The and
or

audience

took from
it must

it any

splendidly, I
have been
in

confess,

refrained

expression of

disapproval
The
papers
next

joy

"

thought
were

funny!
all the
memory

day
he

there

announcements
a

that
to
as

had

had

temporary
sudden

lapse
death of

of

owing

grief over

the

his

mother, who,
us, son,

the stage manager

out
a

cynicallyinformed
the grave
ten to
save

had she

reached

hand dead

from for

her

having
to

been

years!
for

The

director We

went

lin Ber-

and learned

stayed there
that
it
was a

weeks.

afterwards
and the

plot, deliberately planned

to
now

put

through by
I
can

Carlhof
see

gain the direction

of

theatre.

him
rag

stalking around,
a

six foot

four, chewing his

of

dyed moustache, anxiety

as

his face
to

pale
success

and

his

eyes

glitteringwith
to

the

of his director and the

plan
once

encourage
me

the director between

to

drink.

The

told
to
are

the hours
to

the last
room

meal

time up
a

go

one's

dressing
ones.

to

begin making
"First
one

the

dangerous
wine
not
to

He

said,
ing shak-

takes
later

glass of
a

steady
so

one's

nerves;
a

glass is
bottles for "108"

enough
so on

it becomes

bottle, then
lost."

two

and

till control

is

It is easy

any

singer

to

understand,

BREAKING
and
the best
was

INTO
is
to

HARNESS
omit opera

remedy
The
me

that

first
I had

glass.
to

"Carmen" without
it
was

the second

which
had

do

rehearsal.

soprano
to

failed do

in it and it ohne

promised
with

to

keep if
.

I could

probe (withoutrehearsal) quaking

Christmas
was new

I sang

it for the first time,

nerves,
was

on

Christmas schoene the

cast

Day, and
Carmen." Widow"

my

name nickAfter

after
we

that

"Die

produced
I
was

"Merry
for
in
my

which

then, and
was

the

Dutiful Wife.
I would

There

plenty
on

of

variety

work.
in
a

sing Carmen
on

Sunday,

Orlofsky
with with
an

"Fledermaus"
Russian
accent, accent,
at

Tuesday, speaking German

on

Pamela and
Frau

Thursday
Reich
Frau
on

night

English
no

Friday night with

in
a

accent

all!

I dressed

Reich of

gown

of the time
"went

of Henry

V We

while
were

the far and

in
on

rest too

the

cast

Shakespearean."
of
an

busy for dress

of
course

rehearsals that it would

old
tumed cos-

opera,

supposed
real

be

the the
you

period

of

the

play.

When "And "I

am

I appeared

stage, they all demanded

what,

pray,

are

supposed

to

represent?"

ing playnity digis

Shakespeare's Frau
"

Reich"
person

I answered
on

with

"and

am

the

only
But

the stage who

to

properly

dressed." before

you
can

have make
an

know
answer

your

leagues col-

well

you

like that
it.

successfully,without

their

hating

you

for

"109"

CHAPTER

XI

SOME

STAGE

DELIGHTS

WE
once a our

had off

also

what That and would

is

known

as

Abstecher,
in

on

nights.

is,
still travel with

performances
smaller
town

neighbouring
month. and chorus management
extra

about

We

altogether, principals
was

taking
second and the

costumes

make-up
third.

us,

class
generous

and

Our allowed

fare
us

paid,
marks
at

two

apiece
five
P. M.

(50c)

for
at
one

expenses!
or

As the

we

left

returning
was

two

in

morning,
but

this the and beer.

allowance took

not

excessive

for

food

alone,
with

thrifty

black

bread fifteen
was a

and

sausage

them,
for

expended
Our
a

only
stecher

pfennigs
village
and
sort not

(3^c)
with much
a

Ahroad railwas

cavalry
else. and

barracks,
The stable
cases

station,
built and
we over a

theatre

of

ware-house and
rooms

combined,
at

fell The

over

bales

packing
were

the

trance. en-

dressing
gas

tiny globe,

boxes,
and We
a

with red-

shelf,
stove

one

light
room,

in

wire

hot

in

each

and

no

window.
so

dressed
once,
as

three

in

room.

The

stage
"110"

was

small

that

SOME

STAGE
a

DELIGHTS
scene

Nancy,
train
never

played
it!

whole door
were

with

the

tail

of

my

caught
knew

in the

by

which

I had

entered, and
a

We

always given
of
to
scenes

rapturous

welcome.
miss

Sometimes and

one

the
come

principals would
on

the train tlien the

be forced of

by

later one, would would

and be

sequence

in

the

opera
we

changed quite regardless of the plot, for

all the scenes,
in which

play
and

he

did

not

appear,

first,

do his afterwards. would

go
on

After for her decide no! the and

the opening

chorus, the
she
was

soprano

aria, and
what
Not
to

while
next.

singing it,we
do
my

would "Oh

give
two

"I'll
gether!" to-

aria!" "Let's

the from
can

arias

have

duet
tenor

tlie third
in you

act,
ually cas-

and

then and

the

soprano

just come
and

we'll aria!"

do We

the

big quartet,
see

then

can

do
in

your
a

would

the

audience

hunting

confused

sort

of way like

through
Bill the

their libretto, with This

is

expressions rather
once

Lizard. which

pened hap-

in the

"Merry Wives,"
there

confusing
in which
upon
a

at

best. After the

performance

was

no

place
was

to
as

wait

but tlie cafe

of the station.

I I

looked

recklessly extravagant
Schnitzel
I took mit
two

because for

would

order

Wiener and
would

Salat

sixty pfennigs (15c)

of

when

cents' worth

butter

too,

they

raise

their

eyebrows

and

murmur,
came

''Diese with

Amerikaner!"

Sometimes
"111"

the

Director

CONFESSIONS
us,

OF
the

AN

OPERA
be

SINGER
invited
to

and and

then

principalswould
to

his
we

table
were

treated

(German)
he
our

champagne.

But

always glad
much
or

when
over

stayed at home,
beer. There who
are

because
are

we

were

freer members and

always

one

two

of the company

extremely
cences reminis-

amusing,
make the
son

their the time

antics, imitations

and
one

fly.

There
on

was

little
a

chap,
and

of

Rabbi, who
and of
a was

lived
an

nothing

day

found His

himself,
imitations
one,

extraordinary
engaging
and

mimic.

director the

singers, the
his marvellous

shy

tlie bold of of
a

one,

beginner;
of could
"

take-off
us

the

members He

the

company

kept anything

in
a

roars

laughter.

imitate is
now one

"

horse,

worn-out

piano

and
in

of the
ones

most

successful

"entertainers"

Berlin.
on

The

in whose

compartment

he travelled

the train
so

thought
from

themselves

lucky
that

and

often

arrived

hoarse

laughing
All

they

could

hardly sing.
for the

this

experience

is invaluable

beginner,
it

his self -consciousness

melts

like

snow

in

July, and
and

gives him,
on

as

nothing

else can,
are

that
as

poise

ity authoras

the

stage which
But It is
as

almost

important
a

the

voice is

itself.

the work,
not
so

for especially

foreigner,
selves, themthe the

killing.
great

much

the

performances
and

the strain

of these

actually is, but

constant,

never-ceasing

learning by heart,
The "room

drag

of continuous

rehearsing.
"112"

rehears-

SOME
als" of the
music
one

STAGE

DELIGHTS

alone, take
of the
room

place,

in

theatre there

of
is

this kind, in
a

dressing rooms
is almost

where

piano.

The

always
ten

small

and

very

close, and

there

are

eight or
and

people packed
air

into

it, all singing hard

is.

exhausting the little

with
and

there

The and

stage

rehearsals

the

almost

variable inare

inevitable
to

shouting

excitement
one

very

trying
two
or

the nerves, debuts

a

especiallywhen

ing is maka new

three the the

week, that is, singing

almost of
my every
career.

part
I

for
at

first time

other

night

as

did,

beginning

The

better and

the theatre, of course, lack and of confusion

men

the greater stage

more

the smoothness The

at
are

rehearsals.

singers
more

orchestra and

experienced, and
of the

competent,

the
to

manners

prove Kapellmeister imopera

in ratio A

the

importance of the
is
on,

house.
a new

little

extra

excitement is

permissible when
but of
at

production

being put

the

rehearsals

of
on

repetitions undue
either have
to

exhibitions

"temperament"
the stick
powers
to

side mind

are

discouraged, and
their of
to
manners

that
tional conven-

be

and The

the

forms sometimes better claim The

"

address.

Heldentenor
nature
no one

may

have him

allow
a

his artistic

to

get the

of such

for

moment,

but

else may

license.

stage

during rehearsals
amount

is

like

workshop
is
neces-

^a

certain

of noise
"113"

and

confusion

CONFESSIONS
sitated
time
to

OF
labour from
a

'AN
on

OPERA
in

SINGER
no

by

the

going

it, but

one

has

spare

his share

of the

job

in

hand, and
The

the

in discipline

good

theatre

is remarkable.

native

German orders

is

trained, of
result the the
erste

course,

both whole of

to

give and
system
of

take

well, the
both of and

of

the

government,

family

and

the

nation.

Stage etiquette
and of

relationshipbetween
und zweite and the

cipals prin-

chorus,

Krdfte (principals
agement, man-

first and
grows
to

second
more

rank) singers
and

conventional

regulated

cording ac-

the class of the theatre.

Those but

ity in authormust

may

exact

perfect obedience,
and while
an

they

ask

for
to

it

properly;

individual
must
never

is entitled

proper is but
a

consideration, he
unit

forget
Metz
years

that

he

of the

whole.

The rather for

to
one

dressing-room primitive. thing, and

new

arrangements
theatre
one was

in 100

were

The
no

old,
money

had
In

ever

had

the

install the

conveniences.
are

good

German

tre, thea-

dressing rooms

rarelyused
alone,
In Metz
at

for least

rehearsing,
when
my
comer

and have with

the
a

principals dress
big
role
to

they
room

sing.
women

I shared

several
I

other could them

and
my
own.

had

only
Long
sides

of with
room,

it which

call
ran

shelves of the under

a

lockers with

under

down
at

two

lights over

them "made

intervals, and
There
was

every

light a singer

up."
"114"

long glass

SOME
at
one

STAGE
the
room,

DELIGHTS
but
we

end

of

had There

to

provide
was no

dividua in-

mirrors water, in
were one comer

for
a

ourselves.

ning run-

only

couple of jugs and

shelf. Good
Mine
me,

basins

stood

of the

routined
was an

dressers Alsatian

provided by
loved
as

the theatre. French with

who

to

speak
I wanted used

but

whom

I discouraged

all the
to

practise I could
me

get
"

in

German.

She

call

"Fraulein Gennan
meant to

Miss" word be

pronouncing
which
means

the

latter like but

the she

miess

mediocre,
I have

larly particuit pays

respectful.
a

always found

that

hundred

fold

to

make

friends

of the dressers, stagehead

scene-

doorkeeper,

property-man,
and all the for be
on a

carpenter,
other workers

shifter, fireman

whose

operation co-

is necessary

good
terms

ensemble. with

It is

usually quite easy they

go

to

good

them, and

have

unlimited for you,

costumes

opportunities for making

or

things

smoothly
Women's
the

the

reverse.

are

not

kept

in

the the
to

theatre;

as

they
must
on

are

personal property
at

of
over

singer they
the theatre

be the

kept

home,
of
is
a

and

be

sent

morning

performance.
month,
many

A
to

Korbtrdger
whom who
you
forms per-

(basket carrier)
give from
this their
our

usually provided
to

75

cents

$1.00
you
"

and

service

for the

but

singers send

maids.

With
costumes

usual
are

discrimination
in opera

against
houses

sex,

men's

provided

"115"

CONFESSIONS
of
are

OF
In the

AN

OPERA

SINGER
the have women's

all

grades.

largest theatres
you
own. even

furnished

also, and
wear

have

to

special

pemiission to
The
scenery

your
costumes
one

and

in Metz

were

often
so

prisingly sur-

good when
must
an

considered

that

few
man

"sets"
was

do

such

varied

tilings. Our
at

property
out

inventive

genius

making
upon

something
certain

ing. of nothtails. de-

He

prided
of

himself

realistic

If the

piece called
dreadful

for coffee, the real article,

though

some

variety unknown
was

to

temporary con-

culinary science,

provided, and
were

really
served for the served supper,

poured
on

into

tlie cups.
some

If

meal

to

be

the stage,
to

sort

of real food

was

there

actors

eat,

even

if it were the
it
was

only slices of bread

recherche French

elaborately

as

most

though usually usually confined

operas in
say.

ladyfingers. Eating
the drama, meal "comes Wives

scenes

are

to
a

though there
before" of
as

are

some

which
In
scene

the

mans Gerfor
opens

the

"Merry

Windsor"

example, the
with The the
wives

containing Anna's
at

letter aria

company
are

supper

in

Frau

Reich's
and

home.

explaining their tricks

discomfiture
I
was

plotting
dialogue.
in Metz

Falstafs
One there
on

final

in

spoken
Reich dish
Herr

night when
was a

singing

Frau

attractive particularly
supper
a

of real Reich

apples
was

the

stage

table.

The

the bear

serious

bass,

thrifty individual
"116"

who

couldn't

SOME
to

STAGE
worth
go

DELIGHTS

let

penny's
rose

of
he

anything
up

escape

him. of

As

his guests and

to

picked

the dish

apples
the

pressed it
"Here,"
he Oh!
"

upon

them. "take
no

improvised,
You

these children
come
"

home

to

children. them His

anyway

have

well, take

the children
were

will

later."
with his
eat

hospitablewishes by
the

received
as

ment bewilderexit

audience,

but

he

made
to

with

his guests
he

and

immediately began
the

the
very

apples,

bore

his

scolding from
On
some

regisseur
the

sophical philomake

stages
actors

where
in

provisionsare plays
on a

more

elaborate, the

certain
suppers in

regular practise of eating their

In

the

stage.

"Divorgons"

for

example

or

the

"Anatol

Cy-

clus" Our

of Schnitzler.

property
name

man

in

Metz,

with

the

historic

Shakespearean
was an

of Mondenschein, of
must
as

(Moonshine)
An artistocratic with
as

ardent
to

lover

drapery.
be

interior,
many

his mind,

entirelyfilled

different
He

materials three
green,

possible,all hanging
near-silk

in

folds.

had dull

pairs of
and

portieres,
the

bright pink,
combinations
were

pale yellow, and

with
roses,
a

that

he

made of round

those
too,

six
were

curtains
a

endless. of his
"

Garlands

great

resource

draped
red

couch

with

fur rug

upon

it, and
scene

light over
of
a

all, they transformed

Messalina.
In
a

the

into

the bower

white

"117"

CONFESSIONS

OF
upon
a

AN

OPERA
or

SINGER
above
a

light festooned

mantel-piece,
upon

way, door-

they

could

be

depended

to
s

supply the
most

propriat ap-

setting of the Erste

scene.

Naive' and

appealing
lady,

The
to
same

young

lovehaveress

first salon
a

had the
same

receive

them, wired

together into
and

bunch, with
into

delightful surprise,
without

put
water

them
in

the

Japanese jar play.

But

any
man

it, in play

after
a

the property uncreased which

to

always squandered
paper

perfectly new,
with

piece of
make
a

for

every

performance
them,
a

cornucopia
He
was

for

in

the

approved
such

German
matters
as

style.
the
in
are

quite
of grams teleof
lected neg-

specialistin
in

colour the
manner

different

countries,

and

folding

newspapers,

points which
theatres.
a

sometimes
course

in many in

better had

Of chance

his talents the dramatic

this direction
in
a

better

in

than

the

operatic productions.

It is archaic

curious

thing to

note

in this

connection,
remains

how
in

the

arrangement
even

of

such
on

details best

operatic performances
in
to

the

stages.
must

How

"Carmen" drink
to

for

example,
out

the of

singers

pretend
tin
a

Escamillo

perfectly dry
and

cups,

instead

of

using

real

wine company
never

glasses,
do.
tea

as

quite
terfly Butto

second-rate and

dramatic Suzuki
or are

would

How
to
serve

given real
Or how

the Consul

Yamadori. "118"

the

girlsin "Thais"

SOME

STAGE

DELIGHTS
out

bring
outsides Of of
is

up

their

water-jars

of

the

well

with

the

quite dry.
course

in
are

theatres

of

the

Metz

class

matters

costuming
not
one

simplified,and
For

historical

accuracy

of the aims.
is done in

example, everything
rugs

fore be-

Christ for the

men,
women.

fur

and

winged
and

helmets hair
tury cen-

and

flannel

nightgowns
up
to

long

for the

Any
in

period
mantles

the thirteenth
gowns

is costumed

and

of

furniture
or

brocade,

after that it is Alt-deutsch

(old German),
black velvet

Spanisch
jet
into
or

(Shakespearean
satin

"

mostly

and

white

and
means

silver), until
white the The
men

it turns

safely
that
it its

Rococo, Modern,

which and clothes.

wigs.
has

After
to

is all
own

even

chorus

supply

modern

principals have

their

historical and
have
an

costumes,

with
to

the

exception of wigs, tights,

but of the
women

shoes, supplied
their
own.

them,
collection

must

The

men's

clothes
some

in

old

theatre of
a

is sometimes

quite remarkable,
years ago

of of

the the

suits

hundred

being actually

period.
They
retain for the
in
a

the

smells

of the like
were

period also, many

of Metz I don't cleaned.
a

of lieve be-

them;

theatre clothes
worn

that
ever

men's been
year

Things
for
years,
seven

which months

have
a

several the

times

week

during

past

hundred

ac-

"119"

CONFESSIONS
cumulate
must
a

OF
richness
to

AN

OPERA

SINGER
odours
a

and be

variety of
"

which
ancient
at

be

sniffed

appreciated
I often
nose,

very

and that
many

fish-like smell
I had times
no use

indeed. of my
As in

wished
I have

Metz it
way
an

and
to

wished
your

since.

Amneris,

force

for

the

entrance

the

triumph

scene,

through

Egyptian populace composed

is
a

of German

Infantrymen,
when

squeamish
in clothes

business

at

best; but
been
one

they

are

attired
it is
a

that haven't which

to

washed
may

for years,

feat
if he

before

any

quail, especially
luckily un-

belongs
from

the number
among
case

of unfortunates,

far
nerves are

rare

singers, whose
when

stomach
have
a

affected them.
was

in any

they

big

part before

Washing
among
women

not

any

too

popular
dressed of streaks

in

Metz

even

the

principals.
arms

I have

with white

leading
where

whose
water

showed down
as

the

had

run

they
the

washed

their hands, Their

at stopping conscientiously

the wrists.
same

make-up
rag

would after

be

removed

with the

dirty
and

night
sonal perment, rai-

night during
garments
had often

whole
more or

season;

their
outer must
was

under done

less smart
service.

overlong

hasten the
ception ex-

to

say,

however,
rather

that tliis state the

of affairs that

than

rule, and

in better

tres, thea-

the

women

principalswere
"120"

always scrupulously

cleanly.

SOME
Over
is ornamentation

STAGE
or

DELIGHTS
fineness
in

undergarments

usually looked
solid made
I
was

upon

as

rather
in

questionable, among
My
mother

the had and

middle
me

classes

Germany.

dainty supply of be-ribboned

after
I had been
in
woman

linen,
for
some

told
at

Metz

time, that
me

first,the
me

Alsatian

who

dressed

reported
pas

to

be

"'beaucoup trop
However,
it down
to

soignee de changed
her

ne

avoir

un

amant." and
a

she

mind
"

later on,

put
safe

American
of

gance extravamen

always
more

play.
the
season

Some
women.

the Our

were

much
tenor

careless the

than

operetta

played
the

whole

in

the

same

shirt,
with
a

powdering
At

bosom which

freshly each
he
some

evening

yellowish powder
Carnival for three

used of

for his face. the

time,

Schauspieler
in which

mained re-

days

in the clothes

they had
bed,
to
or

played
even

on

Saturday
their

night, make-up

never

going

to
came

removing

till the fun

an

end

early Wednesday
of the
to

morning.
members
grey.

Many
had have

older
turn

dyed
Of
course

their hair,

as

it
not

begun
it done

they did
or

by competent
the shades
were

people,
of

nearly
green,

often
or

enough, and purj3le

rusty

brown,

it assumed

quite startling. Our dye

his

first He also
course

Kapellmeister used
was a

to

hair

rich black. He
was

good-looking man easily

and

very

vain.

portly and

became "121"

over-heated.

Of

CONFESSIONS
-

OF
the black fear
we

AN

OPERA

SINGER
down be We
tensely in-

when his

this neck

happened,
was

perspiration running
too,

dyed
for

and

he
see

would
it.

worried
his

should

knew

sensitiveness, and
him
at

took

delight
he

in

sittingdirectly
urge,

behind and

the

piano, though
us

would him.

beg,
was

finally command
in

to

sit beside

He
one

kindhearted

his The

way,

and

remember
in
a

stance in-

of this. had
come

stage manager,
into
some

vile humour,
a room hearsal re-

storming
one

the

midst

of

day,
had

with

trivial
in

complaint against
me

me,

and

succeeded
at

making
as

cry,

not

difficult
state

matter
nerve

that

time
to

was

always

in

of

strain

owing
did

continuous
to

over-fatigue.
me,

The
me

Kapellmeister
not to

his best
my

comfort

telling

mind,
me

praising huge,

work, and
new

finallypressing

upon
"

his

brand he had

silk handkerchief intended

to

real
it for

sacrifice, as

probably
to

use

days!
from

His

fingertipsused
piano

split in
and He
I

the
won

cold

weather

much

pounding
for them. and

his heart

by prescribing collodion

tinually con-

praised
learning
and it
was

my

sight reading
he who
gave
me

quickness

in

the nick-name

of

"Notenfresserin."

"122-

CHAPTER

XII

MISPLACED

MOISTURE

AND

THE

STORY

OF

COURT-LADY

THE
in time my I I

Bohemian,

Hungarian
add The
was

and one's

Croatian

singers
work

nearly

always garlic.
engagement
to

to

joy
dramatic" Croatia.

in

by

eating
next

"high
from

soprano

The from

first the pression im-

went

Prague
a

to

sing,

on

alighting
odour.
and

train

sniffed
of

strangely
grew

familiar stronger couldn't

town

The stronger
it.

familiarity
the hotel
"

as

I drove
it
came

to

but the

place
smelled while
on

At like

last
our

to

me

whole

"

soprano!
for

have

often of

wished,
the
senses.

the

stage,
to

temporary fustiness
you

atrophy
of much

In

addition

the

worn

clothes all kinds

and of

infrequent
horrors
to

bathing,
endure. Some
enunciation

really

have

terrible and

creatures

with unfortunate when

passion
dental words
to

for

distinct

with

formation,
like ter Mutin

spray
or

you

copiously
This

uttering
seems

Freude.

always
"123"

happen

CONFESSIONS
some

OF
scene

AN
when have and

OPERA
you

SINGER

impassioned
from have

simply can't get

defence.

away

them,

and

absolutely no
wet,
or

Others and
wet

painfullyhot
with
one

painfully cold
you.

hands

which

they persistently paw

who
a was

I remember because
soprano

lyric
hands
a

tenor

my

bugbear
fish.
opera,
so

he and

had

like
scene

fresh, cold
him
so

The
in

I had
to

with

in

one

which

she had
so

say,

''Die

Hand,

weich,

warm'

(the hand,
member.

soft, so warm),
her
one

speaking
say

of his

clammy

I dared
so

night, to

instead, "Die
so

Hand,

feucht, so
when
voice
out

kalt"
to

(The hand,
the

moist,

so

cold), and
did
so,

it
so

came

point, sure

enough she

her
came

shaky with
a

suppressed laughter,
pianissimo. We
in silent

that it had but

to not

in

tremulous the front house

was

both

turn
a

away

from
in the

convulsions,

soul
a

the
I

wiser. upon

This
it

is

horrible

subject and

might enlarge

endlessly, recalling for example, the pleasures of

in the
at

being folded
tenor

embrace of

of

large, warm,
or

damp
the
most

smelling

best
rain

onions;
upon you

still

worse

large drops which touching love

scene

during the

from with

his

manly brow, while

try
to

you,

though shuddering
them,
or even

disgust, daren't

dodge
sion expressweat,

change the wistfully adoring

countenance.

of your but it is
in my
a

It may

be

honest of

demned

moist

unpleasant kind
told
me

honesty
as

opinion.

Goritz

that he

once,

Kur-

"124"

THE

STORY
the last
act

OF
of
so

COURT-LADY
on a

wenal,

in

"Tristan," dripped

prostrate
was

Tristans

eye

long that the

This
at

poor

tenor

blind

for

day? after. colleagues

in

is German
were
a

efficiency!
great
their
trast con-

Some
to

of the others

Metz

their The

scrupulous

care

of
a

sonal per-

appearance.

lyric baritone,
his debut

youngster
opera,
tracted at-

from

die
me

Rhineland
at

making

in

the very

first rehearsal

by his groomed finger-nails. He

had been

look
came

and from
up

beautifully manicured

quite ordinary people, and

to etc.

brought

be

"Tapizierer,"curtain
had
to
never

hanger,

holstere up-

He
grew

met

any

Americans and
to
us

before
to tea.

and

we

like him with

us,

very

much,
come

used

let him He

go
was

for

walks

and
to

for
us

always wanting

tapizieren for
etc., in
more

and
rooms.

criticizingthe hang of the curtains,

We from and

our

taught him

to

play Canfield,
any

to

keep him
my

talking than for

I used
not to

other for

reason,

for
so

sister
we

play patience
tempted
brief
to

hours,
I
was

that

should
voice

be
in

talk

when between
to
a

resting my
and

the

intervals We used
in

hearsals re-

performances.

play

with

pretty little German

and he
was

patience cards
with

pocket size,
game.

simply infatuated
friends cards made. "125"
were

the

He of

showed

all his of these

how

to

play, and
from

dozens

packs
where

imported

Frankfort

they

are

CONFESSIONS
The
craze

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
to

spread rapidly; all the officers began

Casinos, and
the
at

play

in their

tre principals in the theafor

were

always being roared

keeping they
of who and

the stage their It

waiting during rehearsals, when

cues

missed Canfield. had then

by being absorbed
the
in

in the

game

became

great
first

resource

of
an

those

small had
to

parts
wait

the

act

of

opera,

in costume

and
in

make-up
who
scene

until

the very

end
in

like

the

Meister

"Meistersinger," or
has
at
a

Mary

"Flie-

gender Hollander"
wait

seemingly interminable

after

her

one

the

beginning

of

the has

ond sec-

act, until

at

the very

last of the third

she
wass

to

rush du

in for the

singlephrase "'Senta,Senta,
tea, the little baritone

willst

tun?"
In
return

for

our

would

tell

us

amusing
while

tales of his

experiences military
voice

in

cavalry regiment
His

doing

his

service.

high

and his beautiful spirits officers and

men,

made

him

popular with
to

but had

he

was

quite unamenable
like such
or

and discipline,
in

spent

something
year,

ninety days
offences for
as

prison during his first

to

for

refusing
an

stop singing
He used

on

the call

march,
us

ing cheek-

officer.
to
us as

to

his

goddesses, and
rooms,

speak
him,
Metz.

"Frauleinchen."

Our
new

through
in

were

the We

startingplace of
to

culinary ideas
like such ican Amer-

taught him
as

make

and

delicacies

salted almonds, "126"

chocolate

fudge, and

AMNERIS

AS

USED

TO

DRKSS

IT

THE
hot chocolate

STORY
sauce

OF
for tried but
too

A
ice
to

COURT-LADY
cream,
an

unheard

of

combination. with
and and 'Was

We

make
mixture for
us

him of his

like fruit salad

sweet

mayonnaise;
vinegar
he used
was

the much
to

with

oil

burgher

palate,

to

quote
net

the

Bavarian

proverb, (What
in

der

Bauer

kennt he
Metz

frisster net"
doesn't
is

the

peasant
The

doesn't country

know round

eat.)
its
its

rarely beautiful,
It

half-French,

half-German

character.
in

retains

typical French
turn

poplars, planted
in
autumn.

long lines, which

the selle, Moand and

pure
runs

gold

placid river,
with

between

hills covered

orchards
grey
stone

vineyards,with picturesque villagesof

red

piled steeply up tiling,

are

their sides. lavender

at
crocuses

The
"

meadows the kind

to
some

in the fall

filled with Diana

that

Meredith's

got up
course

four

A.

M.

gather.
still

Every village has of absolutely French

its

"Gasthaus,"

in the arrangement

of their marble benches have

in

topped tables, mirrors,

running round
drunk
every

and

red of

upholstered
the
room.

three
in autumn, I

sides and

We
in say

coffee
one

Maibowle
I

spring
many

of

them,

think.
same

dare

of
der un-

them

are

still using the

card

board

circles
we

their with
our

customers'
initials.

beer-glasses which
Can
own

marked the

you

flipthem

from

edge

of the table The

town

into your

hand?

of Metz

itself is
"127"

interestingenough, and

CONFESSIONS
we

OF
it

AN

OPERA
It is very walls

SINGER
ancient still
to

explored

thoroughly.
are

ground
be
seen,

indeed, and
with

there

Roman

characteristicallybeautiful
Gothic wall and

brick- work; die

once

old the the and

chapels, a
mediaeval
town,
west

cathedral, and
moat

remains

of

which

surrounded
at

with

great arched

fortified gates

its

east

entrances.

On

returning
we

once

from

long
eastern

walk

with

the little
as

baritone
was

entered
a

by

the

gate, and
it
was

he

doing

small

part that evening, and

the hour
an

getting
we

unpleasantly near
took
town.
a

of

the

performance,
part
narrow

short We

cut
soon

through
found

unfamiliar
in
a

of

the

ourselves

street
as we

of

respectable enough
of

looking houses,
window
in
on

but

passed, out
female head

nearly
was

every

both

sides, a
of
intelligible un-

thrust, all
remarks
were

varying degrees
in

frowsiness, and

and

comments
us

half

dialect hideous

yelled at
little escort and

with
grew

shrieks

of

laughter.

Our

purple
when

with
we

confusion, walking faster

reached
an

faster, and
into the most into such

open

square

he broke

fervent
a

apologiesfor unwittinglyleading us
It
was
a

street.

curious
me

and

unpleasant
quarters
We

little

experience

and of of
in

reminded which

of heard

certain

in oriental it "the

cities
street

I had

tales.

named the

VRCiSTiTjT

queer
our

women,"
walks

and

avoided

eastern

gateway

thereafter.
"128"

THE
Later in

STORY
the
tea
season

OF

COURT-LADY

another

colleague

sometimes This

joined our
was
an

parties and

walking expeditions.

immensely
in
an

talented

youth,

attached

to

the

theatre
in up
an

anomalous volunteer chance

ter, position of third Kapellmeiswithout

to
was

a reality

pay,

hoping

to

pick
ducting con-

occasional
an

gain experience
a

in

orchestra. had

He

Frenchman
one

lent of excelservatories con-

family who
and Such
or

studied he

in

of the great the German heard

an

thought
German French
stutter, I

spoke
never

guage. lanbefore

have

since.

His

inabilityto aspirate
and the
a

"h,"
regard diswas

pronounced
of

most

nonchalant which

gender,
upset

formed

combination
a

enough
house other

to

the

gravity of
It
was

German business
new

customs

official himself!

his the

among

things, to
in any

"einstudieren"
opera

members
not

of

the chorus of
course

which

they

did

know, but
any

his version

of their had

language
over

rendered

authority he might have

and the
same

them

tual, quite ineffecAt

his
time

position was
he
was a

anything but enviable. thorough musician;

of his
in

reallymagnificent pianist,a
a

composer

of
a

promise, and
was

but
was

if

ever

creature
as

out

element Metz.

he And The

that what

creature

Kapellmeister
fellow
in his

yet
sire deters mas-

is
to

young

position to do?

conduct, the longing

the medium "129"

to

interpretthe great
an

through

of

orchestra, possessed

CONFESSIONS
him
to

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
to

the

point of obsession; but where

to

find

an

orchestra
"no

conduct

was

problem.
across

The

barrier
as

experience" was
across

erected

his
serve

path
an

it had ticeship appren-

been

mine,

though

he

must

somewhere. The
same

musical
reasons

life of
as

Germany
attracted

attracted him
me,

for the he
dured en-

it had

and

so

veritable He
was
a

martyrdom pupil
he has
to

in the pursuance

of his
us

dream. isch his had

of Nikisch half

and his him

told
career

Nik-

told

him

made

with
them he

cuffs.
out
as

Whoever he

watched conduct

shoot

gently
meant.

begins

will know

what

Our

rooms

were

sort

of

haven

for

this

boy,

think, where
him
in
a

he could

talk of the
was

things that absorbed

instead of his
for

language that
In
our

his

servant
so

master. us,

return

he

would

play
whole
was

gorgeously
under
in

that

little could

upright piano
suggest
"Salome"
a

rocked

the
his

strain.

He

orchestra
new

playing.
he
as

Strauss'

brand

then

and

revelled
a

in it,and

adopted
and

the motif

of Jochanaan would would whistle

signal which
our

he

the baritone he

under
at
was

windows.

Sometimes

get

lost
time

the

piano and
our

play

for hours, till Emma

in

our

supper

past, and

good friend
would
some

Seebold,
and
urge
us

the
to to

"Hoch

Dramatische/'

rush

hurry and

get ready for

"130"

mythical

dinner

THE
which
we were

STORY
invited.

OF

A
This

COURT-LADY
was

always successful,

owing
We

to

Seebold's
very

talent. fond of had her

a

grew

and

often

spent
and

our

evenings together. She

put her
and with
was

lovely voice
sometimes

would
ning eve-

head

back
us

on

her

chair

in the

sing

languorous Austrian
accent.

peasant
Her home

songs

her

fascinating Viennese
and she would

passion
boxes of her of silk
tumes. cos-

remnants,

send odds
sew

scraps

of

passementerie and
which she would she also
saw

and all

ends
over

trimmings
The

richness
were

in

it

was

pathetic.
she had mildewed

Bargain
green
ones,
ones

gloves
and loved

and irresistible,

purple
them the

ones,

spotted and
they
were

and

all because baritone

cheap.
met at
our

The
rooms

pianist and
and lack that
was

often

got
of

on

well considering surprisingly

contact

their
tempt con-

utter

points of
felt

and

the

natural The

they

for

each
crazy.

other. He

man Frenchthat

certainlymildly body,
as

believed
or

his
was

astral visible would

or

psychic envelope,
of and

something
and

an

aura

lightaround
look
at

his hand,
say,
or

he

hold
est

it up
"

it and

"Ah,
shake

oui, elle
his
suis

la

je

vais

bien
pas

aujourd'hui,"
la

head rienr

and

say,

"Non,

aujourd'hui
"

je

ne

He
to

was

good looking, bearing portraits of

his Oscar bills
"

strong
He
as

resemblance dressed

the

Wilde.

well, and

washing
"131"

amounting

CONFESSIONS
we were

OF
bated

AN

OPERA
to ten

SINGER
and the fifteen

told, with
a

breath,
scandal
back

marks Since he

week

"

were

the
gone

of his

theatre!

those

days he has

to

piano, though
to

perseveredin
him
very
ever

the theatre

long enough
a

obtain house. he

second I have
one

Kapellmeister position in
met

good

opera

casually all
few
seen

over

Europe, and

is

of the

of

the

old

Kollegen
that

from

Metz

whom
These
we

I have

again.

three

were

the
we

only
were

ones

season

whom

cared

about, though
after

friendly enough with

as

all of them dined

at
were

Christmas, and
with
a

I have

said,

we

the hotel
all types

group

of

them

every

day.

They
"

in their way.

First the rather

director

survival and

of the old

school, with

long dyed
in

hair rock
a

enormous

dyed moustache,
a

always
which

Geh-

(frock coat) with

monogram in

large

tie in

reposed presented

royal
him

pearls and

diamonds Duke of

to

by

the

Hereditary Grand
or

Glumphenhis
a

bergen-Schlimmerheim
career as

something, during
In

Heldenbariton. felt hat

in

the

street

he done
a

wore

soft

black

which

would of

have
course

for

the

Wanderer
coat
one.

"Siegfried," and
the weather
was

furlined
for
"

whenever

gave

the

least

excuse

Champagne
present
with
a

his trouble.
any

universal If he and

panacea

^his

very

help

in

had

ment disagreeto

singer for
would

cause

wished
a

make

it

rightagain, he

always send
"132"

bottle of Sekt

THE
if it it
were were
a

STORY
woman,
or

OF

COURT-LADY
to

present the money

had been far
more
a

buy

one

if

man.

He

famous
so,

singer

in his

day,

and

known be

others

and

his reminiscences
stories

could

interesting enough.
the old

His

of

Bayreuth
with

under the

regime,

were

ing, really interestevery

ery finger,ev-

prescribed position of
studied
to
an

gesture

inch,
to

every

tone

closed,
every

opened,

coloured

according
with
on

strictest
care,
"

rule,

syllableenunciated
of all this the

minutest

and

the effect and

sult re-

schooling

the singer
voices

the that
"

strained
were

broken of

nerves,

wrecked
"

the

it.

Diction

Aussprache
his much ideas
more

was

naturally

enough

his

hobby,
and

but

were

absurdly
or

aggerated ex-

caused the much

less

hidden

amusement

among

Personal. "t"
in
a

He

insisted, for
like

example,
"Dahin,
like
among

upon

so

phrase

Mignon's

dahin, moecht
tick mit
is

ich mit tier." looked

it is
on

dirj^ that

it sounded

"Moecht

Anything
upon
as
a

of

that

sort

colleagues

tremendous

joke, especiallywhen
One result
came

the

director.
was

of
to

his

former

glory
to

that and
or

famous
it also
actor

people
seemed

this theatre if every

gastieren
singer

to

us

as

former
to

in
son

Germany
or

of

any
to

pretension

fame, who

had

daughter
our

launch for
a

in either

profession, sent
This
was

them
upon

to

director
as
a

debut. the
"133"

looked
were

by

us

bore; but

famous

guests

rather

CONFESSIONS amusing,
used them. the
at
a

OF
when

AN

OPERA
gone,

SINGER
the director about
haps per-

because relate

they had
of

to

all kinds

derogatory
von

stories
was

Possart
most

Ritter, Ernst
renowned. He with
came

to

recite

Manfred chorus.

specialperformance
director told of
us

our

soloists and
most

The

how,
Goethe

during the
or

sioned impashis
eye

speeches
would and sheet be how
on

Shakespeare

the upper the

an

gallery,counting empty

places,
office mand, dethe

after

performance
those three

when

the

box would

showed "What

ausverkauftes Haus'he
empty

about of the top

seats

in

second
He

row

gallery, at the left?"

a

told

similar

tale of

famous

Austrian of his

guest-

artist, the leading Teutonic

the

exponent

day of
of
had his

negative side

in

the feel
as

never-ending argument
or

stage

technique
as

"to well

not

to

feel."

He

mechanical
dramatic the end
art

histrionic
so

genius, and
too,

had

become

mechanical could

towards

of his career,

that he Hamlet's

utilize such

places

in his great
out

parts

as

soliloquy for thinking

his
power
over

scientific

puzzles, although
never

the

emotions

of his audience director's still

met
on own

lost its effect.

was
a

The

story

real

romance.

While
he had

tlie

upward
the house. exclusive "134"

side wife She

court

of of

the
a

hill of

fame,
the

and

loved

nobleman,
been

scion

of
at

an

ancient

had
in

maid-ofthe
con-

honour

the most

Europe,

AMNERIS

AS

NOW

DRESS

IT

THE
fidante
true

STORY
the

OF

COURT-LADY
was

of

royal family, and

of the
was

said

to

know

the

story of many

mysterious incidents

in court
ried mar-

history.
off her knew
away

In fact she
to

supposed
much

to

have

been

hurriedly
from the

her

older

husband
secrets

to

get
she

royal circle of whose

many.
was

altogether too

The

infatuation
in
course

of

the

singer for the lady

a

mutual, and
reached

of time
age
to

boy

was

born

to

them, who
husband

the

of six divorce for

years

before
or

the noble

consented

his wife,

rather, I think, his lawyers consented

time

him,

as

by that
brain condition

dissipation had
have had her
to

quite softened
This

whatever mental

he may

begin with.
care

of his gave

the
son,

dren, of their chil-

and

in Metz

their youngest and

their

daughter
of her
in
a

girl of about
lived
a

twenty,

the director's
times
a

little

boy all
sons,

together. At holiday

another lieutenant
too.

most

charming
and

young

fellow,
to

crack

cavalry regiment, used

my

visit them

She

invited

sister

me

to

meet

him, and

the whole liked

family
me

often several

attended roles
a

the and

opera
to

together. He
send bowl for the
me

in

used
green

wonderful he
sent
me

flowers.

I still have with

huge

which

filled which gant ele-

violets, in

return

photograph
of the of

for
most

he had

begged.
of young

He

was

an

example

type

the officer, delicate

aristocrat

Uradlige
feet of

Familie, fair, with

features; his
limbs and
very

six

slimness,with long slender

"135"

littlebody,

CONFESSIONS
clothed
in

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
He

his

uniform. glove-fitting
creases across

had of

the his have He

fashionable
smart

three

the

front should

Hussar His

jacket where
poor

his

tummy
into

been.

little story turned

not

tragedy.
transferred
to

contracted used German

service.

consumption and did

influence
to
on

tell his

people, but
to
see

their West

get the

himself

Africa,

plea of wanting
himself

Arrived
as

there, he
way

quietly shot
of
sort
a

one

evening
him

the easiest

out

life that

promised

nothing but
to

misery.

of

malignant fate marriage,

to
on. a

seemed for the and The invited Her

"

pursue

the children
young

of that first
came

charming
most

daughter also
as

den sud-

tragic end,
wife
was

I shall nice
we

tell later
to
us.

director's
us

very

She but

often

to

visit her

although

did

so

seldom. life press Em-

rooms

were

filled with
as

relics of

her

former the

portraits of herself
of Austria, in old

to lady-in-waiting

court

press, dress, portraitsof her Emof

groups
person
on

photographs
almost herself
in
a

terraces
a

and

at

castle

gates, She

every

in them

age." "personEmpress
round her

still wore of
narrow

her

hair braids
sewn

as

her
set

had head. the after

us

done,
She
same

coronet

said coloured

that

they
as

were

together with
every

silk
to

the

hair

morning
up.

being braided,

make the

them

stand

With

she

always played

grande
were

dame,
stories

apparently
about her

quite without

but there effort, "136"

THE
which
very

STORY
to

OF
show that

COURT-LADY
she could be

seemed different.

something
her

She former of the had

ever

certainlycould
grandeur.
court
seen.

talk of

most

of interestingly tales
was

One

her

of

lady
one

who

owned It
was

the smallest
so

dog that

any
to

tiny that she used

in

carry

it, when

in

evening dress,

the
as

front she

of

her

decol-

letage. One
to
was

night
the

at

dinner

leaned

forward

eat

her

soup,

dog fell
soup,

into

the

plate. There
she little could fish
was

vermicelli of this

in the

and

before
poor

it out

entanglement, the
time

thing

drowned!
us a

Another of

the

Frau and

Direktor

showed
young

photograph
in full

very

slim

shapely
a

dragoon
up
we

regalia,cloak and
As there
to
us. was

all,holding

letter

to

hide

his face. her

a

evidently
She said

story
there of the ways al-

begged
been who

to

tell it
young
as

that

had
court,

certain
was

married
a

Countess

known of her said she

to

great

prude

and

was

boasting
Her
airs

exaggerated wifely devotion.

the Frau

became,
and
so

Direktor, quite
resolved At
a

sufferab in-

herself the
test.
as

to

put

such

armour-plate
therefore, she
a

virtue

Carnival

time,

dressed the

herself

young
to

officer for be present,

to

ball
a

at

which

Hofgesellschaft was

and

very

dashing figureshe made,

In this the

according proceeded
The

the

picture.

disguise she then

rush of her life.

to

give

the Countess

gallant pur-

"137"

CONFESSIONS
sued the virtuous

OF
Countess asked

AN

OPERA

SINGER
was

all the
to

evening, and
her

rewarded her home.

by being
In the became

escort

ladyship

to at.

carriage the

"Lieutenant's"
to

tentions

still more
creature

pressing, when

his secret

dismay, the fair

cast

suddenly melted
and
swore

entirely,
him.

herself
at

into

his arms,

she

adored beat
next
a

Arrived
retreat

her

house, the "Lieutenant"

sorts
never

hasty
ing, meetished van-

vowing all

of

things for their

took

which

naturally
did

place.
the

But

the

Lieutenant

not

resemble

gentlemen
the

of

Virginia who
share
in the

kiss

and

never

tell, for
and her

Countess'

story leaked
devotion
was

out,

reputation for
to

unassailable the

irreparably damaged,
all her

great

satisfaction

of

acquaintance.

-138"

CHAPTER

XIII

HUMAN

PASSIONS

AND

SMALLPOX

AT
some

the

beginning
was

of
in

the the

season,

the

director's
where

ily fammained re-

still until

country, had and

they
running
for the

the his

opera

been

for the

time. time
we

We
at
a

met

wife

daughter
him
two at

first
where

luncheon

given
to

by
our

hotel
ner, dinof

had

arranged
all The

take of

o'clock
ways

after

trying private.
second

sorts

unsuccessful
manager

dining
the
the

in

stage

of
"Bureau

the

drama,

first and

Kapellmeister,
Heldenbariton,
sister

the

Chef,"
Dramatic,

Heldentenor,
my
we were

High
were

Coloratura,
Just
as

and

myself
ourselves,
that
as

all the

invited.

seating
S
,

Schauspiel
were

Regisseur,
at

Herr He

noticed
turned
as

there
a

teen thir-

table.

white

sheet, jumped

up,

and
room,

scarcely
nor

stopping
he be

to

apologize, prevailed
him
one

hurriedly
to

left

the

could director He

upon

return,
to
monstrate. re-

although

the

followed that
as

into

the

hall

protested
the

of
it was,

our

number
and he

was

certain
to

to

die its

within
not

year

wished
to

insure

being

himself

by

refusing

sit

"139"

CONFESSIONS
down
true,
at

OF

AN

OPERA
his

SINGER

all.

Curiously enough,
young

prophecy

came

for the Director's

soon

step-daughterdied

very

suddenly
Herr S

after.
was a

most

unpleasant
always

person,

as

discovered

later, and
with had

was

thankful
me

that my
out

identification his
way.

the 0
a

pern-Personal kept
of
was

of

He

sort

spurious
at

veneer

and with He

gratiati in-

manner,

which

variance

his
tended pre-

hard,

square,
an

passion-scarredcountenance.
enormous

admiration

for

the

American

woman,
me

and

that very

day
a

before

luncheon, he showed
patent-

with

great

pride

small took

American-made
out
a

leather

shoe, which

he

of the tail leer that it

women

pocket

of

his frock-coat, tellingme

to
a

with where

belonged
the most man his talisamong

girlof

my

country,

the

had
it
was

beautiful and the

women

feet in the world, and

never

that
a

left him!

He

bore

bad One

name

players in
a

the company.

of the little first season,

in her

actresses,

girl of good family,

me

in her

used

to

tell

unpleasant

tales of him
I
met

rapid,
she

ungrammatical French, always

Our referred
to

whenever
as

her; and

him of
a

"That that

beast!"
was an

Heldentenor
personage,

season

esting uninterenormous

quite elderly man equipment,

and said
"140"
was on

of had

routine

and

mediocre houses
was

who

sung

in

all

sorts

of opera He

the last

lap

of

long

career.

to

be

nearly sixty, and

HUMAN
was

PASSIONS
he

AND

SMALLPOX
to

quite bald, but

managed
on

make

ingly surprisHe had

at

youthful
been
at

appearance

the make

stage.
an

it

so

long that he could

attempt

acting almost

anything
"

even

youth.

His

sprightly
He
seen

legs

in

"Fra

Diavolo"

were

quite adolescent.
was never

kept himself
in the cafes,

discreetlyto himself, and

nor on

the streets
was a

with

his

colleagues.
tricks little
a

His

greatest

joy

tiny dog, whose

one.

he

delighted to
would for and
very
a

show for bark and

a

off to

every

The

thing

whine
tenor, sit up

soprano,

growl for

bass, howl

when

told "The the word his

master

Direktor's

coming,"
a

beg

at

Gage
was

(salary,)in

amusing
his

way,

and

intenselyproud

of

accomplishments.
lyric tenor
Swabia,
he with
in
over

The from which would

of
a

the droll
a

first
accent

season

was

peasant
voice

and

lovely
manner.

forced all

most

agonizing
he
sang
a

He note, and
"

shake

when

high

yet his natural

have
even

voice

ranged easilyto high D sharp sing

an

heard

him him

E.

His

dialect

and but

his he

ignorance made
was

the butt and

of the company,
it all in
my

very

goodnatured
to

took
"

good part.
is
a

He
woman

used

say:

"Yes, I know
tells
me

wife

French I'm
a

and
"

she I say

to

say

Mignon,
She
was

but
years

peasant
than he

Mischnongj"
class. had
"141"

older
to

and

of better that he

She

had

helped him
out

the little

study

had, and

of

gratitude

CONFESSIONS
he
very

OF

AN

OPERA
were

SINGER
said
to

had

married

her, but

they

disagree

consistently.
Heldenbariton
a was

The

quite a
he
was a

nice

fellow, big and

with
out

burly with
the

good voice;
he

great favourite

public, whom
a

had

pleased by marrying,
who
a

of the chorus, The second

townswoman

adored
vague,

him. weak
was ture, crea-

Kapellmeister was
his vain the she of

henpecked by
happy unless
She and her Her
pages
our was was

little wife
some

who

never

centre

one's

tion. admira-

inordinately proud of her small

the

feet,
make I

little friend

lyric baritone
mine

used
were

to

furious, by
dream
in
was

insisting that
to

smaller

go

on

the stage too, and

if

only
and

to

sing
later

"Lohengrin"
was

"Tannhauser,"
several

her
went

hope
off

realized, I heard, when

to
a

of them
on

together in April
Grenze
was a

"Monatsoper" speaking
She had
was

the

Russische
soprano

(Russian Frontier). The

Dutch than I
woman,

tura coloraGerman

with
very

more

accent

did. she

very

fair,

fat, and
that dined
to
serve

very

lazy, and
seen

capacity for surpassed.

who

food She had

to

I have

equalled
woe

but
to

never

with

us

daily, and
from
you
a

the person been

more

himself Eat until creed

dish

that had hold

no

passed
was

her! of of
a

could all my

part
short

the

of

colleagues.
the
meal

Anything
was sidered con-

absolute failure.

repletion, and
"Sind "142" Sie

salt?''

They

would

HUMAN
ask each other

PASSIONS

AND

SMALLPOX
satt!"
am

gravely

"

"/c/i bin nicht full?" of

"/

ing Meanfull."

"Are literally, And this

was a

you
cause

not

grave

resentment

against the
most

hotel
reached

management.
this desirable
soprano,
was

I must

say

that

of

them the
as

consummation

long before

coloratura

for
any

she
in

continued

placidly
would
our even

long
finish

as

there

food
on

sight.

She

anything

left
as

another's
a

plate, and
of locusts

table visited

always looked
it.

if

horde

had

Those

colleagues of
upon

my
"

first

engagement
as

are

stamped
so

my
was

memory
new

representing
"

they

did

much

that

to

me,

new

nationality,a
new

new

profession, and
them
all

in many

cases

social

class. lot As of
a a

Take

together they
I think

were

pretty

decent

considering their antecedents

a

and
actors

surroundings.
are

general rule,

the

apt

to

be

somewhat

higher social class than the singers,as

voice
occurs

markable re-

when

and

where
presupposes

it

will, while
a

vocation

for

the

acting stage
and

certain

amount

of education have

refinement
course,

of
some

surroundings,
notable
ceptions. ex-

although there
They wanted
smart
were

been, of

us

to

meet

the officers of the different Red

regiments. supposed
or

The be
a

Dragoons

in

particular
the
cess suc-

to

all-powerfulin deciding
singer, and
"143" the

failure of

colleagueskindly

CONFESSIONS thought
One
or we

OF
to

AN
have

OPERA
the
course

SINGER
of this. with the hard
went
to
we

ought all
of the
as women

advantage
had
not
care

two

of

affairs
to meet

them, and

Marjorie and

I did
we

officers in just that

society,
excuse.

were

sometimes my sister

put
to

to

it to

find

good

Once

bed, though perfectly well, for

a

several

days,
Later

avoid
met

particularly pressing
officers
some

invitation.
our

these liked
were

through letters from

of them

relatives,
Even

and

tremendously.
of
one.

their did
no

affairs

the

outcome to

the

system,

and

particular harm
The
opera

any

soubrette

had

one

of

years' standing
He
was a

with

tall

ungainly White
she
a

Dragoon.

less harma

idiot, and
nice

smart

German-Polish
had when
our
a

Jewess,
before

little

thing.

We

each

"Benefiz"
we were

leaving the Metz

with also flowers and
in
us

engagement,

showered

giftsfrom
the

friends

and

admirers,
the
,

sharing

box-office

receipts. R

soubrette, told
from but
rage,

the
"

day after
she her of
an never

hers, still breathless

called
him bound had
not

that
"

"Er"
sent

anything
in

"He" of

had
a

umbrella,
He
every
one

the

middle
it
over

huge sheaf

roses.

passed
see

the

foot-lights, so
but had left

that
it at

might

its

splendour,
called
on

her

rooms.

When

he
him

her and

expecting soft thanks, she berated

succeeded
in
so

soundly,

enraging his usually

"144"

HUMAN

PASSIONS
tliat he
it

AND
his

SMALLPOX

placid
window,
One

self

threw

big sabre
the
a

through
below.

the

sending
handsome of music

crashing
Red

into

court

Dragoon,
women,

notorious

noisseur con-

and
sat

and

believed
our

absolutely
the He who

irresistible, always
stage. had had his her
in
at

in

box

at

right from
was

His

one

reputable passion
an

music.
woman,
was

that

time

affair and
to

with

Dutch
"

been slave.

handsome

distinguee
theatre
one

she

pitifully
we saw

Going

the
one

evening
in

approaching
front of She the

from

direction
as

the

big
from he

court
other. an-

theatre,

he

approached
him but of
as
a

smiled
a

infatuatedly at
"

passed
to

her
my

without
sister

look
me.

perhaps
I felt sorry

his

idea

tribute

and

for her

the

joy left

her face.
Several
years

after, while

touring
we

in

Holland,
to

in

charming
afternoon,
the

little
we
saw

place where
this shake
same

went

pass

free

woman.

She German

had

found had and

strength
a

to

off and

her

master,
prosperous

married

countryman

looked

happy.
Neither word
to
or

Marjorie
look
me

nor

ever

received

an

offensive
sometimes

from

an

officer.
a

They
Carmen with

used
or

send

postcards after
scribbled
over

Amneris and
re-

night, closely
greetings and

signatures
all

phrases

of
"145"

admiration,

highly

CONFESSIONS

OF

AN

OPERA
very

SINGER
much
to

spectful.
these cards. The
a

It

always pleased me

receive

Genossenschaft members fete every

spring
at
we

of

most

theatres

ganize or-

year

for the benefit of their society,

a

and

that

had balls

fancy dress ball.

vote to

lady

is

chosen

these I
was

by popular
that
arm

be
to

Rose

Queen.
around often
wore

chosen
on

time

and
a

had

parade
who
I

the
sent
me

room

the and dress

of

portly Major,
own

flowers

books of

of his

poems.

my

Carmen
my

black

satin, with
shawl. There

gold
was

flowers, and
much

scarlet

Spanish
drunk
to

cheap champagne

the

popular
was

toast

of

"General

Quenousamong."
aimons' that
was

This
we

originally
the
in.

"Que
French
was

nous

(To
every

those
one

love), and
to

eral" "genThe

meant

was

join

touch

considered
for

elegant,just as
Satank and
a

Couzank
for satin.

the

politeword
are

cousin, and

Balls of this kind

to

highly popular

great

trast con-

the

usually simple
of

lives of these

small-town

people.
One form

simplicityI

never

adopted
evening
and

was

the
sisting con-

quite general one

of eating their of of
a

supper,

usually
and

bit of bits of the

sausage,

black

bread
down

butter,
the
you away

out

paper

casually put
in

amongst
When threw

objects on
had the greasy

table

their

bedrooms.
up

finished,

you

simply
and the

rolled

and
over.

papers "146"

thing was

HUMAN
Sometimes
our a

PASSIONS
meal
may

AND
be
to
was

SMALLPOX
free.

captured
fish
at

One

of

"comics"
in
an

in Metz

had He

the

back

of the with would for

eat.
a

stage
a

operetta.

always
man,

furnished he

salt

herring by the property

out

which

suspend solemnly
while, then
clean

of

sight of the audience

up,

slowly
he

draw
was

and

proceed

to

picked spine
the relief

all that remained had his supper.

me

by
with

the

end

of the act, and Often

comic

had

performances supplied
behind
text

welcome for
stance, in-

the of
canvas

scenes.

learned
sung

that the
me,
as

the

Anvil rock habe

chorus couch
Dir

round
in

lay

on

the
was:

of Azucena, schon

"Trovatore,"
gesagt,
you

*'Ich

laengst
"

die

Wurst

sie schmeckt
tastes

nach of

Seife'
soap."

"I Also

told the from

long

ago,

the sausage made

soldiers the
wars

in "Faust"
to

their "He
"

return rollicking

the words:

ring und apple

"

Apfel
potato
the
say

"

Kar-

toffelnsalat." "Herring and Siegmund

bars
me:

salad."

grows

woefully vulgar,
song
to

and

opening
now

of his love "Winter

his sister riechen old

man

always
im

to

Struempfe
the

Monat

Mai."
was

Once

in "Tiefland"
a

in the first act

presented with
which he had
to

large lump
sniff

of

Limburger

cheese,
a

and

hold

gratefullyfor
Sometimes

long
their

time,
knees
was

while with

his

rejoicing colleagues slapped

in the

glee

wings.
less "147"

the humour For

replaced by

other

agreeable

emotions.

CONFESSIONS
my

OF
last year
I wanted
a

AN
of my

OPERA

SINGER
I
was

Benefiz, the

engagement,
tenor

to
a

sing Carmen.

popular guest
be my
not

from

neighbouring Hoftheater to agreed

to
come.

Jose, and
come

he

finally
for
hearsal re-

He I did
not

would
see

in time I
turn

and
in the

him
see

until him

my

head sword

first recitative From then first

on,

and he

making
me

his

chain.

directed
I had

in
sung

lordly tones
Carmen business
in

throughout the
Metz and

act.

often

the audience
as

knew
I had

most

of my

and

expected it; also

and of my

prepared
on

the role
not
see

in Paris

spent months
business Therefore him
my

of should
in

study
be
our

it I did
on

why

all

changed
short

my

own

festive

night.

talk before

the second I

act, I told

positions as
"Aber

nicely as
warum?

could,
Warum?"

he

saying

to

everything,

(But why, why?).

and told
I

I stood

this
till

as

long

as

I could

him

all the warums, to!"

I
was

finallyI

said and he

cause ''Beleft
was

want

At

this he

lost his temper

the
nervous.

stage.

surprised, but
then
on,

supposed
went to

From

things
said

from

bad

to

worse.

Everything
was

Carmen
to

Jose, he thought
to

Howard
I
meant

saying

him.

I tried
was

whisper
I

that

nothing by
grew

it
"

that that and

my pass.

the way

played
the

it,but he
last
to act

blacker him

blacker.

Finally in
usual
at

I struck

with

fan,
He

my

business
me

make

Jose let Carmen

my

rushed

and denn

caught

wrists

and

shouted, ^^Was
"148"

faelltIhnen

HUMAN
em?"

PASSIONS
the and
as

AND
matter

SMALLPOX

("What's
At
me,

with

you?")
he

was

frightfully upset
go
over on.

nearly crying by then, but

I

had

to

the last

lay

on

the floor and his

to to

stood
in
to

he

deliberatelythrew
I,
a

heavy dagger
my

my

face, and

corpse, He

had

move

head
room

avoid and wife all and

one.

being hurt.
cried dared and
to

rushed for calm

most
a a

his

dressing
before

shouted
go in and

half him.

hour

his
was

I believe

it

jealousy.
could The seemed and The bells
not
next

He

had
to

been share

popular

in the town,

bear

performance

with

any

day I could
wrenched
;

hardly hobble;
every
one was

all my
pathetic sym-

bones

but

most

kind.
in

Metz

were

most
near us

numerous

and all

pressing dean

The out-of-tune bin and todt shall The

cathedral

chimed said

day

singsong, which
und
not

the natives wieder!"

was,
am

"/c/t

homm
come

nicht

("I

dead

again!")
of the which first year broke
out

depression
closed.

culminated

in

smallpox epidemic,
the theatre
it
course,

shortly before
of of
it

Marjorie dreamed
and
all

fore just beof

was

happened,
haunted her

that

died

it, which,
It

through the outbreak. by the authorities.

mismanaged frightfully
were

The

pects sus-

called
to
an

for
open

by policemen and
wagon,
to

carried

from and

the

houses

(this in February

March,)

and

driven

the

hospitals.

The

Kaserne

"149"

CONFESSIONS
or

OF
where
cases

AN

OPERA
were

SINGER

barracks
our

occurred,

isolated;
with
so

but

in

daily walks
both
so

we

passed
and what had

them had

shudders. shocks that this

us.

We and last Our

course

were

tired
as

many

eye-openers

to

life

really is,
and

nightmare policeman

completely obsessed neighbour

was never

unnerved and and

carried
even

suspects,

of
we

his uniform
it.

fumigated

knew The
was

dear
away

little from

daughter
home
one

of

the

director's

wife

taken

night, in spite of her

was

parents'
fever, and

remonstrances.

She heard
away
no

ill of of

rheumatic
it

the and
in
a

authorities took her

it, pronounced
open

smallpox,
She
it

in
one

the
ever

carriage.
whether

died
was

few

days, and
or

knew
never

smallpox

not.
was so

Her
sweet

mother and the

quite

got

over

it; the child

wagon

young.
street

The

used

to

stand

in

before
it.

suspect

house, with
to out

children
run

playing around
whole houses
were

The

police seemed
carry

the the We

thing, and
and told
at not

would
it
to

bedding
in

of

leave

be

burned
poor
we

the
to

street.

that

the Of

very

used
were

steal this

bedding
it did
were

night.
take.

course

vaccinated,
of the of

but
season

The
as

last
every

performances
one was

abandoned,

afraid
on

crowded
While "150"

places,
there
my

and

left

for

Berlin

business.

throat

became

HUMAN

PASSIONS
and of
course

AND
of
course

SMALLPOX
I

frightfully sore,
have
worn

thought, "Aha!
it. I returned

it!"
out to

And

I didn't

have

Paris

and
I
near

rested

there.
to

About beautiful
was

this time

went

first

Jean

de

Reszke.

His

house,
scene

the

Bois, with

its little

theatre,
to to

the

of

much

nervousness

and

struggles
my
eyes

become the best

prime donne.
of

The

master

opened

beauties

style. His
singer
I have

Wagner,
ever

better

than

the

Wagnerian

heard, his French

yet

style,the wonderfully
he
a

Italian

and

manly interpretations
roles,
a were

gave

the

Puccini

and
me.

Verdi

all
sidered con-

marvellous

inspiration to

With
take
no

pupil
of above
me

he

intelligenthe would
and The
a

end

trouble,

''Bien" de

from Reszke

him

was

jewel

price.
of the

tales

pupils

sometimes

tell

wonderful have have

things he told them

amused his
me,

and

predicted for
in

them I

always
been
in

because I have
never

all the heard

time

studio

anything

like it. I
was so

infatuated the vista his ideas that

next

by

my

work

with

him,

and

so

humbled
me,
tone not

at

of endless could be him

effort it carried
one

opened
out

before
every

before
one

in

sang,

I asked winter

day if I should
leave the

spend the
for
me
a

in his

studio, and
it
over

stage advised

year.
to

He
on

thought
the

seriously, and
for the
rou-

go

with

stage work,

"151"

CONFESSIONS
tine I
was

OF
as

AN
valuable

OPERA
a

SINGER
as

gettingwas
have been
a

teacher

he

was.

It would
entire

great privilege to have

if I could have

spent

an

year

with

him, and
so.

afforded

it,

I should

have

done

"152"

CHAPTER

XIV

DISCOURAGEMENTS

THAT

LEAD

TO

COURT

THEATRE

THE
of the

second
to

year
a

of

my

first
I
was

engagement
much
to

was

drawing
the

close,
step.
not

and
I

exercised
try for
one

over

next

wanted

Hoftheaters,
but
a

the
a

very

largest
orchestra

and and
to

most

famous,

place

with

good
There and

fully care-

prepared
vacancy
me a

productions.
a

seemed
my

be

no

in
contract

just such
for
opera
a a

theatre,

agent

offered the
tralto, con-

great
house

Stadttheater,
in

probably
Their
a

first

municipal
who
was

Germany.
had
sure

great
and

favourite,

contract

for be the

big

Royal

Opera,
With
some

they

felt

she I

would

engaged.
Vertrag,
the and

misgivings,
the which
to

signed
to

then

began

long

dickering
decide
at
an

arrange
my

guest

performances
me

should

fate.

They

finally asked
It

sing Azucena
taken
so

afternoon
a

performance.
which suited between
us

had

long
deal

to

find of

date had their

both,
the
course,

that

good
of the
to

time

elapsed
letter.

signing
refused
"153"

contract

and
an

I, of

sing

afternoon

CONFESSIONS

OF
and
it
on

AN
was

OPERA

SINGER
that
is I
a

performance,
should
sort

finally arranged
a

sing Carmen
law

certain

date.

There
one

of unwritten
you

that it is

tlieyshall choose
not

part,
This

and

another, but
the

always observed.
have Such
a

over difficulty

role

should

warned

me

that
is

there
a

was

something

wrong.

disagreement
will
not

pretty good indication

that your

contract

be

made

perfekt.
all

I travelled
on

night, and
as

arrived

to

find
It

rehearsal what
is

the

same

day

the

performance. fuer den

was

called without takes

saw

an

Arrangier Probe
orchestra, of the
All the

Cast, rehearsal
the "Guest"
to

scenes

in which nice

part.
the
me

colleagues were
the

me,

but

contralto
a

watching from
I

wings, and
that there
as

she
was

gave

dagger glare; so
rotten

thought

"something

in the

state

of Denmark,"
I sang

she well

was

supposed
night, and
with
are

to

be had

leaving voluntarily.
a

that

real

success

with all said

a

the audience, and

to

my

colleagues. They

me,

"Oh,

you

certainly engaged after

a

hit like that."

to
a

But

felt

premonition which
that the
Director

increased had had

not

certaintywhen
to

I heard
my

troubled the theatre

watch
in

performance,
of the first
next

but
act.

left

the

middle

I left the

morning, and
Director

in

day
I

I received

letter from

the

saying that
to

had

not

had
I

quite enough experience

sing their repertoire.

"154^

A
learned
sung
one some

COURT

THEATRE
that their contralto
I

time

afterwards

had
went

of

her

guest-performances before
to

there, had
and been
sang

failed
to

make

sufficient

impression,
This had
I

had

decided

remain

where and let

me

she

was.

settled between
at

her

the

Direction
no

before

all; still they had

and
not

sing with
it
to

prospect
to

of

an

engagement, that
were

allowed

appear

be

my

fault

was

engaged.
their

Legally,
chance
But

of

course,

they
sued

quite within
if

rights, as
me a

I could
to

have

them

they had

not

given

sing the singer,

to

Gastspielcalled
in

for in my

contract.

any

such the
me

circumstances,
facts.
were

would
I
once

infinitely prefer begged

while
to
a

be
to

told tell
opera

Later,

director

if it

really worth
He

gastieren in his
were

house.
any

said, certainly, they

else and
one

not

sidering conme.

one

really wanted
the the

to

hear

sang

there
I have

with
ever

of

biggest personal
Biir germeister and

cesses suc-

made,
a

all

the

Committee
a

(it was

municipal theatre

managed
came on

by
the

Committee

witli the

Mayor
me,

at

the

head)
to

stage

to

congratulate
after

and last

I had
act.

take
not

nine
gaged, en-

curtain

calls alone

the

was

however, and
decided
to

found
a

out

that who

they
had

had

already
sung
one

engage
me

contralto the other

even

Gastspiel before
This
sort

and

directlyafterwards.
to

of

thing happens
singer.
"155"

the

most

rienced expe-

native-born

One

tenor

in

D.

sang

CONFESSIONS
a

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
and learned

guest

performance
was

auf Engagement,
who had

that he
in the

the seventh

tried for that

on

position

same

part, and
Of
course,
one

they kept
these has
sung

their

original one
are

after but

all!

performances
without

paid, weekly
singers
in

the fact that known

paper,
opera,

being engaged
the

becomes theatrical
in

everywhere
which of

through

gives the repertoireand

each

all the fact

you

reputable
that the

opera

houses
never

Germany.
intended
you
to

But

the

management
known.

engage

is

not

generally
or

If

have

bad

luck

like
as

this three
an

four The

times, it
Genossen-

injures

your

standing

artist.
to

schaft or
confine fill any prevent A heels

stage society is trying

to

make

each
at
a

theatre
time
to

itself

issuing only

one

contract

vacancy

they

may

have,

which

will

largely
the
my

this evil.

second of the
as

disappointment
first
was one.

followed
a

right

on

I had vacancy
was

second
a

string to good
I and Their
to

bow,

there for

in

very
to

Stadt-

theater

which

anxious

try. agent,

opened
after
tralto con-

negotiations with
the usual
was

them

through
the

my

delay arranged
also and

Gastspiels.
I
was

leavingvoluntarily.
Ulrica found
I had in the

sing the
When
and

two

Erdas

"Masked
to

Ball." the

I got

there, I

this
not

changed
for
a

Erdas
Then

Fricka, which
demanded

sung in

year.

they
a

Frau

Reich

"Merry

Wives"

without

"156"

A
rehearsal
very

COURT
of
the

THEATRE

instead

"Siegfried" Erda.
from this that
no

was

unhappy, for

I knew

things were
of The
gaging en-

going badly, and

me,
wrote
no

that

they had
how
in
or

intention
I
my

matter
me

what

sang.

rection Di-

that,

spite of

great

talents,

my

voice

was

not

quite large enough for their house.

was a

The and

truth

was

that their contralto, who of the

same

Jewess
of the

therefore had had

religion as
an

most

committee, remain,
felt and

been

offered

increase

of

salary to
and far the

accepted.
the way
to
was

The had

Direction treated

themselves
me,

badly
he

over

they
a

Intendant where

telephoned
knew
me

Hoftheater, not
going
to

off,
to

there
to

be

vacancy,

recommend This
was

their Director the

in the

highestterms.
a

Darmstadt,
for

capital of
It is

small had of

cipality prinisted ex-

famous for
a

its opera years.

house, which
a

hundred

town

about

100,000
Grand the

inhabitants, and

the residence
His

of the had of

ing reignbeen

Duke, Ernst Ludwig.

Alice He
two

mother

Princess

of his

England,
second
at

daughter

Queen
lived

Victoria. with
money

and

wife, Eleanore,

their

little sons built

a

the

palace Princess
It
was

Alice's
not
a

had
at

for

them.

really

palace
His

all,but

large, roomy,
married

comfortable
married the the

house. Czar of

beautiful

sister, Alexandra,
sister

Russia; another
Prince

Kaiser's

brother.

Henry

of Prussia. "157"

CONFESSIONS
The
opera

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
stood

house, called

Hoftheater,
are

high

in

the second Dresden

come

class. and

In the first class

Berlin, Vienna,
Then the

Munich,

with

possiblyHamburg.
and

Cologne,

Frankfurt

Leipsic, and

Hof-

theaters

Hanover,
etc.

Mannheim, Stuttgart,
In the third and class the
are

Wiesbaden,
the smaller like
,

Darmstadt,

Hoftheaters
Mainz. and

like

Coburg,
are

Stadttheaters

In the

fourth,
come

the smallest
towns

Stadttheaters have
Mo-

last of all
or a

the little month month

are season

which

natsoper,
after the

one

of opera
are

in the year,

seven

theatres all the the

closed. with
at
a

The four

first class
or

houses

open

year,

six

weeks'
so

vacation

for
not

singers
away

different

times,
The

that

they
a

shall
nine

all be

together.
but
in

next

class has the

months' is

season,

the

Hoftheaters
I took the

salary
months for
me

paid

in

monthly

ments instal-

for twelve

in the year.

train

the
or

town,
not.

not

caring

much
was

whether
the

they

wanted

Perhaps
one

that
song
me a

right attitude,for
I asked
so

after

hearing
make

with five-

piano accompaniment,
year
town

the Intendant them

to

offered
it

contract.

three; the
like the

seemed

small

and

quiet that
The

I did

not

sound

of five years
ever

in it.
a

salary was
The

the

highest
said ?"
at

they had
once,

paid
much

contralto.

Director
in year

"How
to

did

they
500

offer you marks

a

and I
ar-

agreed

pay

me

only

less.

"158"

COURT
soon

THEATRE
in

ranged
and
on one

to

gastieren very
part
to
as

Carmen,

with

Nancy

other

follow. the Grand

I sang

only the Carmen

had
me,
a come

trial,however,

Duke, who

in

especially from
me

his country

place
act.

to

hear
I had

gaged en-

personally after
rare

the first "be

me

derful won-

and told
to
me

chance He

to

grand" when
if I would
I

the Director be

this. other

asked

willing

sing
I

my

Gastspiel of Nancy.
not

replied loftily
return to

that Paris.

really could

do

so,

as

must

Six
to

days before the opening

contract,
was

of the season,
my
next

ing accordthe
town

I arrived home

with

sister

in

which

to

be my

for the

three years.
very

It

is surrounded

by forests and
The

looked stands

pretty; but
a

oh!
is
a

so

quiet!
been

Hof theater

in

park,

and

structure classic-looking

seating 1,400
years,

persons.
runs

It has

there A

for

hundred behind

and

by
half

clockwork.
as

building

it,

more

than

contains large as the theatre itself,

the ballet school

and and

scene-painting lofts and

complete dressmaking
the wardrobe
costumes

tailoring establishment, with

and
master at
are

tress misare

the head, where also

one,

all
and
sets

made.
is
a

They
very

kept here,
with
costumes

the

collection

complete
and

endless

of uniforms, Men's
more

armour

historical
women

of all kinds. have

a

dress than

is 3600

supplied ;
marks

who
are

salary of
to

($900)

supposed

supply

their

"159"

CONFESSIONS
own,

OF
are

AN
to

OPERA

SINGER
mistress want,

but

if you

nice
to

the wardrobe what the

you

she

will
you it.

usually
must

contrive

find

though
to
wear

get permission from

dressers hair-dresser
it
are

Direction for

Excellent and
a

provided
put
on

tlie

pals, princiThere theatre

to

your

wig.
The
to

is

small these
New

charge if

requires dressing.
you
are

pays
on

people, but
the

supposed
of your

tip them

Year's

Day, also the stage doorkeeper, the

scores

man

who

brings you

parts, and expect

are

any

one

else you
10

like, though only the first four

it;
pected ex-

and

marks
to

($2.50)
your

is

liberal
at

tip. You
home,
and

keep
in
a

costumes
on

send
formance per-

them

over

basket-trunk
dresser

the

morning of the
press

for your
up.
many

to
a

unpack,
montli
to

and

hang

You

pay

man

$1.00

do

this, though

singers send
are

their servant. the Kapellmeisters, first one who

joiced re-

There
in

four

the title of

Hofrat (Court councillor),the

a

second, and

third, and
is
now

fourth

for the chorus. there.

is

Felix The
chestra or-

Weingartner

first conductor

consists

of

sixtymusicians, and
so

reallygood. they
with
can

They

have

played together they adore,

the works
opera
to

long,
in

that

play almost
with

anything,and they excel

while

Mozart, whom,
look The
to
descension con-

Wagner,
upon

they
used

of Puccini. house

scenery

of

this
were

particular

be

famous.

They

the first

have
"160"

moons

which

really rose

A
about
as

COURT
as

THEATRE
real
one,

slowly
in

the
a

and

they

are

still
sun,

unique
which their

possessing
as

wonderful The

clock-work

contracts

it rises.

Ring dramas,
without
some a

with

complicated settings,are
Flute"
is

given

single
teen nine-

hitch; the "Magic

scenes,

presented with
and this is Goethe's

all dark

changes;
where

one

of the
is
tist, ar-

four

theatres

in the world
on

"Faust" The

given entire,

four
is

consecutive

evenings.
all
new

Kempin,
is
as a man

who

responsiblefor

scenery,

of considerable
as

reputation,outside painter.
a

the

town

well

in

it,

as

He

does
as

excellent he inclines

things when
very

he

is allowed

free

hand,

strongly
Belle

toward
d

modem la Reinhardt.
was

styliziert (conventionalized)
His

scenery

production
his
most

of

"La

Helene" room"
in

worth
is
ever

seeing, and
one

"Gretchens

"Faust" have

of

the

charming stage settingsI

There
is
a

seen.

large, thoroughly
over

trained

chorus, each
members

with
are

repertoireof
a

fiftyoperas,
125

whose
a

paid, as

rule, about
modem those

marks

month

($26),
None
ceives re-

everything
more,

but

dress who

supplied.
fill small dancers

except
a

"speaking
from

parts."
75
to

In

ballet of

forty the
with

receive

80

marks these I

apiece

all costumes

fumished.
for
me

Knowing
credit

figures,as
once saw

I do, it is hard

to

those
a

quoted
on

in

music

journal
author

from

German

book

the

subject.

The

"161"

CONFESSIONS
stated marks that the ballet

OF

AN

OPERA
Hanover

SINGER
receive

girlsin

only
a

10

($2.50)
house

month. Berlin
I

Hanover,
pays

being
He

larger
than

city and
this opera that the
a

affiliated with

better salaries

of which

am

writing.
had

also said 15 marks

in

"leading lady"
As

in Eisenach
a

only
but

month!

I, $35

as

beginner and
I
cannot

foreigner,
think
meant

Metz, received
he had

month,
add the

that 150
are

forgotten to
The
costume tax

cipher and
that he German shown theatre

marks!

expenses
upon

spoke of,
actresses

certainly a great
smaller the wardrobe of

the

in

theatres ; but I think

a

I have
a

how
may

greatly
be simplified,
up
to

singer in such
a

especiallyby
all the
same

German thirfty

woman,

dodges

of

different

pairs of sleeves
expenses
are

for
as

the

gown.
as

After
one

all, costume
them.
an

high

or

low

as

makes

None
actress

of
on

our

American

girlsthinks
stage,
so

of

becoming
costume

the
not

European
her
age man-

these

expenses

need

trouble

and personally,
to

the their

majority of German
earnings.
$900
to to

actresses

live

on

The

principalsin
a

my

theatre

received
sum

from
is

$3500

year,

which and
on

last named which marks

paid

the of
a

Heldentenor,

he is rich.
a

The

rent

good
I

flat is 700-800
1100
on

year

($180-$200).
because it It
room was

paid
situated

marks the best

rooms,

($275)
street,

for mine
near

the

palace.

contained and
two

four

with

kitchen,bath, maid's

balconies.

"162"

A good

COURT
servant

THEATRE
receives 25

general
Her

marks about

month her
are

($6.24).

wages

and

everything
The the
in
case

regulated by police inspection. regulates the

theatre, which
whole
can

Polizei, in fact,

town,

even

closing of

the

only be shut
or

of destruction

by fire,serious
The obtains We whom had
are same

epidemic
of but

martial

law.
opera

system
all

alternating plays with

very
actors

in
some

the

largest German
in
our

cities.
some

splendid
now

cast,
in

of

in

leading positions
a

the

greatest
ple, peo-

theatres.
is

The

repertoire,for
The with

town

of 100,000

extraordinary.

German

classics,Goethe
the modem

and

Schiller, alternate
the

Shakespeare;

poetic dramas,

plays
of

of Hebbel, Schnitzler

the Grillpartzer,
are

sparkling
with Sudermann French old and there
ones

comedies

interchanged
etc.

translations and salon that

of Ibsen, Bernard

Shaw, Pinero,
follow

Hauptmann
or a new

may

the
the

latest

comedy,

farce; and
like allowed and

good

everybody
are

knows
not

"Kyritz Pyritz,"
to

"Charley's Aunt"
are

die.

Then for

peasant
at

plays

in dialect

fairy plays

the children

Christmas.

"163-

CHAPTER

XV

SALARIES

AND

TENOr's

GENIUS

IF
to

you

make the
town

hit
is

with made
motormen

the

audience

your

residence Even
cars

in

very

pleasant.
of the the
street

the used
were

conductors

and
as

greet

me

they passed
I had letters

and
to

all
some

policemen
of
as

my

friends.
town

the much
if

people
part
row, nar-

in

the

through
time

relations,
the of

and

took

as

I had

for life of

in

really
the

charming,
The

slightly
of Grand

social
was,

place.
the Court.

centre

thing every-

course,

The and

Duke
to

took the did then We

great

interest

in

the
in

theatre,
hand.

used

watch which
sent

productions
not

notebook him
to
was

Any

detail and

please
there
some

immediately
stage
manager
as we

noted
to

and had

the

be

changed.
classed
as

special privileges
official
to servants

were

Beamten

or

of the

the

government.
cellars
10
per
at

One
cost

was

the
or

right
duty
all
money

wine

from Another

ducal
a

price,

free.

was

cent,

count dis-

at

the

shops.
is often
to

Extra

be

picked
emergency

up

by

Gastspiel
from
a

aushilfsweise,

that

is,

an

call

"164"

SALARIES

AND

A
Our
to

TENOR'S
opera

GENIUS
soubrette
once ceived re-

neighbouring theatre.
a

hurry
away.

call The
an

another would

Hofoper
have and her

one

hour's her
too

journey
late, so her, and
to

train

made
costume

she took drove

at

automobile

with

breakneck
was

speed through
sing Cherubino
auto to
save

the woods

the
as

town.

She dressed

to

in

"Figaro"
prise sur-

and,

she

in the
may

time, the

of the chauffeur of car! I made the company of tlie first

was,
a

be

imagined when, instead boy emerged

from his

brunette

girl,a

blond

my

first appearance
as

as

regular member
comment

of

Dalila.

The

only

afterwards the

Kapellmeister,who "Why
did
you
a

directed the

ance, performnote

make

eighth

in

such

and

such
to

phrase
an

sixteenth?"

I repeat

this,

in order

give
which

idea

of the standard

of the

ness thoroughopera
on was

with

the
we

musical
were

part

of

prepared.
with

When

rehearsing Dalila
and

the
bued im-

stage, I, having studied

the

the role in Paris

being

spiritof the French

that

performers, occasionally
hips
on a

gave

swing from
as

the

larly particuI could

luscious remember flow half of

phrase, using
Reszke's
The

faithfully as

it de

masterly interpretationand
on

line.

Hofrat rapped

his

desk, and
a

half contemptuously, with patronizingly,

ing pity-

smile, bade
niere
"

me

not

indulge
As

in

Manfranzoesische
room

French

mannerisms.

many

rehears-

"165"

CONFESSIONS
als
were

OF
as were

AN
necessary

OPERA
before
every
note

SINGER
the

held

singers

could value.

sing their
A

parts,

giving

its exact
formance, per-

singer might make

but the

mistakes

during the

Hofrat always mentioned

was,
a

wards. it after-

My
and
an

Samson
a

of course,

the Heldentenor,
man,

he

was

character;
ill-used
success

tall, good-looking
a

with
actor.

immense,
had
a

voice, but
with

wonderful

He

great

the ladies, and

were

his adventures,

matrimonial
source

and

otherwise,
town.

the

principal
this

of
was

gossip of the
a

His whom
was

lady-love at
he

time

certain

Baroness,
amusement
a

afterwards

married. the country flowers. of her look

Their

great

rushing about
filled with the

togetherin
She used
to

white

automobile
over

hang fascinated
the

edge

box, high above

gesture,
he her

stage, watching his every

on

and When

large bust
stage

the would rub who

edge of the
sink
eyes

box.
in her

left the

she

back with

chair, reallyexhausted, and

He the
was

her
was

her
to

hand. disturb

the

only

person

allowed
one was

orderly
when he

rehearsals. lost his temper

Every
and he would

afraid and
enemy

of him

raged
do
to

up

down

the stage, he

shouting what
him. One the Intendant

his

when

caught
with

day,
the had

remember,

he

was

furious had of
sure

because Grand

birthday
Duke,
none.

honours the form

He

been

distributed

by
he

in

decorations, and
that it
was

received
s

made

the Intendant'

spite against

"166"

SALARIES
him, of but it was
in

AND

TENOR^S
course,

GENIUS
his notorious
way

of reality,

living that
that he and

prevented
would
grease up

his

being decorated.
two

He

shouted

"buy himself
his back Then
auto

cents' worth make the

of soft soap Intendant

in

with that he
over

it and

climb

it!"
run

would

get him
run

the woods and

and

his

him, and

it
was

back

and fortli,

back

and

forth, until there

nothing left but

could and his been
are

apple sauce!
him
was no

Finally
actor

the
as

tion Direche
was,

stand

longer, great
on

contract

broken the
go

the pretext without than due

a

ing of his havYou

absent
not

from
to

town

leave.
certain

supposed
from

further without

stated and

distance

the theatre He
it
was

notification

permission.
his
return to

left the

place with his Baroness, and

The first time he
was

characteristic.
over

that
in it, down

Zeppelin'sairship passed
hanging
out

the town,

of

the

car,

shouting and

throwing
he

postcards!
As

Siegfried

in

"Goetterdaemmerung,"
on me.

left
seen

an

ineffaceable

impression
any
tenor.

I have he fails to

never

it

equalled by
hilde's
it
means

When

gazes

at

Brilnn-

ring, and
to

his memory

recall

just what

him, his puzzled look

of baffled memory,

the ray

of

understanding that almost

were

pierced his
a

forway

all getfulness, that

one saw

suggested
his

in
"

so

tremendous all this

inside

brain,

and

utterly

without

exaggerated

mannerisms. "167"

CONFESSIONS
I seemed
to

OF
find favour
he

AN

OPERA

SINGER

in his

sight,and
love
into
to
me.

during
In
on

the the the

Dalila

rehearsals

made

hot sinks

performance, when
couch, he
loud; schoenes knows

Dalila
me

his

arms

nearly upset
endlich
im

by saying fervently out

man was

'"Ach! Weib what

weiss
zu

esf
at

ist

ein
one

Arm have

haben!"
a

("Ah!
woman

last

it is to

beautiful
a

in one's
on

arms.")
he wish
gene

I considered

this

distinct reflection the

me

his

adoring Baroness,
no

and

withheld He
see

signs of delight
once,
one

doubt he

expected.
"

told
my
we

only
tinthe
turn

had,

^just to
One

Spinne,
were

or

closet.

day,
a

as

all
our

in

greenroom,
to

during
to

rehearsal, waiting
saw

be called horror. the opera

the stage, I

's eyes he

transfixed

with
saw

Looking
soubrette

in

the
,

direction

pointed I

Z
in

putting on
so.

her rubbers
action
vealed re-

and

crossing her
to
our

legs

doing

This

delighted gaze
into

trouserettes
a

of red half
way
a

striped
between blanketwas

canton

flannel, shirred
and

band

calf

ankle, and
frill of the

there
same

adorned
material.
more

with S

stitched sickened

too

by the sightto do
to
me.

than
person;

helplessly gasp,
fastidious, sensual,

"Typical!"
couldn't
He
was

curious

unquestionably
behave. asked
opera
to

endowed

with

genius, he

just

sing Siegfried
on

once,

at

bouring neighHe had

house,

very

short

notice.

"168"

SALARIES
to

AND

A
in order

TENOR'S
to

GENIUS
on

dress

in the train
went

be there

time
saw

when him
were

the curtain
enter

up.

Fellow
in
a

travellers, who
the

the

train

dressed
to
see

ordinary

way,

rather
at to

horrified

half-naked S
He
to
was

savage

emerge

the the

journey'send;
sensation he

but

quite impervious
wore

created.

never

eous the hidthink

from
are

tightsmost
skin, but
his

Siegfrieds try

make
rose

you

splendid shoulders
his bare

naked bound

his

bearskin, and

legs

were

with

furry

thongs.
The been

Heldenbariton

was

of

another

type. twenty
like

He

had

twenty-five years
Opera
He

on

the stage, and

was

in this
to

theatre. his office. his

singing for him

his house

going

had
a

with

charming garden,
and

family, and
included
cases

circle of friends

acquaintances,
There
a

"which
are

nearly the whole

like his lead.

population.

many

in this class of theatre, and

pleasant life they Hoftheater they proportion of

years

After

eightyears
a

in the
a

same

are

for eligible

pension,
increases

certain their

their

salary, which
to
a

with

of

service, up
this
a

fixed

point.

Only

certain nice

Ho
some

ftheaters have
singers,but
that theatre all that you
to

pension fund;

it is very

for

great hardship for others.

your

If you
up,

leave lose

before have

eight years
your is

are

you

paid during

engagement.
for all

Contribution

the

pension fund

compulsory
One

singers and

actors

in that theatre. "169"

singer whom

CONFESSIONS
I knew had

OF
spent
a

AN
years

OPERA
in

SINGER

sixteen

different

tlieatres,

always paying
benefit of
one

pension tax, and

from
came

never

receiving the
as

penny

the money,
to
an

her

ment engage-

in each

place
years.

end

before directors

the

lated stipu-

eight
of when

Unscrupulous
to

take

vantage ad-

this
near

fail the

to

renew

singer's contract
The invaluable

it gets

eighth

year.

Genossenschaft
Some enviable of the
concert

is also

trying to remedy
of
as a

this abuse.

regular members reputations

Hoftheater have
in

well, though

many Gerand

the
concert

two

professions are
The
to

quite separate,
upon
as

singing is generally looked

of
art.

the

higher
opera

branch

critics

are

suspicious of the
that I
my
was

singer
at

in concert,

such

an

extent

advised,

my

first Berlin

recital,to keep
and

real

standing in
without
my my

the

profession dark

present
I

myself
Berlin,
extra

title of

Hofopernsdngerin.
I
was

suggested to
in in it

agent

that, as
well
to

quite unknown
a

might be

spend
So

little money

advertising.
you
are a

"Advertising?" said he, "they will think

soap!"

I sang

unheralded
papers.

except
In contrast

by

the
to

usual

half -inch in the

daily

the

licity publet

campaigns and
me

press-agents
of how On

of this country,

give another
before
I

instance

they
let the

did

things in
at

Germany
I

the

war.

being engaged
to

this

Hoftheater,
it.
wrote

thought
my

ought
Herr

public

know
to

agent,

Harder,

asking

him

"170"

SALARIES

AND
marks

TENOR'S
for
He
me

GENIUS
in

spend

1000

($250)
he

tising judicious adverthat

money
to

of
was no

my

engagement.
in which

answered

there
ther fur-

way

could

place the
it! The
tour

my

interests, and
was

returned for
to
a

first
in

contract

which

offered for

me

concert

America,

provided
before

$2,000

be

paid

down

for

advertising

tlie tour

began.

"171"

CHAPTER

XVI

THE

ART

OF

MARIE

MUELLE

ONE
The

factor

in

my
was

success

was

the bave Frank

beautiful the

wardrobe

I of I

enabled and

to

through
S.

kindness first the clotbes

summer

Mr.

Mrs. from

Jones.
in

ordered
I
went

Marie

Muelle
I left bolts

Paris,
to

before showed
me

to

Metz,
had for
my

entirely
of
derful won-

her.

She

designs
unrolled
curious

and

shimmering
and she

silks boxes of

inspection,
which and of
and

brought kept
for

out

embroideries,
The
were

her

special
she made

friends.
me

Amneris
very

Dalila that

costumes

French
greens

period

of
in

the

Comique;
I

pale pinks
wore

and
a

everything
but
as

long wigs.
more

them I did
nor

few

seasons,

grew in

in
crepe

knowledge
de Cecil and

not

feel
in

at

all

Egyptian
green.

pink
brother

Chine,
and have I

Syrian
the hours

pale

My
of the We

love

Egyptian
there
gether. to-

part

Louvre,
found
a

spent

fascinating
we

bronze
to

princess
try
and

of

the for

right period,
me

which

proceeded

copy

for
were

Amneris.

We

staying

out

of
"172"

town

at

Givemy,

the

artist

DALILA

AS

USED

TO

DRESS

IT

THE

ART
famous

OF

MARIE

MUELLE

colony made

by Monet,
with

Macmonnies,
many

Frie-

sieke, the A. B. Frost family and

I had
a

artist friends.

big

studio of the

my

brother, and

he

made her

huge designs

wings the princess used

on

for

skirt, pinning them

the
tones

wall of

of the

the

studio, then
cases,

colouring them

in

the

mummy ages.

allowing for their fading through the designs we

We worked took hard
to

These

Muelle, who

was

most

enthusiastic.

and

long

on

that costume,
it

gettingthe
well

headdress
as

just right,and
The

making
made and

practical as

correct.

jewelry I

myself, from
in the
rue

wooden de Rivoli

beads

painted the rightcolour

I found

just the right Egyptian charms

earthenware could
not
to
seem

and

figures

of

blue

hang
to

on

the

necklace.
so

My finally
into
it

wig maker
took
one a

satisfyme,

short-haired

black

wig, and
of

braided

hundred seemed of

strands, made
to

lustreless wool.
when
on,
so

The

dress
ropes

lack

something
round

I twisted

turqouise beads
the whole.

the wrists

and

the blue

accented The

Dalila

clothes

I had

been and and

wearing then seemed

conventional,
Paris for
so we

hopelessly pale, washy

hunted

the

shops
and

of

Berlin

for vivid

broideries em-

searched
seem

museums

Syrian
we

women.

They did

not

at

all
men.

popular, though

found
a

magnificent reliefs of
we

Taking
robes of

these

as

basis,

built

some

barbaric

scarlet

and

purple,

"173"

CONFESSIONS
added "like
a

OF
short black
a

AN

OPERA
and

SINGER
I felt much
more

fuzzy

wig,

it."

I found

necklace
in it.

of

silver

chains and

with had of
a

clumps
headdress Amneris
of

of turquoise matrix, made and

to

Darmstadt,
A

match

comparison
how
one's

the

Dalila

photos will show

books

sense

costuming develops.
We

bought

all the them

on

the

subject we
We
cut
out

could
ductions repro-

find, and

studied

for hours.

of historic

portraitsand
art

invested

largely in
headdresses
one

photos pasted
have
in

in

the different
into scrap

we galleries

haunted, and

them

books.
me

Caps
from I
wear

and The

always
The

interested

intensely.
a

wear

"Meistersinger" I copied
Norwegian
I
one

portrait in

werp. Ant-

as

Mary

in "Flie-

gender
with the

Hollaender"
rest

bought
character

in

Norway,

together

of my

costume.

Nothing gives
characteristic
women,

such

to to

silhouette
do endless

as

head, give
A

and them

having
all of

old

I could

just as
the

endless

changes
will of also

of

headgear.
how and
one

comparison
into eyes

photos
years
one

show

grows

the role with

ing, playand

how
"

one's

"come

to," how

develops
snap

histrionically ^how
vim

the

silhouette
at
a

acquires

and

carrying
crisp and

power

distance, and

outlines

become

authoritative. clothes
were

My
and
not

first Carmen
at

very

Opera Comique
the

all

Spanish gipsy.
"174"

I studied

Spanish

THE

ART

OF
those idea
one

MARIE
of
of

MUELLE
as

cigarette girls and

as

gipsy blood
the role

carefully
ally. natur-

possible, and
I went
to

my

changed
and

Muelle

summer,

told her

that She

was

no

longer happy

in satin

princess dresses.

said tliatZuloaga had the

justdesigned and
clothes for the She

superintended Comique^s
real

making

of Breval's

Spanish
these for

revival
me as

of

Carmen.

could
to

duplicate
in

she knew
cottons

just where
in

send

Spain

for the flowered silk scarfs

was

garish colours, and

the shot
I my

that

Zuloaga

had

imported for Breval.

costumes to

delighted at this and

one

adapted the exactly

as

needs, using the last

witli the

Zuloaga

had

tended, in-

huge

red

comb,

made

specially in
of Prussia
my
so

Spain.
When
in
were

I sang

Carmen he

before
sent

Prince
to
me

Henry
that them

Darmstadt,

word
woman

skirts

too

long, no

Spanish

wore

long.

knew, however, that they

one can see

were

the

rightlength,and
the

any

by studying Zuloaga's paintings that

is not
worn on

the

soubrette

length skirt
of

proud,
told of
a

swinging hips

the
I

Spanish girl.
am an

I have

been

by Spaniards that

exact

reproduction
shows said that
my

Spanish gipsy
were

as

Carmen,

which have

studies

not

in

vain.

People
is not

Merimee's

and
are

Bizet's Carmen

Spanish, and
to

perhaps they

right;but
can one

in

aiming
but
a

portray one?

Spaniard, what

model

take

real

"175^

CONFESSIONS

OF
clothes them
I have
was

AN
never

OPEIL\

SINGER
The
crepe

My
de
one

Orfeo
for his

changed.
Mounetgave
me

chine of
was

imported by
and

Sully
the colour

for

characters,
over.

Muelle

piece
and mind.

that thick

left

Its beautiful

creamy upon,
to

softness

cannot

be
now

improved
the first

my

Marie

Muelle

is

operatic
built

costumer

of

the world. her

This
own

reputation she has

unaided her

through
rooms

unfailing
most

energy.

Through
opera

pass

the

fabulous-priced
the stage

singers,
agers, man-

the

greatest

actors,

beauties, famous
ladies

producers, and
world
"

designers, the
for the
to

of the great

seeking

costumes

wonderful ladies whom business

in the
rue
"

private fetes
all the the
or

and

gentlemen seeking
of many of nationalities

varied childish

crowd

old
a

pastime
The
is

"dressing up"
establishment The

is

pleasure.

present

de

la Victoire half -filled

ica, in Amerin

quite impressive.
the trunks who of

hall

is

usually engaged
York

with

"Muelle

artists"
into
customs

bring

their the

things

New

bond and

to
are

avoid

paying

ruinous
to

charges,
the
weary

therefore

forced the

go

through
old
it

round
out

of the

dispatching
country
Even when the and

same

stage
back

wardrobe

of
season.

bringing
are

again

every
to

the clothes
rags

quite reduced
be

shreds

and tified iden-

patches

have

to

elaborately packed,
sent at

and by lynx-eyed officials,

"176"

least

outside

THE
the three-mile

ART
limit

OF
of

MARIE
the
American

MUELLE
Continent
to

be

thrown The
contains
some

away!
first
a

big long

white table
a

reception

room

of

the

Maison

usually
large

littered

with

samples,
that of
ered cova

chairs, and

mirror is
a

lit like

star's

dressing
with

room.

There of

mantelpiece
all of the

photographs
dedicated Marie
one

singers of
a

grades

of

each celebrity, affection

various
on

with

message

admiring
wall of of
are

to

Muelle.

Around
a

armoires,

containing
a

library

works stage signs defor

costume,

another third
many
sort

glittering collection

jewelry, a

portfolios of
kind

water-colour

for every
every

and

of theatrical

garment

role. those

Oh!
an

designs!
in Monte

young

soprano
wants
comes a

has

won

engagement
for her

Carlo Out

and

robe stage ward"Modern of blonde

a

repertoire.
a

the
series

French"
and

portfoliowith

bewildering

sinuous

Thaises, Moyen-Age
in
contrast to
a

Melisandes,
demure
a

tillating scin-

Ariane

little work-a-

day Louise;
in

and

the

lady spends
favourites. for
an

noon delightful after-

selecting her
Muelle de sends

Then

armful
for the

of

samples

"

"Crepe
flesh

chine, of

course,

Thais.

Yes,
is

in
an

pink

with
"

plenty
and
she

of

embroidery.
it
to

Here

echantillon"

pins
"177"

the

drawing.

CONFESSIONS
The
crepe
"

OF
out

AN
a

OPERA
scrap

SINGER

singer picks

of

heavy,

lustrous

"No,
and

not

that
no

quality.
to

That

is

something special,
or

there

is

more

be had
are

for love
upon,

money."
all tested for which lights,

Colours

and

fabrics under

decided

becomingness
mimic
an

the bunched

electric Each

the strong

lightof

the stage.

design
where
is
an

has

assortment

of tags of material been for

pinned
Muelle doesn't

many

others

have

pinned
stage.

before. She
or

expert

in colours

the

talk

learnedly

of but

syntheticdyes,
she
can

processes,
a

German

competition,
to

give you
no

brightblue

that is warranted of

stay blue,
manager

matter

what

vagaries

lightinga stage
her

may

indulge in.
colours She with
time
never

Her
ones

pale
muddy. busy

turn
a

nor insipid,

dark

keeps

ment special dyeing establish-

her

orders
to

alone, and
obtain
any

twenty-four
shade known

hours
to

seems

enough

the The

palette.
textiles and
now,
one once

chosen, Camille
for the

is called

to

"take

measures" "And
your

arrange

fittings.
Mademoiselle,
the "Is

question," says
does it is all."

stage

level, or
that

slope towards
first of

back?

Very well,
When

the

singer arrives
is filled

for her

trying-on,the
material, and

fittingroom
Mademoiselle

with stands "178"

lengths
in

herself

the

midst, brandish-

THE

ART
of

OF

MARIE
She

MUELLE
throws
in two
a

ing
silk

huge pair
one

shears.

length

of

over

of your

shoulders, puts
in

pins, and
a

bunching
with makes
more

the material
in her

her

left hand,
a

gives

slash that
two

the scissors
you

right,with
A

recklessness
a

shudder.
"

pull here, hangs

as

fold
no

there,
one

pins
make
a

and
it

the stuff

almost

else guising dis-

can

hang, accentuating a good figure and

one.

poor

Occasionally
stumble
upon
an

in

fillinga

regular
One the

order

she

will
were

unusual

effect. for

day they
dress of
a

making
known
years,

MoyenAge
singer whom
but who has

sleeves Mile.
never

wellfor

Muelle

has

gowned

been The

included sleeve
was

in the list of of

her

special favourites.
lined She with

slashed
on

silverygrey,
the

cerise, the lining showing

up
a

edges.
it

picked
the

bit of cloth of silver and The effect charmed

pulled
her.

through

slashes.

'^Tenez!" We'll "La

she

said, "That
Belle
as

is

too

good

for

her.

keep

that for La

Geraldine."
Miss
most

Belle
is
one

Geraldine,"
of
Muelle's

Farrar
constant

is known

in

Paris,
Ever the

patrons.
costumed

since

her

Berlin

days

she

has

been
very

by
the

Maison

Muelle, and

she

stands

high

in

list of Mademoiselle's The

outer
room

favourites.
may

contain

the

photographs
room

of

celebrities great and

small, but
"179"

in the inner

there

CONFESSIONS
are

OF
a

AN
Miss

OPERA
Farrar

SINGER
as

just two
one

"

portrait of
as

Elizabeth

and

of

myself
off the lined the

Carmen.

Opening
are

main

reception and
armoires
come

fitting rooms
of
boxes
ting cut-

others
to

with

and

stacks the
rooms

running
and
uses

ceiling. Then
the solid
costumers

for

sewing, and

embroidery embroidery
are

rooms.

Muelle

quantities of
other

and with
a

applique
ing stencilthread
use

work, where
and that

content

gilding.
not

She

has

the secret idea

of

metal the

does

tarnish.

Her

is that

of

first-class materials,
is is
a

good

silks and

satins, real velvets

which necessity in these days of electric lighting,

as

revealing
fabrics

as

sunlight; that the substitution

went out

of

imitation

with

the

use

of gas

in the

theatre, and

that tlie

superior wearing qualitiesalone

expense.

of the best materials The

the greater justify armoires and

capacity of her
collections

the
were

size

of

the

accumulated
years
ago

they contain
Theatre

tested of

some

by
at

the the

special production
Chatelet
at

Strauss's when

"Salome"
Muelle
to
was

in

Paris,

called upon,
all
a

short notice, ridiculously

a

furnish
was

costumes

for

cast

of

150

people.
and

There

royal ransacking everything was

in her

of

cupboards
on

jewel
the

cabinets, but
dress A

ready

time

for

rehearsal. greater
the
new

feather

cap

was

the

order

to

tume cos-

productions of
"180"

the Russian

Ballet, from

DALILA

AS

NOW

DRESS

IT

THE

ART
no

OF
a

MARIE

MUELLE
than the

designs by
Bakst

less

personage

great

Leon
a

himself.

Then

ensued

dyeing of silks and

and

printing of chiffons, a
of

stringing of breads
the whole

ting knotming hum-

fringes which
a

set

establishment

like For finished Since

beehive.

all their thousand and that

costume

problems,
at

the

costumes

were

delivered

the

appointed
has been

time.

triumph
event
not

there

hardly

an

portant im-

in all Paris entire in

in which

Muelle

has

not

had

share, if
first She
season

charge.
Theatre

She des

costumed

Astruc's

the

Champs

Elysees.
of many

has

been

responsiblefor
the Russian "St.

the costuming for and her

productions of
of

Ballet, and
Sebastien"

great
"La
as

spectacleslike Debussy's
Pisanelle" D'Annunzio. she has the
many

Society knows
been

well

as

stage, for
an

the

presiding
or

genius

at

exquisite fete, Greek, Roman, lovely gardens behind

Parisian

Persian,
exteriors

held of

in

the

prosaic changed
a

exclusive
not

homes. her She

But her

all this has

her
a

turned

head,

nor

toward

old
note

friends.
have
we

still loves from her

"

good
"I
am

gossip.

Many

had
is

delighted that Mademoiselle

and

returning
me.

to

Paris,

hope that she will

of stories
to

come

to

see

I have

ties quanti-

tell her, and

we

shall

die

of

ing." laugh-

But

though

she

enjoys

choice

tidbit,she will tol-

"181"

CONFESSIONS
erate
no

OF

AN

OPERA
She

SINGER
refused
an

malicious

tale-bearing.

and order, tactfully the of

case

firmly,from
out

one

singer

because
one

lady

tried

to

tell tales

of

school

against
in

Muelle's
was

chosen

favourites. She knows of of

Her

revenge

this
age

typical.
par

that

advancing

is the

enemy
so

excellence
a

popularity for

stage

people,
the The One with
case

she

makes "La

point

always referring to

delinquent as
list of her
now

Mere

So-and-So!"
to

kindnesses of

artists

is

unending.
A

that I

personally is typical.
voice

girl
a

an

unusually
to
a

beautiful

had and
to

arranged
she be ordered

debut, leading
her wardrobe after her

first engagement, Muelle. She and

from

failed
one

engaged

debut, however,
came

disappointment

after another for her in

to

to
a

her,
at

so

that it seemed But Muelle

impossible
had faith

make

start

all.

her, and
in

kept
her
a

the

beautiful for

clothes, unpaid for,

years. is
now

hanging
the

presses

several

At
a

last

girlmade
Maison

great hit in Russia, and

needless
to

well-

known
of the

singer,and,

say, is

faithful
one

adherent of

Muelle.

This

only

instance
many
not
more

the kind, and, of course, in which Mademoiselle's reward. have salaries show
a

tjiereare
kindness

many,

does

find

monetary
Often whose will

I heard
are

her suggesting economy

in the
to costume

to

those
She

not

"fabulous"
two

class.

girl how

roles, with

the

"182"

THE
same

ART

OF

MARIE
and

MUELLE

dresses, by combinations
out

changes

so

cleverlythem.

thought
Elizabeth side An
an

that the keenest and Elsa

may
wear

public won't
the
same

detect

mantle, right
out

out extra

in

one

role and

wrong
or

side

in the

other.

tabard
to

of brocade
wear

embroidery
of

will allow
"

Ophelia

the

gowns

Marguerite

all

tricks of the trade, and Muelle.

well

understood

in the Maison

Brilliantly clever,
natured, and
the faithfulest

immensely

capable, goodand Muelle

now

big-hearted,a
of of hard

splendid organizer
has

friends, Marie work, and

earned

by the hardest
her

justly enjoys
not

title of "First

Theatrical

Costumer,"

only

of

Paris, but of the world.

"183"

CHAPTER

XVII

THE

NON-MILITARY

SIDE

OF

GERMAN

OFFICER'S

LIFE

ONE
new

of

the

first

things
in

you

do
is

on

arriving
to

at

residence of
a

Germany

acquaint
is

the Anof

police meldung.
no

your

presence.

This

called admits

It is You

fearsome
go
to

experience

and

trifling.
your

the

appointed
witli

stuffy office, and

date if
any,
are

tell
your
own,

nationality,
names,

birthplace
their and

of and dead
or

birth,
your

parents'
their

profession
ages, you

birthplaces
died
names

if
are

they

and

what

they

of, whether
and
ages

married

single,
and
any in

number,
little Prussian have
you
an

of
may

your
occur

children,
to

extra

detail blue unusual

it. in

that

the

official If
you

who
name,

holds he I knew

the won't
was

inquisition.
believe christened of Berlin
as

you

when but

claim
is down

A the

girl

Jean,

she

police

records said

Johanna,
a

because
name,

her and

policeman
at

that

Jean

was

man's

French
servant

that! has when

"184"
you
a

Every

maid

book,
engage

which

must

be when

signed

by

the

police

her,

and

A
she When order leaves
you

GERMAN
you, engage

OFFICER'S
she she
may

LIFE
take another

before her be

place.
too, in
ance insura

must

be with

angemeldet
her
proper

that she may

tax.

charged
to

This

amounts

about

five dollars
servant

year;

the

employer

pays pay

one-half, tlie
it all.

the
the

other.
servant

Many
to

employers
at

This

entitles

treatment

the

dispensary or
are

in the

hospitalif
her
is

she

is ill.

The
a

police
visit to

very

careful
in which

of she

comfort,

and
to

pay
see

the house
room

employed

that
in
a

her

is

big enough, airy enough,

her bed
is comfortable!
so

warmed She has

winter, and

that

long

list of and

"rights" including
so

many

loaves week
;

of black and

bread
not

many

bottles of beer if you

per

she dare lock

not

be offended

keep

thing every-

under You have

a

and

key.
your

yet finished
he
must

Anmeldung

if you and
you

keep
pay
you

dog,

for

be

registered,too,
The
on

highly for
may

the
may

luxury.
not

Polizei
your

decides

when

and
nine in

play

piano
at

or

sing.

Before musical hour

the

morning,
are

after

nine

night, all

instruments

taboo.
two to

The

sacred
must

sleeping
be served obinterfere
are

after dinner, from

in

four,

also

silence

in

Berlin.
nap;
even even

Nothing
the three. the
a

dare

with from

the after-dinner
one

banks You

closed
to

to

two,

or

write

the
to

Polizei

in

Germany
I

where

Englishman

writes

the

Times,

remember "185"

perfect avalanche

of

CONFESSIONS
anonymous

OF

AN

OPERA
because her the windows
a

SINGER
child
open

cards

in Darmstadt

in

our

house

would

practise with

and

neighbours
Howard. The

thought
of
must

it

was

Hofopernsaengerin

intricacies

paying
pay

your
on

taxes

take

some

study. Foreigners
the country three
; town
on

taxes taxes

money
are

earned

in

and

county

payable
two

every

months,
of
to

alternate You
town out

months,
arrive
at

in

different

parts
Halle

the
pay

town.

the
are

Staedtische
very

your

taxes,

and

you

lucky
in

if, after picking

the the
may

right month, place is

open.

you

succeed A small
on

hittingthe day when

on

sign
the and

the

locked and
are

door

greet you:
every

"Closed If

ninth month for

A.

fifteenth

of
may

month."

day

right, you
taxes two to
are

easilystrike
say,

the wrong

hour,
ten

town

payable,
P.

from

eight to
ones are

M.,

and
to

five

M.,
to

while
seven.

county

from church and

nine
taxes

twelve, and
very
are

four

There
are

are

besides,
you

small

if you

Catholic
in

larger if
out

Evangelical.

I succeeded

ting get-

of these I did
so

by declaring myself neither.

not

tunately Unfor-

know
to

tlie word that

we

for
were

inational undenom"heathen."

and

had

say
a

My
with type

sister

was

asked

in

rasping official voice, filled

for
women

the

large contempt
official
poor

which

certain

of German

always reeks with, ''Sind Sie

never

ledig?!' She,

dear, had
"186"

heard

"ledig"

GERMAN
stammered

OFFICER'S
^'Was?'^ she The
"

LIFE

before, and

question
weiss

was

rapped
When the
man

out

again,
got home

and and

said, ''Ich
up

nicht." found
or

she

looked if

ledig, she
were

had What

been

asking

she
answer

married
we never

single.
The

he made

of her
very

knew.

All these little things are

way

amusing
at

in

Germany.

everything seems
later amusing. used walk
or

verboten,
The

first is annoying,

but
in

paths
me

in the
to

Tiergarten
bad. for ways I al-

Berlin

always
to

to
on

tempt
the
on

be

wanted
or

path

reserved

clists, bicyfor

horses,

sit

the

benches
say
to

reserved
you,

children

only.
Marke
to

The

letter boxes

"'Aufand
at

und schrift

nicht

vergessen!"
"

("Address
mat

stamp
you,

not

be

forgotten! )

The

door

shrieks

"Bitte, Fuesse

Reinigenr
travel

("Please wipe
"Bitte'
at

your
you.

feet.") Towels, brushes,

I believe
one

etc., all say all

could and

through Germany
into

with

just "Bitte/'

get

an

insight

the the

different

phases

of

German

character

through

intonations

of this word.
A
way

rather

annoying

custom

in

Darmstadt

was

the

the bakers

over-celebrated

every

holiday.
Dritter and
you
was

They
Feier-

had

usually the "Erster, Zweiter,

"

und

tag"
not
on

second first,
those had three

and

third

holiday,

they toiled
could

days.

All the bread

get,

if you

neglected to provide enough,

square

baked pretzels,

exceptionally large
"187"

and

hard.

This

CONFESSIONS
may
so

OF
a

AN

OPERA
custom

SINGER
vary

have all
over

been

Darmstadt

only, as they good

Germany, quite unknown

that what
in

holds

in the north

may
cream

be

the

south.
in

For

instance,
has
I

is Sahne
a

in Berlin, Rahm in other

can

Darmstadt, and

even

third

name

parts of Germany, get

in
a

which

have
"

forgotten. You
firm, delicious
in

wonderful
I

Sandtorte
never ceeded suc-

cake,

Berlin, but

getting it just right in Southern

or

Middle

Germany.
A

quaint old
on

custom

in Darmstadt

was

served always obThe

the

first

Sunday

in

Advent.

Grand
on

Duke

always did his shopping for Christmas

the used Duke country
to

that
town.

day, and
A band

people thronged
before
move as

into in

the

play
and

the he

shop
moved.

which
We

the
gave

Grand
an

was,

extra

long performance
or some

at

the opera,

"Goetterdaemthe

merung,"
Grand
as

such

serious

business, but
us

Duke
one

never

could

honour

with

his presence, if he

every

in town

would

have

felt cheated

had. The

shopping
We eleven

in

Darmstadt

was

really quite
an

markable. re-

always thought
o'clock
in

it

excellent
not
a

thing
scrap

that of

after
was

the

morning

meat

visible

in the
away

white-tiled
on

butcher

shops,
and

everythingbeing put
Food
is taken
very

ice.
course,
paragus as-

seriously,of
above "188"
any

is honoured

other

vegetable by

GERMAN
own

OFFICER'S
season.

LIFE
That
season,
so

having
subscribe

its
at

subscription

is, you
much while the
a

the

beginning

of

the
to

day,
lasts

and
at

asparagus

is delivered
sum

you

daily
with

it

that price, the of the market.

not

varying

tuations fluc-

The

old The

market
grumpy

place
old of
way

was

delight on
would and

full market dle midwhile

days.
of
you

women

sit in the

their

piles
your

fruit

vegetables,
the
uneven

threaded lanes

along
left
in

stone cobbletheir stalls. and of call

me

they

had

between been

Brilliant

awning

umbrellas

have

adopted
old

glow
the
out

in the sun,

against the darkly moist,

The old

walls

frowning
to

castle just behind.

Dames from for

you,

"Well, Madamsche',
my
"

nothing enough
from

day? to-

Aren't "Madamsche'

things good
is
a

you?"
French
in

left-over
is left

ancient
are

times, and
Hessen This the

the final "n"

off, as

all "n's"

dialect. dialect also lacks

"r's."

They

tell
out

tale of
"Station
to to out
noy an-

Railroad

conductors
so

calling
and

Daaaaamstadt!" Grand
more

loudly
and

persistentlyas
were

Ducal
to

ears,

they

ordered

pay in

attention

their

"'r's."
"

Now

they

call

superior tone
every
one

"Starrrrr-rtion
is satisfied.

Damstadt!"

and

feel

sure

We

had

exceptional opportunities
the

of

mans knowing Gerin the

of all classes, from

"189"

cleaning women

CONFESSIONS
theatre
to

OF
The

AN

OPERA

SINGER
are

royalty.
from

military types
Prussian

most to

varied, ranging

the

Junker
German

the

gemuetlicherBayer,
We and
grew
met

with his easy

South

ways. in Metz

many

officers and
In

their families, both

Darmstadt.
to

Metz, during the last

fond of
a

year,

we

know With

and him

be
we

young

Bavarian

tenant. lieuin

drove It
was

and

picnicked

the
we

lovely
would have of

Metz

country.
to

early spring,
little villagenear

and

take the train

our

some

by, and

tea

in the woods

or

at

one

of the thousands
I

Gasthduse

that

dot
in
a

Germany.

remember

one

Sunday
walls wooded of

afternoon
it

still, steep-sidedravine, the

on

rising sharply giant beeches;

either

side, thickly
grass
a-

with with

the

sun-flecked

quiver
A

myriads
a

of

white

ethereal looked

wind-flowers. down the

on

shrine, with

blue-robed
was

Virgin

us,

and

the wood-hush

only

broken

by

songs
us

of the

birds, twittering and

branches. and

gurgling high
far off the of children

above of

in

Suddenly
a

sound
came

singing;

slowly
in

procession

into view,

singing They
into

well-harmonized

parts
the

as

they
and

walked. off

all the

genuflected before
woods,
their
voices

Virgin

wound
in

dying

away

tance. the dis-

We

often
in

studied

the and F

old

battlefields,so
would

fiercely
out to
us

contested

1870,

point

just where

the different

regiments

advanced

and

fell.

"190"

A
A
never

GERMAN
off seemed what
us.

OFFICER^S
the horrors of

LIFE
war,
were

long

way

and

we

dreamed descend We
on

much

greater

horrors

soon

to

loved
in

the

Bavarians

with

their
me

kind

artistic
were

souls
among

those
worst

days, and
in

yet they tell

they

the

the

early days
rampant
side of

in

Belgium.
of course,
as some

The and
we

was military spirit

in Metz, it

got

to

know

that

well,

of
to

the officers had

us.

English wives, who

of

were

very

good

The

delightfulmanners
us;
we were

the
are

officers
to

always
social

charmed
manners

told

they

trained The

by
were

their the

superior officers.
smartest

cavalry regiments
in Metz

ones,

both

and

Darmstadt, the Infantry being solidlyartistocratic,but

less

dashing.

The

Pioniere

(Engineers)
poor Train
upon

were

rather sariat, Commis-

despised socially,while
was

the

or

utterly looked
The
Bavarian

down

and
its

hardly

bowed

to.

infantry has

special social
resented rep-

standing, because
in up in it.

the old

nobilityis largely
in

What
All the

they lack
other

riches

they make

pride.
wear

German
no

infantry regiments
what
have

dark

blue

trousers,

matter

colour stuck
to to

their their

tunics; the

Bavarians,
trousers,

however,

light blue
them. his

in

spite of all attempts Regent

was

change
wearing

The much

Prince
too

famous wrinkled
wore

for
over

long, and
The
"191"
smartest

very

badly fittingboots.

officers

the

CONFESSIONS
Ballon Prince
Muetze

OF

AN

OPERA
introduced

SINGER

(balloon cap)

by the Crown
his

and

forbidden ineffectually because

smart

by

father.

It

is called
ones worn

"balloon"

it is much

higher than the height of the

a

by

less

officers.

The
In

collar

is the other

important
it is low your

thing.
and

cer sterlingoffithe smarter

are

of the old
you
are

school,

comfy;
If back
me

the
or

higher
three

collar.
at

they
of

fat,
neck
"

the above

two

creases

the
to

the

the

collar, always

look

unmistakably

German. The
to

life
our

they lead
ideas.

is in

general very
Casino
is their

ing simple, accord-

Their
an

meeting
Some of

place
them and
to

in the
are

evening, like

officers' club.

tremendously
real
more

hard

workers,
in

most

ambitious,
F used

showing
teach
many

interest

their
ones

men.

his
were

illiterate

to

read of

and the
in

write, and

the

stories

he

told

thick-headed
these
men,

Bavarian when after

we

peasants.
saw

The

difference
in the
was

them

arriving

fall, as

rookies, and amazing;

year's training,
shoulders
to

absolutely

slumped
decided

had with

straightened,lower
upper
ones,

jaws had
focused

connect

and Bursch
one.

eyes
or

intelligently. Each
servant,

officer has
to

his be

private
are

who
as

usually chooses

These latter
once

treated
to

friends

by

their
in "192"

masters,

if the

pen hapto

be

non-Prussian

character.

I said

A
F
,

GERMAN
Karl said.
your

OFFICER'S
servant?"

LIFE

"Is

"No,

he

is

mein

Freundf"
An
sang

he

officer in while
I
was

Diedenhofen with He the Metz had

a

where
opera,
way

we

occasionally
to

used

send

me

gorgeous

flowers. and

of

sitting near
handkerchief
so

the

stage

applauding by flapping
kid

his

against the palm of his white

me

glove, which
the
my

raged en-

that
an

never

acknowledged
contralto
was

flowers.
as

One
was

night,
laid

ugly old
and that
me

took

part,

up,
to

the
a

night the

officer had of dame white

warded re-

selected azaleas

present
blue house

with

huge
The
a

basket old

and the

satin in
over

ribbon.

general with
the

false-teeth
must

smile have

on

receiving them
my

which footlights,
as

discouraged

admirer

the

flowers

ruptly. stopped ab-

We the

quite often
streets

saw

young
at

officers very five

were

drunk

on

in

Metz,
about

about

in

the

afternoon.
was

Asking
the
were

this,we
we

told that it

only they by
tlemen gen-

young

ones,
to

if

would their

notice,

and

that toasted

obliged

empty
at

glasses, when

superior officers

regimental dinners.
eyes,
as

If these their

caught
many

their

they

raised

glasses,
the

times

during
heads

the

two

o'clock
grew

dinner,

silly
but

young it
was

fellows'
not

naturally
to

befuddled,
their

etiquette

refuse

to

empty

glass.

"193"

CONFESSIONS
This and
custom
was was

OF
very

AN
on
a

OPERA
Faehnrich

SINGER
or

hard

Ensign,

later
smartest

done

away

with. and English dogcarts,

were

The

officers had

certainly most cavalry made

them amongst the used and
we

dashing.
money
out

Many

clever

ones

in

the

of horses, In and

buying

and

selling
duced intro-

themselves.

Darmstadt
wore

they pink.

English hunt,
up
saw

the

We

to

go

to
our

Frankfort
own

for the

"gentlemen races,"
names

often

Northern
we never

cousins, whose
had the

knew, but whom

with

opportunity daring.

of

meeting, riding
races were

great

skill and

These
times some-

much

encouraged by
would

the Kaiser, and and would

a

giant
the

Eitel-Fritz

come

look

on,

or

dandy
mince

Prince round

Schaumberg-Lippe
the

make

his beau that

horse
and

ring.
the

He

was

great

ladies'

favourite him of

and his

horrible
in

accident the

has
seems

deprived
an

beauty
to

battlefield,
to

impossible thing
F

have

happened
in

just

him. Our friend

was

known
title he

his

regiment through

as

"Revolver

mouth." and

This his habit

earned

his

witty tongue
his
young

of His

in hittingthe bull's-eye

table

conversation.

great
most

friend,
exclusive

smart

nouveau

riche,
had much F much

in

the

cavalry
was

regiment,
the One butt

who

more

money

tjian brains, from of

F

of

goodnatured
recounted
"194"
to

chaff
a

evening

group

brother

A
officers how mindedness from hailed "That's

GERMAN
S
,

OFFICER'S
who
was

LIFE
for his absentseen

notorious
was

and

poor

memory,

miles road.
your in
on

away

home,
him

galloping
and S
have

down

dusty

F horse?"
utter

said, "But

where's

true," said
"I
must

looking down forgotten to get

his F S Then
in
to
some

tonishment, as-

him."

S and the I
am

was

famous

for

sharpness
used
to

in

choosing
on

trading horseflesh,and

call him Guten

'phone, saying
Graf
arrange

"Is this Herr

? he

tag!
rately elabo-

Pumpernickel."
a

would

rendezvous S Of
a was

very

public spot
the horse S
young

in

Metz,

at

which
to

appear

with
poor

he wished the

trade.

course

when of
never

kept
cals ras-

appointment, only

group

jeering

greeted him,
Graf

and
was,

discovered
was

who

Pumpernickel

though the joke

of

often

repeated.
The
proves
money

money very in any

question
serious. way

the
are

poorer

often officers,
to
earn

They
except
choose
a

forbidden

by writing. They
unless between this them

cannot

marry

the
a

girlthey
sum,

they
many

have fine

certain

minimum;

keeps

young

officers and

charming girls from

results
on

mony; matri-

and

frequently

the

man's

side

in

far-reaching evils of entangling affairs, and

children. he had
no

mate illegitithought kept

a

An

officer said
a

to

me

once,

he who

children, but

pretty

woman

"195"

CONFESSIONS

OF
Kathedral

AN
Platz

OPERA
once

SINGER
him
a

shop

in

the and The

sent
sure

baby's
that

pillow
meant.

he

never

was

quite

just what
are

Berlin

demi-mondaines dressed
to

cinating fascertainly

creatures,

in the most

exquisite Paris
how
some

clothes, and
Graf
may

it is easy

understand

less pennian

become

hopelesslyinvolved

in

affair

with
on.

one

of them. of

such things are Officially officers' troubles

was one

frowned F

Talking
me

day,

told

that suicide for the

often of

the only
one's

tion, possible soluone was

and
sometimes

honour
to
a

regiment
life. An

expected
had
as a

end

one's

ance acquainthis
manding com-

of his had officer involved In

were one

revolver

sent
on

him

by

gentle hint,
affair.

finding himself
had

in

scandalous

Bavarian
to

regiment, if
summoned
at

you

debts, you
moment's
pay your

liable before
in
so

be
your

literally a
ordered the
to

notice

Colonel, and

debts usual of the

many
was

days,
then
to

or

leave

regiment.
in

The

thing
most

obtain

the hand knew

marriage
the
most

attractive bank-account.

girl you
Seebold York
a man

with

attractive
to

Sometimes told
one us

they
once,

peared disapwhile
an

America.

Frau
in

she

was

singing

New

winter, with

Austrian

prima donna, that during

it away,
a

applied at
of
snow.

the door She told

for
him He

work
to

heavy
and

fall
come

clear

then

in for his money.

came,

and

noticing her
"196"

strong

accent,

asked

if

A
she had

GERMAN

OFFICER'S
On

LIFE
her

long left tlie Fatherland.

into
a

replying
told her

"no," he burst
his

flood she He

of German, made had him been

into
trust

and
hot
a

pitiful story,
to

while him.

cofifee and
in
a

tried
a

comfort

lieutenant

smart

regiment, had
officer

gotten

trouble
in

through
and of
on

brother had
to

betraying his
to

him,
honour head how

had the

disappear
The and

America

for

the his

regiment.
kitchen lower also

poor

fellow
as

put
he

the
sank He where ers wait-

table and

sobbed

told her shovelled

in

he

he lower, till finally her there

were was a

snow.

told

club

New

York

ex-officers who

coachmen,
be

truck

drivers, or
comrades
above

by day,
night.
He
on

could

gentlemen
crests
no were

and carved

by
their

said the

their

places
those have

wall, and
birth. whether All

one

could
was

belong except
ago,

of
no

high
idea
a

this
a

years

and

such silence

place
on

still exists.
a

When

sudden
say, is very

falls

party
his
at
a

in

many Ger-

they
Promotion

"A

Lieutenant
to

pays arrive

debts."
come in-

slow, and
A
a

decent

takes years. thousand marks

Bavarian

Colonel

has

only eight
of
an

year.

The

equipment
Parade
you

cer offimust

is very

expensive; their

uniforms
may
wear

and always be spotless, cloth

every

though parade
your

tricot be

day,

your

uniform knots both.

must

of

finest broadcloth, and silver

sword
ruins

of The

shining
scarlet

though

dash

of rain "197"

CONFESSIONS
collars
are more

OF

AN

OPERA
even

SINGER
than the
once

extravagant
may

white with

cloth ones,

as

white scarlet

be
too

cleaned

at

least the
was

gasoline,but
the

is
a

delicate, and
This the dull

slightest
fore all beforms uniso

perspirationmakes
war,

lasting stain.
and

though,

perhaps
ever

dazzling
khaki.
was a

have

given place for

is the

to

If

Germany
make
rows

drabber, for the colour

thing

to

one's
in

heart

leap.
that

In

Darmstadt reserved

the for

first four officers at of

on

the

orchestra and

were

reduced

rates,

beautiful
a

border band

colour
opera

always framed

the stage in

brilliant

nights.
In Metz
was

the

rule
very

against appearing
strict,and
of tennis
never

in

"Civil"
to
come

on

the
see

street
us

F flannels

used

to
a

in

full

set

brandishing
his life! A

racket, though he had

Darmstadt
of ours,
a

played

in

In

the

same

strictness
a

prevailed.

friend
to

Major holding
comers,

very

high position,had
was

dodge
in
case

round

when

he

out

of

uniform,
see

the terrible him

General

Plueskow
room

should

him,

and
the

order
way,

twenty-four hours'
General
in France

arrest!
was

By
six

when
was

Plueskow,
as a

who

about

feet seven,

young

man,

the French

made

quip

about

him, "Who
was

is the tallest officer in

the German
was

army?"

the he

question, and
is Plus que

the

answer

"Plueskow,

because

haul.''

"198"

CHAPTER

XVIII

GEESE

AND

GUESTS

I
role
smart

WAS
All

on

the

whole

very

happy
work

in
came

Darmstadt.
to
me

the

leading
and
it
was

contralto

by

right,
in

brightened
found

by
could

an

occasional
use me

operetta.
ladies
in

They
such

they
as

for

things
the had
or

"Dollar and
operas

Prinzessin," gaiety
in

and

greatly enjoyed
We seldom

dancing
many
never

of

those
toire repertry, coun-

performances.
that
are

the this

heard

of

in

"Evangeliman,"
Schwaben," etz,"
Such
were

"Hans

Heiling,"
"Undine,"
"Weisse

"Sieben

all und
as

the

Lortzings,

"Wildschu-

"Zar

Zimmermann,"
"Fra

Dame,"

etc.

things

Diavolo,"
to

and

"Lustige

Weiber,"

always
We
gave
out

delightful

play.
the Our first clever the little
a

"Koenigskinder"
in

year

it

was

brought

Germany.
sets

Kempin
modem

signed deway,

charming
and the
soprano,

for
a

it, lit in

though

plain
with

thing,

had

heavenly
most

sympathetic
in

voice,

floating
During

quality
the
we

appealing
at

the of

high
the
"199"

part.
act,

miere Prewere

the

end

last

just

as

CONFESSIONS

OF
from
an

AN

OPERA

SINGER

taking our
bearded
man

caUs

enthusiastic of the whom He

public,a strange
joined
in
any
us.

stepped
of his
we

out

wings and
I

Humperdinck,
minute

course,

recognized nothing
to to

from and He
or

photos.

said
as

of
not.

us,

often have
not

speculated
been have

why
the

he

did

must

pleased with
shown
no

tion, producwe

he

would
was

himself; indeed
word
was

heard
us.

he

pleased, but

vouchsafed

For immense

our

geese

we

had

grey

Pomeranian

beauties

and

white

birds
were

from
more

Italy.

The

sides Italians, be-

being bigger
their of of

numerous;

they
within
was an

saw

opportunity
lives, and
water
on

to

bully the Teutons they took

it.

inch tank
to
was

their real

There

the
you
go

stage, in
suppose
near a

which German Ominous

they loved
goose

splash, but
ever

do
to

allowed
away,

it?

hisses all
actors

kept
do. the
was

them The

and

they hated
up

hissing as
all the

foreigners gobbled
could get it, and
among

food, before
that there

others
any

the them

only
was

time

unanimity

when One

they

were

ing do-

something they should

Italian

not.

night the largest

near

stepped

into

depression

the

lights, foot-

caught his foot, squawked

on.

loudly and
followed
in turn

passed
suit;

The
were

second eleven

largest immediately
of them, and and waddled
"200"

there
a

they all
on,
to

caught
de-

foot, squawked

the

great

GEESE

AND
It
was

GUESTS

light

of

tlie audience.

agonizing

for

us

on

the stage, waiting for each Animals

were

squawk.
a

always
to

trial
a sure

to

the

performers,
from

though considered
the of

lend
view.
act

magnificence
used of
to

manager's point of
hounds
in

We finale

have

pack

the

first

"Tannhauser."
were

They always
run

behaved leashes.

beautifully and
One the

allowed
our

to

without

night, however,
prompter
as

little

round

Souffleuse, as by
the taken

is
as

called, named
broad
as

"Bobberle"
was

tenor

she

was

she her
a

long, had
pen.

her

bread

and

sausages

into

tiny
dive

The the
out

dogs suddenly winded Souffler

Kasten

this, made

for

(prompter's box),
the contents and berle BobSince and
two.

scratched
then

the

package,
their

devoured
on

politelyleft
in

cards

the

box;

poor

helpless rage
have had famous with
a

prompting
been

the

while.
two

that We

night the dogs

often
times

chained Edith

guests.
and

Walker
as

sang

several

us,

Knote

quite

often. Duke's

Schumann-Heink,

great friend
would had
an

of the Grand fire for

my

(she
sang

told

me

she

go

through
been

him),

Azucena.
my
to

She ideal of her

always
artist,so
wreath. from
to to

girlhood's
she

idol, and

I embraced

the opportunity
was

send

They
a

said

much used

pleased by
some

the attention Schmink stubs

contralto !
up

She
I
us

of have

my

make

with, and
She made

proudly

the

this

day.

"201"

CONFESSIONS
all
act to
over

OF
rehearsal.
will

AN
When
a

OPERA
she
says

SINGER
in

laugh
that

in

the

last

they
her

find her
contours

only

skeleton

when

they come
her hands

drag
her

from

prison, she
and

passed
a

ample
that
came was

emitted

spontaneous
Bahr
to
me

chuckle

infectious. irresistibly
to
us

Milwhat is she

denburg
Ortrud

also

and

revealed the

might be.
In

Especially in playing
many

first later
I do

act

overwhelming.
felt her
were

the

part

always
that
act

influence, and

things
gave

in

inspired by thoughts she

in

me.

Watch stand
in
to

most

Ortruds

that

scene.

They simply
unsubtle
can.

what
tray porsee

they
Bahr

consider evil in
a

mantled

inscrutability, trying
manner;

heavy,

and the

then

Mildenburg,
ever

if you
met to

All

really great

people I have

are

unpretentious and

solutely ab-

charming
seem

work

with.
to

Only
remind

the near-great
you

to

consider

it necessary

all the the

time
man

that the

they

are

other

than

you.

The

greater

simpler his
many
an

manner,

I have

always found,

and

I think
was

will

agree
store

with

me.

There call on; from the

excellent

of men's
coats

costumes

to

beautiful

embroidered

and

waistcoats

eighteenthcentury,
of

real and

uniforms the best

of

many

regiments
barbaric
van

bygone days,
ever

Wagnerian

stuff"I have

seen,

with

the exception of

Rooy's.
One of the

principal men
"202"

singers was

tall dark

GEESE fellow,
with
a

AND

GUESTS

most

passionate disposition. We
and when he
we

played together often

with wood broken floor
one me.

fell very
were

much

in

love
a

One

day

all him

together at
how he
on

coffee his

house, his wife

watch which He she

asked found

had the

smashed

morning.
the

said he had but he told

dropped
me

it while

reading

night before,
me

he wife

had had

been
tired, re-

sitting thinking of
and thousand he had

long after
saw

his

suddenly pieces
on

his floor

watch
across

shattered the
to

in

the He

room,

where
a

hurled
sunny

it.

was

devoted with

his little son,

charming
of When
cannot

little

chap,

the dark

colouring
of
to

his mother. I think but Hun

I

of

these what seemed

good
the
war

comrades has be
one.

mine

wonder element
can

done
very

them. of

The

to

in

few

them, but
person,

remember

it in

This

impossible

frightfullyconceited, lacking absolutely in annoyed

and

humour,
years

goaded
manners,

me

through
low
crass

two

long
of and

with

his boorish

ideas

of American

life, loudly expressed, and

all ideals found the
very

ignorance
one

of

living. I

came

to

rehearsal
in

day
H
to to

colleagues assembled
grave
over

the This

green
man

room

looking
said round and

something.
Then he

"Ah, here
to

she
one

is!"
a

proceeded
seemed show

hand hurt
me,

every

clipping,which
He "203" would
not

annoy

them

all.

it to

CONFESSIONS insinuating that

for the
a an

OF
I knew
a

AN

OPERA
it.

SINGER
This
on

all about

stood

hour

and

half; finallyI insisted

was

seeing
of

clipping which

from

the

leading
a

paper

neighbouring city. The

had

critic reviewed
one

premiere
and had

we

just given, slatingevery

I

but

myself,
This
to

saying that
been the

belonged grounds
of

on

the
my

world-stage.
persecutor

sufficient bad

for
my

explain
them,
to
me

criticisms

other
an

colleagues to
with this of critic.
saw

by tellingthem
of course,
I realized

that I had

affair

utterlyunknown, just what

crook he

unheard I
on

When
a

meant,

black, seized

property
him rushed without

stick that tlie

to

lay
cool
I

the table, and I then He

came

struck
to, and blow from

violently on
to
a

arm.

the window

off.

took

the back

word, and

when
a

finallyturned
of

the window that I all

was

ready
sorry
to

in

revulsion hurt relief

none

feeling to tell him

I found I had

have
in

him,
that

the others cleared believed believe.

in
sang

smiling broadly,
up.

the for

matter
a

Of what

course

of them
to

had them

second We

he had whole had

tried of

make

gave

the We
an

Goethe's
music

"Faust" and and

a

four
two

evenings. angels and

the

Lassens'

archangel, a sphinx
The mechanical

siren

during
the
duction pro-

performances.
with
its

part

of

flyingwitches, flying swings for Faust changes, built-up effects

almost
the

and

the

devil, traps, dark

the

reaching from

to foot-lights

top

of

"204"

GEESE
the

AND
at

GUESTS
back
were

proscenium
and

arch
one

the

of the

stage, and without

thousand hitch.

details

managed

"Butterfly"we
there, and
the

gave

for Duke

the

first time
a

while

was

tlie Grand
He

took down

great
some

interest

in

performance.
from
wear,
own.

sent

beautiful
the fly Butter-

kimonos
to

his

private
me

collection

for of

but

paid
I had

the

compliment
costumers

me letting

get my

searched

and and

nese Japa-

shops
a

in vain, in

London,
such from been

Paris
as

Berlin, for
wear,

plain

coloured
one

kimono direct
have

servants

and I tions edi-

finally got
have

Japan.
attired

The
like

Suzukis second

always
of

seen

Butterflynot
contrast
to

realizing in
them if

the

least the value like

a

of

the

they

look

real
knew

servant.

I have

had

letters from have the

people who
said
manner

the

East

intimately, who
my

very

flattering
of
a

things

about

portrayal of
have
seen

nese, Japapany com-

after with

they
real

my

performance,
This,

in

Japanese.
me

considering

my

height, has
can

always pleased
a

immensely.
that
even one

If you
person you
are

feel

in

vast

audience and
to

knows,
have

understands
a

appreciates
make
it true

the
to

study

put upon

role

life,you

rewarded

for your

pains.

"205-

CHAPTER

XIX

RUSSIANS,

COMMON

AND

PREFERRED

THE
"they,"
one

Grand liked and

never as

Duke

was

always
English

very

good
my

to

me.

He

talking

with
to

sister

and
as

me,

always
"we." dinner. of his the

referred He We asked dined

the
me

Germans
to

the
room

palace

evening portraits
fair both

to

in

hung
looked

with like when

beautiful

sisters.

They
been
her

angels,
the

portraits
of We Russia
were

having
and told

painted
were

Czarina

sisters

quite
the
woman,

young

girls.
used
to

by

friends
as a

that

Czarina

be

perfectly
in

exquisite
grey
we

young
a

usually
of violets.
own

gowned
After

pale

with
went

huge
to

bunch Grand
were

dinner
music

up

the

Duke's seldom inlaid which the

private
The

room

where
set

guests
on
a

invited.

piano
an

was

high,
His

hollow

sounding improved
wall
was

box,
the
a

idea
tone

of

Royal
hind Be-

Highness's
it
on

immensely.
size

life
This

painting
was

of

Buddha-like brown and

female

figure.
inlaid with

in

creamy

gold,

chrysophrases,

and

lit

"206"

RUSSIANS,

COMMON
will from

AND
either

PREFERRED

mysteriously at
The
me

side, on

top,

or

tom. bottold
not

lightinghe preferred, and

when he

which
"

he knew

he
"

used
was

played
four

for

hours

he

what

provided by
the

suspended rings of glass,

a

horizontally from

ceiling,through which
I don't

ant radiit
was

sapphire lightpoured.
managed,
of the
room

know
In

how
one

but
was

it

was

very

beautiful.

comer

grotto, also blue

lit with

ing, charm-

quiet, nude

figure, and
listened.

fountain

that

dripall

dripped
I
sat

as

you
at

down

the
my

piano and
father
I think

played

and

sang

the negro

melodies before.

had the

collected

hamas in the Ba-

years

guests

were

rather the of

bewildered Grand Duke

by the
and

swift

pattering English, but

Princess with Victoria them.

his cousin, the charmed

Schleswig-Holsteinwere
Victoria Edward's and

cess Prin-

her mother, Princess afterwards

Christian, King
to

sister, were
at

good enough
Oriental least
a

be

patronesses
The and
He
never

my

first recital in London. loved

to
me

Grand

Duke

beautiful
to

effects,
German. Baronin of the
sorts.

seemed
to
a

be
once,

in the

came

supper-dance
as an

given by
potentate
and he His

0
,

dressed

oriental

He

kept

the

several
over

hundred
an

guests,

good
on

dinner

waiting
up

hour, because
court

insisted wife
wore

making
a

the whole headdress

himself.

wonderful

she made "207"

herself,copied from

CONFESSIONS
the fresco and
in his music

OF

AN
room.

OPERA
It
was

SI1MGER
all
a

gold beads huge

pear-

emeralds.
green

Round
stone.
seen

her
I
was

neck

was

shaped
phrases
room,

thinking of the chrysoin

I had

inset

the

wall

of

the

music

and

said:

"What

wonderful "Not
me.

chrysophrases,

Your

Royal Highness."
she

chrysophrases, emeralds,"

gently corrected
had Duke

The

Baroness Grand

engaged
at two

some

people
served
in

to

tain enter-

the
new

supper,

the

huge

ball-room, but
she
was

days

before
as

the the

ball, she
had I be her

telephoned

in

despair
get
no one

people
Would
to

abgesagt, and
so

she could
as

else.
anyway,

awfully kind Every

sung
one

was

coming
knew
various

help

out?
as

in town

all my

intimate

songs

I had
was

them

at

functions I had

where
to

the
on

court
our

invited, so
caps
to

Marjorie and
find
a new

put

thinking
the

"stunt."

Marjorie
so

played popular
knew that
I

Laute,
the

that

big, graceful
like

instrument

with

love-sick
songs

girl in Germany,
"Claire I de
went

and

some

old
to

French her

Lune,"
to

sang

accompaniment.
the tenor's

the

theatre whitened At
a

and
my

borrowed face and

Pagliacci costume,
as a

dressed

Marjorie
between

Pierrette.
tains, cur-

given signal I
put my

sprang my
to went

from

purple
and

fingerto
and led her
songs

lips,turned
the little stage off very

beckoned

to

Pierrette

the Baroness the

had

built.

The

well, and

day

"208"

RUSSIANS,
was

COMMON
Later with
I

AND

PREFERRED
a

saved. danced
we

changed

to

Dalila he

costume,

and
as

the Grand
a

Duke,

dances
amusement

invented of
one

went

along,

favourite
to

his.
arm

He

always held his partner

her

the side, with

it
was

about and

waist, and

I must

say

very

practical
his
a

comfortable. partner
ours.

He
was a

danced

beautifully and
von

favourite friend
a

tall Fraulein

B
concert

of

Once

returning from

in

little town and

in the

Bergstrasse where
been and attended
a

I had

been

ing, sing-

which

had

by part

of the court,

this
to

same

Hofdame with
you
us.

famous

violinist

happened
which

be

We travel

took with

fourth-class the

tickets
in

entitle

to

peasants

large
the

wooden walls.

box-cars, with
We all danced looked
to

benches

running

round

the violinist's
on

playing,while
their benches. then

the peasants
I collected

solemnly
in
a

from

pfennige

hat and

which all.

the violinist It
was a

put

on

his head,

pfennigs
of We the

lovely

trip.
We
most not

heard

some

formal
went

court to

balls
as we

were

amusing.
had have

never

them

had

ourselves been

presented formally, though this

The
supper

could

easilyarranged.
ham and

usually

consisted German

largely of
Royal

spinach, typical of the

The

simplicity.
had

dancing
not

was

ducted con-

under

difficulties. dancers
to

Reversing was
go

allowed,
direction.

and

all the

in

the

same

"209"

CONFESSIONS
When Iain the Grand
went

OF
Duke

AN

OPERA
to

SINGER

wished
to

dance, his Chamberthe way,

women as

in front

of him

clear The
gowns,

it

was

always

dreadfully
to

crowded.
up

were

not

permitted
were

pick

their
no

although
allowed.

trains

de

rigueur and
men are

short
in

skirts

As
spurs,

nearly
the

all the have

to
an

uniform,

including
to

ladies
room

to

make

frequent trips
And Grand

the
it is

ing dressfatal

repair damages.
old
gown,
as

yet

to

wear

the
say:
at

Duke that
years

has
is

terrific

memory
gown

and
you

will
wore

"Oh,
Kiel
two

the
ago,

charming
isn't it?" All the
must

officers and be invited

their
to

wives
court

above

the rank
in

of
a

Major
small

the

balls, and,
of lower
a

like this, those principality

invitations
too.

rank member

ceive re-

One and her him

Lieutenant,

of

one

of the his but

oldest
to

poorest Darmstadt
first court
in

families,
She
was

brought
pretty,
had She

bride

ball.

beneath
to

social rule
out

position, and
about the
way

he

forgotten
lifted her

tell her

the

trains. of

bridal and

finery
was

of

the

the
a

devastating
messenger

spurs,

politely requested by
to

from

Royalty
and

drop

it

again.
her

Alas!
train

She
up

forgot the warning

from the of

again switched
the oldest
to

floor,upon

which

Ehrendame the ing danc-

(Maid

honour), requested her

The
poor

leave
so

floor.

husband "210"

felt it

keenly that

RUSSIANS,
he asked and
to

COMMON
be

AND
to
a

PREFERRED

transferred
was

regiment

in

another

town,

his request
a

granted.
choosing
is
an

They
for
every

have

custom

of
He

erster

Taenzer the
young
are

big ball.
the

usually
and

one

of

officers of
assist

highest birth,
in every

his

duties and

to

the hostess

possibleway,

lead

all

the dances. Court

etiquette is really
In

most

hampering

stitutio in-

talking to the Grand

a

Duke
to

for instance,

might

not

introduce

topic, he had
a

give all the

on

leads.

This

naturally has
At
first the

deadening effect

the

conversation.
Your
even

tongue-paralyzing "Yes,
Your

Royal Highness," "No,

more

Royal Highness,"
"Ja

paralyzing in German, through with,

I but after the

ivohl, Koenighad
to
versation con-

liche be

Hoheit/' "Nein,

Koenigliche Hoheit,"
a

gone

few

minutes'

might

follow

simple English
say

custom
or

in

talking with
When it
was

Royalty, and
the Grand
both and she

"Yes, Sir,"
left her
a

"No,
room ballAs
a

Sir."

Duchess for

crowded for
us.

painful

and

she low

advanced, modest
Knix;
to
one

self-conscious, one
would
you

made

lady

give her
had
to

ways hand, alkiss

with bristling back of

rings, and

the
to

it, risking cutting your

lip on
eye, exit
or

the
a

rings;

another

merely
so

glance
slow,

of the

nod made.

of the In the

head, and
the
town

the

tortuous

was

on

muddy

days,
"211"

you

might

come

on

CONFESSIONS
Grand
had the
to
same

OF

AN
in
a

OPERA
narrow

SINGER
street

Duke back

suddenly
up

and
pass,

you
at

against the wall

to

let him skirt

in

time

dragging

your

best

the

dirt

in the

knee-strainingcurtsey. thought how

or

I often

immensely popular
or

would
one

be

the Prince
say,

Grand

Duke

King, who
and

would
me

day
hands would

"Oh, stop it,all of

your eyes

you,

give

your

and the

like human

beings."

But

what

Kaiser
we

say?
went
to

Before had
a

Darmstadt
which

the Grand
said he had

Duke
never

had
covered. re-

tragedy from
His adored
one,
was

they

little daughter Elisabeth the

to town

was

the

idol of every She

at

and

children's aunt,

fairy princess.
the

asked

visit her

Czarina,

Petrograd.
in is believed

While

there

she

died she
some

very

suddenly,
Darmstadt. food

though
She

perfect health
to

when
eaten
own

left

have Czar's

poisoned
A

prepared
to
a

for

the

children.
at

ment monu-

her

in the Herren

Garten

Darmstadt,
in it lies

shows

glass coffin of the fairytaletype;

"Snow-White,"
with willow the
gnomes

ing sleepher.

around

Above,
the

weeping

brushes

soft

fingers over
the

sleeping princess.
had several
comes

We

Backfisch admirers;
nearer

English

"Flapper"
word
us

to

translating this strange

These
year

than

anything
streets

know. for
a

girls followed
met finally
us.

closely in the

and

"212"

RUSSIANS,
At

COMMON
sister

AND
her
to

PREFERRED
and
very

first my

had

band

had

mine.

Finally they dwindled

young

just two,
we

sweet,
very

ing charmfond. who

girls,of
the
strict and

whom

became
a

Marjorie's was
was

daughter of

colonel, a
his

count,

very
a

military with

delicate

flower

of

girl.
I have

As
Hun

said, strange
came

revealing glimpses of the

now

element
now

to to
our

us

and

then, the
better

spirit

which

seems

engulf all the

German of

people.
a

Two

of

girl friends
Their

were

daughters
was a

famous

noble who

house.
in

father

very

old

General
fair

lived
L

great
and E

seclusion.
were
,

His often who

pretty,
at
our

daughters
were

house, and
with
us

very

fond

of

my

mother

lived

then.
worn

The

old

General
with

finallydied, grief from

Their
reason

and

the

girls were
illness
was

and

bent

his

long
could

and

the trials of nursing him.

his

brother

with

regiment, and
in time
to

for

some

not

get

to

them
The

make left

arrangements

for the
not
to

funeral. afford
a

girlswere

badly off,and could

When
was

pretentious ceremony.
this
to

they

tried

explain
but
course

the

undertaker, he
a

incredulous,
"Of
want

finallysaid with
you
can

brutal

sneering laugh:
funeral
way
to

have
was

pauperis
done
in
a

if you make these

one."
as

Everything
as

it all

hard

possiblefor
to
come

the poor and "213" tell

us

girlsby
with

brutes,
of
tears

and

they used

floods

CONFESSIONS
of the insults

OF

AN
swallow.
as soon

OPERA
At
as

SINGER
last the brother he

they
of
was

had
course

to

arrived, and

appeared
as

in

uniform
a

he

bowed
in

down

to

and

served

only
types.
to
us

uniform

is served

Germany

by

such word
to

brutal
came

During
that the

the second of

year

in October
was

Czar
at

Russia

coming

rest

with

his
side out-

family

the

Grand We

Duke's
were

hunting lodge, just

nervous

Darmstadt.
all the Russian School
at

at

the

thought

of

students Darmstadt.
a man

who

always throng
It seemed such
a

nical the Techan

such

easy
town.

thing They

to

bomb

in

small

quiet
and

took

great

precautions,however,

nothing

happened.
I sang many

times of

for the Czar, in "command

etc.
a

formances per-

Dalila,
send
me

When "as

he
a

left

he

was

good enough
of his wife."
eyes,

to

brooch

remembrance with He Grand

It is the

Imperial crown,
a

sapphire
used
to

surrounded
a

by

laurel stage

wreath. with the

sit in

box
next

nearest

the
were

Duke.

In

the

box and of
come

the

little Grand
sometimes

Duchesses,
Anastasia,
in

Olga,
the

Tatiana
one

Marie, and
all.
in

littlest

They

would

call

the

tervals in-

"Papa,
them and
to

here; do Papa

dear." would

They
go
to

always spoke English togetlier. He

and

they

would

climb

all It

over

him, petting him

rather

playing
watch.

with

his hair.

was

charming

"214"

RUSSIANS,
Prince

COMMON
of
Prussia

AND
was

PREFERRED
there
Prince too,
as

Henry

these
are,
or

three, the Grand

were,

Duke, Czar, and

When

Henry
the

fast

friends.

they
to

left
see

theatre
we

curious
never

crowd had
so

always gathered
much
as a

them, but

glimpse of them, for five

black, mysterious

motors,
one

closely hooded,
ever

left in
one

procession, and
Czar
was

no

knew
came

which
to

the

in.

The

Czarina

never

the theatre;
went
where. no-

she

was

intensely nervous
Czar leave
were

just then, and

The and him. suffered

on

was

to
we

Darmstadt
to

on

the

Monday,

Sunday
The
as

sing "Meistersinger" for

felt for

day before
I had been

I had

ill,and frightfully
several
I

doing
bad

weeks
sent

with for
a

pains

in

my

side.

Sunday
so

morning
I
was

doctor, the pain being

not

afraid

I would

be

able

to

get through the

turn sent to next

performance
surgeon,
an

that

night.

The
me

doctor off in
an

in

for

the

who

packed

hour The
me

the

hospitalfor
I
was

appendicitis
upon,

operation.
and

morning
Duke
to

operated
sent to

they told
as

the Grand wished he left

had

ask

how
was

I was,

the Czar before

know

if the
I

operation

successful
a

town.

thought

it showed

charming, kindly thoughtfulnessof others.

The
nurses were

all
was

most

kind

to

me

in the in

hospital, anything
abso-

but but

the the

surgeon

utterlyuninterested
itself,and

healing of the wound

"215"

paid

CONFESSIONS

OF
to

AN
other One
woman

OPERA
rather could
see

SINGER
currences distressing oc-

lutely

no

attention

the

of my

ilhiess. American

that

highly
fared

strung,

nervous

would

have

badly

with

him.
was

Sazonoff the

with

the Czar's
were

suite, and
insulted half
an

I remember because hour

or

Darmstadtites took

much Frankfurt for

he
away,

always
or

the train

to

to

Wiesbaden said I there

(one hour),
was

luncheon
to

dinner,
local

as

he

nothing

fit

eat

at

the

hotels. We
a

secretly quite agreed

went

with

him. for
over

often

ourselves

to

Frankfurt
come

tea,
me

or

wild

American
or

craving

would
we

for
away
veniently con-

lobster
to

chicken for

salad, and
supper.

would

up
was

and
very

Wiesbaden

Darmstadt short

situated
is

for
"

trips, surrounded

as

it

by interesting towns
south of
us,
or

Heidelberg
Mannheim

only

short

tance disa

close

enough

for

day's

visit.

I sang

Niklaus

in "Hoffmann"
a

heim in Mann-

for learnt the

the

first time
in
to

without
room

rehearsal, having

part

my
me

at

the

piano
and
never

without

Kapellmeister
seen

give
That
tenor
as

the
was a

tempi,

having
not

the

opera.

trying experience,
me

helped
Venetian watch and

by

the

knocking
I

flat down tell him about with

two

in

the the

scene

rushed He

on

to

that

was

coming.

weighed
colliding

hundred
in

fifty pounds,

and

him

mid-

"216"

RUSSIANS,
career,
on

COMMON
him

AND
way

PREFERRED

gave

right of

by going

down

flat

my

back. Frankfurt with

as we

At

heard

wonderful

performance of
Bahr-

"Elektra"

Richard

Strauss

conducting and
I

Mildenburg
her
in

Klytemnestra.
the orchestral

shall

never

forget

it, nor
the
so

effects been

Strauss

produced.
an

I felt at
woman,

end

as

if I had
was

watching

insane
trayal por-

marvellous

Bahr-Mildenburg's
creature.

of the half -demented

Her

large face,

pale,

witli

haunting, sick draperies, the

eyes,

her

scarlet, gold-embroidered

clutching, bony

lingers

on

her able

jewelled staff,the swaying body

to

she seemed

barely
acter, charexact

keep
all

erect,

the

psychology
combined
to

of the
to

queen's

this

together
and

give the
it

effect

she

wanted,

convey

strongly and

clearly to
We
grew

tlie farthest
to

seat

in

the
a

big

theatre.

know

very

well

Russian He seemed
was

boy,
told
us

whose much of exotic like

a

family had
of
a

interests

in Darmstadt.

Russia

and

he

and
to

his
us.

sister

creatures

different

world
very

She

frail

and skin

looking, with

curly, bronze
the
seen.

hair,

gardenia petal, and

mouth her men's dressed
I have time in
ever

tiniest At
or

blood-red full-lipped, she

home
in the

spent

most

of had

the

saddle

stables.
out

She the drink

uniforms
as

made,
were.

and

rode

with both

officers
enor-

they

They
"217"

could

CONFESSIONS
mous

OF
Bowie

AN
and

OPERA
follow
never

SINGER
it up
even

quantitiesof
and Swedish used
verses

with flush and

pagne cham-

punch, and
to

pink.
spout
in
a

Only S
Greek

become

very

talkative
we

by
of

the hour.

At

that time
or

lived after
a

pension, and

every

Saturday night
say

big
range ar-

performance
an

mine,

"Carmen,"
Sometimes
in sheets

he
we

would all had

elaborate
as

fete. Romans One

so

to

appear

dressed he
was

and

fore wreaths, beI grew

satisfied. all

night I remember

tired
came

of

our

being

monotonously
a

beautiful, and
the false

down I
wear

dressed
as

as

with Suff^ragette,
in

nose

the

Witch

"Haensel
some

und

Gretel,"
ridiculous
was so

flowing
costume,

grey

and locks, spectacles, Greek

never

half

and
once

half

witch.
at
was

S
me

horrified

that he and that

as

looked that he

during the
so

evening

I I

finallysaw changed
to

genuinely
esthetic.
as

unhappy
He had

something
money

more

much his
gown

spending
sister
never

apparently
a

he had She of

desired, but
no

had

cent.

She

evening

and

only
of and

shabby
any

clothes.

seemed her of
a

blissfully unaware
however,
We had
to
no

shortcomings
once

wardrobe,
party

only

felt the

lack

dress.
as

arranged something for her

money
to

that time,
brother
any.

she
seem

spend,
to

and

her

did After wander

not
a

think

it necessary

give her

particularly successful
the deserted "218"
streets

fete, S
kneel before

would

and

RUSSIANS,
fountains them
as

COMMON

AND
squares,

PREFERRED

in the

public

dipping
it

water
on

from earth called

with

his
to

derby hat, and

Pallas
not

pouring
as

the

libations And
me,

Athene,
in the

he

always
you

me.

he

was

least

drunk, if

will

believe
When
station

only fearfully Russian.

they left the pension their

consisted
newspaper

luggage

at

the

of

pile

of

shabby hand-baggage,
girl had
of
no

mostly
but
von
a

parcels.
little coin her
own

The

purse
so

soldier's

case

goatskin,
stuffed
to

Frau 's

emptied
into it.

bag, and

possessions things which keeping with

any

Their all have

indifference been

all tliese
in
to

would their

regulated and

position if they had

than
to
me

belonged
was

other

country
seemed

Russia,
rather
a

I believe

quite

typical and
S Goodness

sublime. the world. I

one was

afterwards knows
or

made he
some

trip round
out

how but

found

whether

singing
my

not,

night after singing

receive
a

of of

big

roles
or

I would
an

monstrous

basket for
my
to

red

roses,

armful He

of
even

orchids, cabled
remembered the baker

from

Honolulu

or

China.

hund's DachsPeter

birthday, and
a

cabled

send

wonderful

Torte

with

birthday candles.

-219-

CHAPTER

XX

THE

grandmothers'

BALLET

ALL
Verdi the
to

this

time

was

working
was

very very

hard

at

the
cluding in-

opera.

Our

repertoire
all and and the the

large,

nearly
Wolf-Ferrari,
of Weber
was

Italian German
up
to

operas, operas

from from

time

Mozart
in

Humperdinck.
of
it had
to

Everything good
terribly
sounds

given
and
some

German,
At

some

tlie

lations trans-

poor.
accustom

first

seemed German
sonorous

difficult
in

to

myself
after
came

the the

Dalila

or

Carmen,
German
so

French, natural,
one

but

latterly
never

to

seem

quite

as

though
in

beautiful

nor

singable.
the
can

ery Evtext,

the this the

audience,
is the

however,

understood

and
enter

surely
into

important
an

thing.
when
or

How

they
ing guess-

spirit of
that
is
a

opera

they
an

are

whether the
tenor

love The

phrase

insult

that
lating trans-

is

singing?
vernacular

prejudice
has had and with and
us.

against
be
overcome

into

the

to

in

nearly
be

all
a

European question
of

countries time

will,
In

suppose,
eratic op-

only

Russia,
their

composers

flowered
"220"

reached

world

THE

GRANDMOTHERS'
the Russian

BALLET

prominence only after

for
for

language
was

was

used

the
the

libretto.

In

Germany

Italian

discarded
a

language of the singers only after

of German before. In

long Strugs
came

gle, but the great abundance

after
it
was

operas

adopted,
were

not

France
can

also
any

Italian libretti
one

used

for

generations,but
a

imagine
to
an

Debussy composing
Italian
its
can own

"Pelleas

et

Melimust

sande" find these

libretto? tongue, and

Each
I

school

itself in
matters

question whether

be

hurried.
a

I have

always thought
more

good English translation general pleasure gabble

in the subtle

would audience

contribute than
a

to

the

of the
even

misunderstood

of words,

though English is perhaps lacking

worked
upon
us

charm

by foreign speech.
time

My
as
a

colleagues by this
German,
a

accepted
work

me

almost

and

I did

the

routine

as

though
is
a more

were

German.
an

Surely
occasional
as

this

experience
on

than profitable famous stage, aimed

appearance

more

such
at.

many

of heard

my

own

women country-

often

of

their

struggles

against intrigue, and

long
for
season a

pauses

between We

roles, while
all worked
every

they waited

hoping

chance. and
was

steadilythrough the
The
to
us

rehearsed worked
out

day.
given

scheme
every
us

of rehearsals
two

and

weeks

on

printed Spielplan. This

operas

showed

exactly

which
"221"

and

plays

were

CONFESSIONS
scheduled
we

OF
next

AN

OPERA

SINGER
all the rehearsals
room hearsals re-

for the have

to

and fortnight,

should

attend, beginning with the

for the soloists alone, then without

the stage rehearsals with

or

chorus, the stage rehearsal

the finally
on

chorus

and

piano,

and

General

Probe,

last orchestra
at
a a

rehearsal

the At

stage, with

everything as Spielplan was

with their the

formance. pertive tenta-

the side
in

of the

list of dates of

works

preparation
All

probable
very

appearance. I knew

this made
time
a rare

work

systematic,and
for

exactly what

I should

have

study and
my

what

for
at

myself.
least
aim
once

If

week

passed

without

singing

I grew
was

restless and and velop, de-

unhappy.
and
is
a

My
every
most

constant

to

learn

role useful

taught

me

something.
on

tility Versa-

attribute

the

operatic stage,
to

and

if you

play

all the way

from

Fides

soubrette
you

parts in operetta, and

may

the audience

sticks to you,

be considered I remember
one

fairlyversatile.
strenuous

week
on

in

particular.
ning. eve-

had

to

sing

Dalila

in
was

Prague

Wednesday
for
I could I had

"Zauberfloete"

scheduled
a

Tuesday

in

Darmstadt,
in

and

by taking
to

late train

arrive
to

Prague

in time

dress

for Dalila.

sing
in
me

the

last bit of

the

Third
a

Lady
black the

in

"Zauberfloete"
thrown We
over

travellingdress
and all then rush

with

cloak
train. in

straightto
at

travelled of

night,changing

Dresden
"222"

the

middle

the

THE

GRANDMOTHERS^

BALLET

night, and
Arrived old
one

waiting Prague
gas

at

the

noisy

station

for

some

time.

at

I went

straightto the theatre, the

for

with

lamps
was

footlights. "Don
time

vanni" Gioin this

of Mozart
very

given for the first

me,

theatre Mozart
to

they told

and

was,

I believe, directed
my
to

by

himself.

duly
this

sang

Dalila

and

sped
Reich

back

Darmstadt,

where

I had

sing Frau
to

Thursday night; and

certain

tiring lady has

no

have

lightnessof
you

touch

matter

how troubles that

much
were

train
not

smoke
over

have I had

swallowed.
to

My

yet

as

take
I

the train
was

night for Edinwith the

chestra, or-

boro, Scotland, where

and
on

to

appear

the

following night in Glasgow.

the

The

journey
I
can

was

long and tedious, and

was

only brightspot
a

remember
We had

while
a

we

crossed handed

bit of
in with

gium. Belthe
nor

had

lunch

basket and
our

typicalbottle
I wanted
we

of vin The
to

rouge,

neither
train

Marjorie
slowed
us,

it.

next

time
an

down and I

happened
the received
I
was

have

engine beside
the window
to

handed who

wine

through
true

the

driver,

it with

Belgian imperturbability.
sick
in
a

very

tired and

very

nel. crossing the chanterrible

storm,

We

arrived

in London

ing feel-

absolutelyexhausted.
thing that hasn't
lost
"

Marjorie said, "The

is, that
on we

only
yet

happened
We
"

have

not

our

baggage."
November,

waited

the cold

platform
had

it

was

till all the "223"

luggage

been

CONFESSIONS
taken
I went
to
out
worn

OF
the
out
vans
"

AN
no

OPERA
familiar

SINGER
trunks
for
us.

of

to

the made

hotel, leaving poor

the from
next

Marjorie
stations
met

struggle.

She

round the
coast
was

of

the

where
"

possible trains
no

might be Sunday
for
me

all of could
at

avail.

The

day
a

and
to

we

not

possibly have
We if

found

gown

use

the

concert.

sleptthat night in
ever

towels

and know
next
we

underclothes, and
what
sort

you've

done that
were

it you is.

of

an

funeral all-night

The and

morning
continued
we

early the missing trunks

our

found amused

journey.
no

We

were

much Scotland had

to

when

found
on

that

trains

left for

during the
wait

day

Sunday,

and

that

they

for

the

friendly cover
to

of the and

night before
break

they
the

dared calm.

ously nefariday Mon-

slipout
almost
in

the Sabbath
on

night I
the
concert,

broke of
me

down the

platform during
in
some

one

hugest halls
sent

the

world.

Marjorie comforted
which chilled
nerve

and between

for

whiskey
with
as

gulped down
in
me

songs. my
a

Gradually the
voice

blood
came

thawed, and
and
I scored

it,my
the
to

back

success,

I did back been

following night
Darmstadt
six countries

in

Glasgow.

We

then

went

the

quickest possible way,

as

having

in

in
a

many

days.
deal
in

We round of

walked

great
and

the beautiful
rode made
over

country
the miles

Darmstadt,

I sometimes

charming bridle paths.

"224"

We

expeditionsinto

THE
the beautiful
autumn.

GRANDMOTHERS^
Taunus

BALLET
all

country,

gold and
of
in

scarlet

in

The
at

delightful custom
distances these

having
every

Wald

Haeuse

convenient

direction

round

the The
so.

city,makes
coffee
is

ure. expeditionsa great pleasand the cakes ways al-

usually good,

Darmstadt

is

on

the

Bergstrasse,almost
and
we were

highway pestered
They
I found

through
one

that part of with

a

Germany,
stream

year

constant

of

beggars.

were

usually ex-theatre
came

people they said, and

and
not to

they only
word and
was

to

me

my

colleagues, so
that
an

must

have

been

passed
mark.

round lived

"easy"
who

extremely rich

American
a

in the

town,

good
The should
was

for

at

least

strangest
choose

stories circulated

about

us,

and
was

why
that

we

Germany

to

live in.

One

the
a

illegitimate daughter of
cousin
to

King

Edward,

therefore
a

of the Grand which

Duke, which
see

explained They
relation

likeness
my

him and

I could
were

myself.
no

said
to

sister

mother
to

really
care

me,

but
I have I

simply paid
said
was a we

take

of

me.

As

had

several

picturesque privileges
"

because

Grossherzogliche Beamtin
house.
near

an

ployee em-

of

the
to

Royal

I used

to

go

on

tain cer-

days

the old Schloss of the

the theatre, no
as

longer
too

the residence
to

reigning family
I

it

was

old

be

comfortable.

passed
"225"

under

shadowy

arches

CONFESSIONS
and

OF
cobblestone
came

AN
courts,

OPERA
surrounded

SINGER

through

by aged
Kellermann the the took how

windows,
lived. bowels Head orders much

till I
I went

to
a

where

the Schloss old I

a

down

steep

stone
was

stair

into

of

the

earth, where
who
wore

greeted by
apron

Cellarman,
at
a

white
I

and

candle-lit I wanted,
treat,

table.
or

told
a

him

just

Rotwein for
a

perhaps
a

bottle of champagne
sum

and

paid
Duke
as

small ridiculously

for

it all.

The and

Grand
we,
a

got it duty free

and

at to

special rates,
this
rate too.

his

employes
fee
two

were

entitled flunkies
it to

For

small

large
deliver

in my

Grossherzogliche
apartment
very

uniforms

would

later in the
I

day.
never

I believe
was

the cellars
to

were

wonderful, but
think

asked had

investigate.

only

the
nor

principals
the ballet

this

privilege,
I may

neither be

the chorus

sharing it,but
Kind-hearted
servants

mistaken. Our ballet

was

rather
to

pitiful.
faithful
a

rectors di-

hesitated

dismiss
was

of

years'

standing, and
at

the result of the

phalanx
I used

of
to

ers grandmothgive
my

the back
to

stage.

old ily fam-

clothes
in
was a

the chorus

and

ballet women,

and The
poor

one

particularI
handsome
son was

almost
creature

adopted.
of
and
was

mother Her
two

about
a

forty-five.
and

eldest babies

twenty-four
bom
came

carpenter,
Darmstadt. The

were

while
in

in

dren Chil-

of all ages

between.

father

drank

"226"

THE
and used
as a

GRANDMOTHERS^
to

BALLET mother,
gypsy,

ill-treat

the
or

who and
I

had then
go

to

dance
to

gaily

peasant

boy

home

all that
wives

misery.

Little

by little things
worn

told

the
were

officers'
very
to

I knew

about

these

and

they

kind

about

sending their
the
to
women.

clothing to
I

me

tribute dis-

amongst
them
very

believe old

it

amused
gowns

much

see

their and
as

evening

washed,
as

always washed,
gowns,
or

refurbished, doing duty

the latest walk-on
a

"Empire"
on

thing

in

Paris
in

creations

the

backs

of

the

ladies
is not

the

French
even

comedies. if it is

Eighty marks
all the
year

month

much,

paid
school

round, and

somebody

has We

got

to

help.
a

had

of

forestryin the boys.

It
was

town,
in

tended largely at-

by
when
our

American

the

period
mendously tre-

Western and
wore

boys padded hump-toed

who

their boots. dressed

shoulders
These
in

boys
most

were

all

husky specimens,
hats
are

the

f oresty of forest clothes, boots

western

laced

to

the knee, wide woods looked

and all seemed

flannel
most to

shirts.
tame

The well
were

round

Darmstadt but the

and

after,

boys

think left
to

they
the

dressing the
these

part
were

correctly. When
quite well
to

themselves German

boys
of

behaved,
The

but

students

tried

bully them.

beer-drinking type
little coloured he
owns

student, with
on one

his ridiculous

cap
own

stuck
par-

side of his head, thinks

"227"

his

CONFESSIONS
ticular cafe where

OF

AN

OPERA
may

SINGER

his Stamm-Tisch
various mannerisms

happen

to

be.

They objectedto boys

who

of the American the American

visited these
their down.
to
own

cafes, and
western

boys
the
was

replied in
Germans

way

by knocking
fist

This

method

of who

fighting

quite unknown
a

the Germans,
to

repliedby
to

ing send-

challenge

duel
in
turn

according
knew with the

their

custom.

The and

American refused
many

boys
to

nothing of duelling
fists. dust
I

fight except
Germans bit

think

good

fat
vengeance.

and

got

up

swearing

Finally, we
their fellow

can heard, the Ameriwho

were

boys
students

wired
in

to

countrymen
over

Frankfort, "Come

tonight and
never

clean

up."
as

Exactly what
sides
grew

happened
to

we

heard, but
respect each
The

both

understand

and

other Russian

more,

the

trouble

gradually

subsided.

element, usually rather

contributed

undesirable

stadt, in Darm-

largelyto
of

the disturbances.
corps

There American

were

several

duelling
ours,
a

in town,
at

and

an

friend
us

student

the

technical

college,told
combats.
up

of witnessing their of the

extremely bloody yourself sewed

and fighting,
to
ones we

Part
an

glory

is

to

have
on

without

anesthetic, and
It is

go

heard
nerve

sickening details.

supposed
and the

make who

your
go way

tremendously steady, regular

"228"

through the stated number

of duels,
course

their fighting

slowly through

of

progression, al-

THE
ways

GRANDMOTHERS'
winner,
must

BALLET
be
on

the

indeed frowned

shock the

and

disgust

proof.
it existed

The
in

authorities force
we were

practice but
other an-

nevertheless.

One
was

boy killed

while
on

there; he
as
a

imprisoned,
hero

but the

his

return

was

treated
corps.

conquering

by
to

members

of his

That

surely belongs

Hun

training.

"229-

CHAPTER

XXI

STAGE

FASHIONS

AND

THE

GLORY

OF

COLOUR

WE
Wagnerian

played

continuously
to

nine

months
scattered
to

from for for

tember Septhe the tives rela-

June,
I often We

and
went

then

holidays. Festspiel.
not
a

Munich German

have of German married

we

many

(though
of
my

drop

blood),
German have The of the

as

three

grandfather's
remote

sisters

officers. dozens of tions relacourt

Through
cousins in

ancestors

also

the

north

of

Germany.
The who for
son

Munich famous all the

dearly
von

loved.

architect,

Klenze,
Munich abdicated and
to
me.

built the his

nearly
old throne
"

noble of
my

buildings
Bavaria,
mother's
very

in

King

Ludwig
married
were

who
aunt,

their

descendants The northern

we

always
who heard
warm,

charming
in

cousins

lived
were

East

and

North

Prussia

always
and
our

quite
artistic,

different,
and In

cold,

critical,
as

not

and

friendly,

found

southern the the

two

relations.

Darmstadt and

they
of

seem

between
in

peoples
one

in

character,
all
sorts.

course

theatre

meets

"230"

THE
Our
and

GLORY

OF

COLOUR
was

Souffleuse, "Bobberle,"
sister
was a

from

Schwabia,

her

character.
most

She

gance proved her elecolours

on

by wearing
fat little
over

the

brilliant

her

body,

and

plastering the family jewelry all

screamed
to
were

herself.

She

remarks friends
as

about between

the the
as

bers mem-

of the company and the remarks

her
not

acts,
you

undiscerning
of the

might think.
The reserved

top

box the

on

the

right side
there
to

house,

was

for

humble
to

hangers-on of the Personal.

sit up
as

My
walk
my

sister in

used

often
my in state

she
a

could
seat,

just
while

without
sat

having
in
a

ask

for

mother

speciallyreserved
to

seat

in

the

orchestra,for which
mothers and the
to

I had

ask

each

time.
to

The be

oldest
an

Souffleuse's sister used

sister, in
was

unending
order of

joy
their

my
seats
woe

their

comments.

The

theirs
some

by

divine

right,

they thought, and

new-comer

betide
venture to

comparatively
one-eyed Frau
It
was

who
's
or

would W

take

fat Frau Nest

's chair.
raven's
us on

called felt its

the

Raben's

(the
over

nest), and
the
were

we

influence

hanging
with
unsere

stage.
made

was

quite

familiar "Ach!
our

the remarks Kaethe

that

nightly:
("Oh!
of down like
a

spielt ja Heute!"
mother settle bent

little

Katy plays tonight"), the

rapturously,
die
and

Katy
with

would

announce

her

chin

on

rail, and
"231"

her

back

jack-

CONFESSIONS knife, for three hours

had

OF
of
most

AN

OPERA
but

SINGER

proud
of

critical with

joy.
her

She little

probably
to
are

toiled
turn out

tlie

night

seamstress

the marvels
props

Kaethe
an

wore.

There of

certain
to

that lend

unfailing

air

gorgeousness

the

provincial
of,
or

German behind

mind,
the footlights.

whether

viewed An

from

in front

aigrette does

duty
on a

for

years

and hat of
a

has

sure-fire

elegance; pinned
a summer

winter
worn

black bow
in
to

velvet,or
an

leghorn,
know
set.

or

with

evening coiffure, you

most

its

wearer

belongs
close
it do

the
one

exclusive but used

social
to

Our
one

coiffeur had
as as

only ble possi-

eye,
to

bring that
victim

the head She

of her
out

and

make

duty for
In hair

two.

turned

wonderful I introduced the hair

puffs and
a new

curls.

"Dollar

Prinzessin" Paris:
at
a

styleof
a

dressingfrom
of close curls

parted,and
head,
of band

multitude
rounded sur-

the back

of the

the whole ribbon of

by
shade and
was one

rather

broad This

the

desired.

took
years

Darmstadt
in every
to

by
turned

storm,

repeated
The
sausages,

for
I

two
am

conceivable
into

version.

curls but

sorry

say,
more

tight
without A

how be

much
worn

praktisch!
times

Couldn't

the

curls

then

at

least three

being

re-dressed?
course

lorgnon

is of

"Hoch
you
are

elegant,"also quite
playing
you
an

irresistibly snorty,
Duchess

if

elderly
tunics

type

of

person.

If

read

that

"232"

THE
are worn

GLORY
Paris
may
you

OF
put
them

COLOUR
on

in

all your,

gowns,
to

though they
Even outline
one

be

hideously unbecoming

you.

tlie time-honoured had

to out
on

hat-on-the-back-of-the-head
one

be
at

renounced
you

season,
or

and

every

peered
down

from of

hat the

toque
in
"

brim

most al-

the the

bridge
back. did

nose

front, and
it
was

cocked
"

up
,

in

Unbecoming
it in

mitted adshould

but

"man"

Paris

and

Darmstadt The
one,

lag behind?
of clothes almost for of from of

problem
and
I

for the
every

actress
one

is
town

terrific knows further

think

in
men

and

makes
in

allowances the

this.
or

The

go

astray
the

quest

fashion,

perhaps
is

it is that
so

slightest lapse
in

rigid formality today.

worn as

able noticeor

their

dress

In
a

Metz
matter
were

dickeys,
of
course

small the the

false fronts, were of

was

in

place

evening
short
in your

shirts.
you
vest

If you
a

long

and silk

dickey

stuck
in

jaunty, flaming

handkerchief

front, to hide
then

dangerous

glimpses
to

of

Jaegers.
tie of

And

why
A

stick black

slavishly
or

the

bow
was

white

cotton?

scarlet
tention at-

stringtie
at

distinctly more
if
worn

novel, and
an

attracted

once

with

otherwise

conventional

evening

coat.

In Darmstadt tried
to

the
the the

men

knew

but better,

some

of them
or

ape
to

officers in

walk, monocle,
the

hair One

brushing,

huge delight of
"233"

officers.

CONFESSIONS
clever
actor

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER

always
do

made his
say

his greatest climax

coat to

by

denly suda

throwing hack
"There,
what
you

edge
that?"
satin
never

as

he

finished

speech, and

so

revealing the
course was

gorgeous

black and

lining.
failed
a man

This of of
most

of
its

unanswerable,
knew
you,
a

effect. world

You before club

at
man

once

you

had

the
clusive ex-

familiar

with and

the

life, valeted, perfumed

you

manicured

irreproachably, and
The Grand take Duke this

succumbed

accordingly.
in

would all
it in.
was

sit, lynx-eyed, up
I

his

box, and
missed When

always

felt he
to

never

anything, and
his box
was

inspiring to play always missed

this

him.

empty

scrutiny.
ple peo-

Sometimes
have been

one

gets messages
in

that well-known

out
some

front,and this knowledge, and the

thought that
talent
you
me as are

wandering
you,

Intendant

in

search
you
on

of if
saw

may

be tired.

watching
Once He
me was a

always

spurs

famous of later
course

Dutch

painter

Amneris.
sent

quite unknown
say

to

me,

but

word

to

what

pleasure
the

had

given him
and

by recreating in colouring he
was a

his mind

Egyptian
striven
so

silhouettes hard had A

to

loved.

I had
to

do

this,it
in

great pleasure
it. town,

know

that I

succeeded dear
sent

suggesting
in

old
me

gentleman
many

who

had

travelled

much,
my

postcards
back
"234"
to

from

Spain, because
his

Carmen

brought

him

happy

days

THE
there.
He
in
sent

GLORY
me

OF
real

COLOUR
"Order" for
my

Russian
I

Orlofsky
wore

"Flederraaus," which
that and

always afterwards
court

with

gentleman's
wreaths of

severe

dress. leaves

Laurel
were

wreaths
sent

heavy

silvered

to

me,

with

and gold lettered inscriptions,

in my in music
room.

kept

them

for ages

During the last

Berlin
to

winter

Darmstadt
It
was

I went

up

to

give

try-out recital.
my

managed
Mr.

by
at

the great Wolf

once

Bureau, and
interest in me,

friend

Femow
as

took
I
was

an

which

continued

long
Bos,

as

in

Germany.
to

I heard

of Coenraad for
me.

von

and the made

wanted

have the real

him

play

We
soon

rehearsed
I had

day

before

concert,

and
in

found
He

another when he

friend told

Bos.

said

wards, after-

was

I wanted
to

just one
himself The

rehearsal
I must
was

for

Berlin
very
not

he thought recital, bad

or

be
I

either

very

good.
leave
one

truth

could
opera

get
so

longer
than

of

absence
was

from

the

and I have

riiore

rehearsal

ble. impossi-

always
such

adored
an

rehearsing, especiallyfor
as

concert,
one

with

artist

Bos

to

play for
was

me,

and
a

of the greatest with

to

joys of
Wolf
"

my
a

life

preparing
recital. that his
was

program
go

Erich
concert

for Bos

later Berlin
very up

To

back
to

my

worked

hard all of It

evening
musical
a

make
to

it

success,

calling
of his
new

friends
success

tell them I have "235"

find. such

great

and

never

read

notices

as

CONFESSIONS
I received from
ever

OF
all the had

AN
papers.

OPERA

SINGER
told
me no

They

foreignerhad

such

unanimous

and

nary extraordikissed

praise for
me

first recital, and

room.

Papa Fernow

in the green

I should with
return to

have
two
or

immediately
three
more,
so

followed but I
was

up

that

cert con-

obliged

to

my

duties, and
of
to
an

lost the

opportunity of

reaping the reward

unusual
on

beginning.
in

They
felt that

wanted I had and

me

sign
the

Darmstadt,

but

sung

repertoire faithfullyfor
more

three

years,

that

I wanted
to to
me

worlds work. S

to

quer, con-

and I liked
went
me

bigger town
Munich offered
two

criticize my

to

sing for Baron

a

who
,

and of

contract,

depending

on

the
to

outcome

be
to

absolved
go into

or Gastspiele, guest performances, the following October, my contract

then

eflfect.
in

My people
take

farewell
were

Darmstadt
to
a me.

was

"Carmen"
the when

and

the
I

good
for

After

last curtain
I
came

left the stage

to

minute, and
stage
were was

back
side
to

my

calls

the

filled from

side

with

flowers; they
me.

banked
went

and
up

grouped
down

all round

The

curtain

then

and
at

numerab in-

times, till I felt like weeping

all these kind
not
come

leaving
cab
did

friends.
me

For

some

reason

my

for
at

and

when

I left the theatre

the crowd

waiting

the stage door

followed

me

home, calling

"236"

THE
out

GLORY

OF
"Auf
are

COLOUR

"Come kind

back

soon,"

Wiedersehen,"
not

and

many

things. These
an

perhaps great happy,

very

triumphs, but they make

and
near

artist's life very three

an

the life I led

for
one

those for

years,

comes

being
I think

the ideal
was

opera

singer. returning
We the
as

it

two

years

before

this, on

to

Paris, that
six

I took

part in Strauss'
at

"Salome."
I took
so

gave

performances

the

Chatelet. of

page's small study

the of course,
were

part, just for the fun The

it, and
was a

to

opera.

stage manager
very

German

and

spoke

little French. tlie

go cry

The

singers
all Burand
derstood un-

all Germans,

and
not

"figurants,"supers,
at

French.

Things did
the moved what

well for he

rehearsals.
or

rian,
no one

as

King
to

would

wine

grapes,
no one

get what
was

wished,
so

as

he

saying, and
the

could

not to

get

the musical the

two

cue.

was

only
of

person

able

speak
ager man-

and languages fluently,

me

the stage finally

asked
my

to

take

charge
**Suivez

all the business

on

side

of the stage.
I said

Madame!'*

he

would

yell. So
vessels." of
supers,
as

"Remove

throne."
to

"Bring golden
crowd intelligent actors, who
one

"Clear
many

stage," etc.,
of
to

the

whom

were

young

wanted hideous Some

to

I did

study the
had that it did she seemed
"237"

opera.
an

I remember
sore

little
one

girl,who

unattractive
matter

lip. trying
it,

told her

not
so

much,

comfort

her,

as

depressed about

CONFESSIONS
but
was

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER
"it
to

she

was

inconsolable, and
seven

replied darkly,
This brave effort

always
the
no

days
of

lost."
an

create

impression
one

otherwise

lurid
were

existence
too

deceived
to

however, though they

doubt.
rose

polite

show

their

Destinn's that
costume

voice
pours

in thrillingly

the love
she

phrases
wore
a

Salome

at

John;
French

and

though

that my

young

friends
"

considered
cats,
"

sisted con-

chiefly of
had
two

chats

enrages,

mad

as

it

huge

animal

heads
are

of

gold, where
the

such

types

of stage villainesses
tense

always heavily protected,the simple strength

as

quality of
her

her

voice, and
the

of

acting
it with

suited his

character and she

Strauss

had

painted
that
no

music,
know usual
was

achieved have done.

to
same

results

other
gone

singer I
back
as

of could
to

I had
voice my
our

de

Reszke the

have

my

put in order, and put in order

and talks

having, at
Paris

time,

taste

by

my

sculptorbrother
and vision much
to

Cecil,in
museums.

walks

about

its

My

brother's
is
never

wonderfully
clouded,
him. We and used

clear
I
to
owe

of
to

art

and
ciation asso-

beauty
and
a

my

with
I remember

go

all the
we

Salons,
on

the \'ividly

first time

stumbled
then

specimen
to
us.

of the modem We had looked

Spanish school,
at

quite

new

dreary
on

wastes crests

of raspberry of
most

jam
solid waves,

Venuses,
dozens of

resting
canvases

the

still in the Louis

XVI

"238"

THE
era,

GLORY

OF

COLOUR
when

and

much

mediocrity, pastel-coloured
out

denly sudIt

I called
was a

"Look,
of

Cec, something new!"

"

big
in

square

flaming colour
cotton, in

women

and
tomatoes
sun.

child from

red

checked

picking
the

scarlet

high-trained vines,
and

brilliant

It

glowed

fairly zizzed
We for had
some

with

colour, and

had
in

that the

radiating, vibrating quality that things have

hot sunshine. had
years,
seen

the "confetti" but this

canvas

and

"spot"
dwarfed

types of work

anything modem
found wondered
I think per
se,

I had
one

in Paris.
same

We and

have have

never

another what that

by

the

man,

often

became
was

of his work.
I first fell in love it before.

when

with We

colour had

though
Monet

I had

flirted with

loved
in

and

the

opalescent, shimmering
never

lights
so

his

water-garden series, but

and this thrilled

had
on

I been
as

stirred
was

by

mere

paint
It

canvas

by

Spaniard's work.
can

seems

that

man

only rarely
the

put

colours

together that
one sees

will
in

have

living dazzling look

was a

that

nature.
one

Matisse

past

master

of it, and

even

though
was

might
joy-

not

agree

witli him

otherwise, his colour

Later When
I
see

the
am

Cubists

and

Futurists he talks to
me

invaded

Paris.

with
aims

Cecil and

of their work, what

is

their
are

quite clearly,and
to

understand

they

trying

express,

for their "line

of talk"

"239"

CONFESSIONS
much with
more

OF
than
I must

AN

OPERA
but
my

SINGER
when
I
am

lucid brother and

I very
at

their work: confess

not

my

understanding
he used.
our

is

dimmed,
We

forget the arguments

lived

simply

in

Paris, having
and and

meals

sometimes

the

quartier restaurants,
peas,

sometimes

of fresh mushrooms, getting filets

Paris

delicious like little little

a

potatoes, with
and

big strawberries
crime

shaped
its

whisk-brooms,
earthen
small and We
my

d'

Isigny in
at

stubby

pots, and apartment

brother
met

preparing them
in

home.
as

I had

the

same

house
some

my

mother,
from
us.

had

his studio

blocks

Spaniards, Norwegians,
of whom
we

French, anything
"

but Americans,
so

know

but few
with

we

learnt other

much

more

through talking
than
our own.

people
is such
a

of

nationalities

Paris As
my

lous marvel-

place for development.

never

brother

said, he
must

knew

when
not

some

one

whose the

opinion he

respect
work
a

might

drop

into

studio, and
Tlie

give his
of

searching inspection.
to

atmosphere
best

having
of tlie

keep constantlyat
intellectual

your

very you

because
at

rigid

criticism

encounter

every

turn,

is most

stimulating.
was a

Rembrandt of whom
a

Bugatti
I think

great friend

of my and

er's, broththis
was

he

was

reallyfond,
a

association priceless
a

for

young any

student. other
age,
man

Bugatti
of his
his

was

genius, unrivalled
very

by

age,

and

few

of

any

other

and

tragic

"240"

THE
death
is
a

GLORY
loss
acute to

OF
the
art

COLOUR
world.
must

great
his

His

growing
made of and the
my

deafness life

and

sensitiveness

have

impossible
years
were

for

him.
in

His

recollection when
"

happy
brother

spent

Antwerp,

he

well-known

figuresthere

wearing
capes,
open

long,

swinging, dark
eternal the of Zoo
"

blue, Italian

cavalry

smoking
air in

pipes and

working all day

to

in the

compared

what

the
a

Germans

have

made

Belgium, proved

too

great

burden spiritual

for

him.

"241"

CHAPTER

XXII

ROYAL

HUMOUR

DURING
Munich.
me

that
This I did

summer

Baron
course
was

S
a

died

in
to

of
not

great

blow do about

and

know Berlin

what
to

could Herr
to

my

contract.

I I

went

to

see

Harder,
contract

who
in into

told

me

must

gastieren
the
new

according
was

October,
oifice

but till

as

Intendant
no one

not

to

come

November,
as a

could
new

really

engage

me,

especially
was

very

exacting
Vienna

musical
in
to

rector di-

coming
would both

from

later
want

the choose

season,

and
own

they

undoubtedly

their

first contralto.

However,
with The did
was

went

and
sore

sang

under and be
as
a

trying sinking engaged,

it turned

stances, circum-

very

throat
I

heart. but
out

colleagues
not
see

thought
was

would

I I

who and

to

do
no

it, and
one

right

there

"

was

to

do

it.
to

This
return

pressed deto

me

extremely,
devote As
to

but
year
matter

resolved
to

Berlin,

and

the
a

following
fact, this best,
as

up

my

previous
blow

recital.
out

of for the

apparent
so

turned

be

all
"242"

often

ROYAL

HUMOUR
I should

happens, Germany
upset, The made
a

for
at

otherwise the

have

been and

caught
my
career

in

beginning
to
a

of the war, other

in

which
concert

happened
field is

several
one

girls.
and
in

rich

Europe
a

I had

good beginning.
the
as

I booked

tour

Holland,
as

through
received such

kindly
I had

offices of Bos, where been

in Berlin.

was

well
wrote

The
to

critics

eulogies that
quite unknown

I almost
to
me

blush
would
see

read

them.
town to

ple Peotown
or

go

from
at
never

to

hear

me,

and

I would
at
me.

them

Rotterdam
sung
to

Utrecht adorable

-smilingup
audiences. and
a

I have
seem

such all

They
"Claire
as

to

understand
sung in

languages,
seems

de much

Lune"
as

French

to

please

them

Schubert's

cent magnifi-

"Allmacht." The
was

"coffee
a

pause"
to

half
me

way

down

the

program, I
soon

quite
to

shock for

the

first

night, but
the
to

grew

look

it, and

enjoyed

smell
carry

of

the

strong
on

smoking
to to

coffee

the waiters It the back

was

used

round

trays

the have

audience.
to

rather

disturbing,
up

however,
contents

watch
at

waiters of

finish

the
I

of the pots,
on

the

the

hall, while

began
to

the second

half

of the program.
were

Evidently

them

the coffee, and and the

mere

the audience,

of first importance,

singer quite secondary;

all of

which

is

point of
and

view. I lived
at

My

sister

The

Hague,

and

Holland

"243"

CONFESSIONS
is
so

OF

AN
that
we

OPERA
could
concert

SINGER

delightfully small
there, after the
I went

nearly always
in

return town.

evening's
the
was

another
series

back

in

spring for another returning

would
my way
to

of recitals and
I
was

felt that I
a

old friends. love

to

offered

tour

to

Java, and
not
see

have

undertaken
then.

it, but

could

clear

just

In December Harder
sent
me

was

in Berlin
to
come

for and

week

or

two, and

word Garden.

sing for
contracts

Mr. I had

Percy
held

Pitt of Covent
so

The
a

two

far had

been
now

closed with
I
same was

minimum

of

delay and
one

trouble, and
my
career

to

make
way.

the
I

biggest
was

of

in the

simple

not

in the

best of voice

when

I sang

for Mr.

Pitt,but I

sang

the for
to

Siegfried Erda,
singing
so

and He

was

disgusted with
asked
me

myself
read

badly.

if I

were

ready
to
me

sing the list of leading roles which

and the
on

he

me,
on

my

answering proving,
to

in the affirmative
me

engaged

spot;

at

least, that successful

even

or

unsuccessful
little to do

Vorsingen and
with
any
most

Gastspielehave
In

very

engagements.
at

the

case

of

singer of

reputation
up

all, the
pretty
well

Director

has

usually made
what
you,

his
to

mind do.
sung

beforehand
you

he
even

is

going

If he

wants

he

takes

if you does make

have
not

badly
you,

that

time, particular
that I have

and heard

if he of
can

want

nothing
you.

him

engage

"244"

ROYAL
This
were

HUMOUR
for the

contract

was

following spring.
three

We

to

give the "Ring"

Nikisch
was

of

Wagner,

times, and

Arthur der"
was

to

conduct. the

Also

"Koenigskinat

to

be
I
was

given for
one

first time who had

Covent
sung

Garden,
Witch
at

and that

of the few "The

I
was

tlie
pleted com-

time.

Flying
to
we

Dutchman"
in.

the list of operas After

sing

closing the
I had
a

contract concert

left for

way, Bergen, NorOne

where

engagement.

great

advantage of having
of me, and have We
went to

my

dear take
up

friends, tlie Jones, back

a

was,

that I could
it

big journey

like this; did

not

though
to

might
it
on

eat

all of my

profitI

refuse
were

that account.

fascinated

by Scandinavia,
in
one

and
concert

though

sing with the orchestra

in

only, I

remained The

Bergen
the
never

to

give three recitals by myself.

trip

across

Finse

railway,
few herd salt and

over

the had

snowy

glaciers, I shall recently been

the fed

forget. The
very
a

line

only
shared I

opened, and
us.

passengers

trip with
some

We with
was

saw

of
at

reindeer, and
one

of them

coarse

of

the

tions. sta-

Bergen itself
of fish. the hotel

warm

muggy

and

smelt

Everything
towels.
my

in

the

place
women

smelt

of fish, even
managers

Two concerts,

kindly
and

took from

charge of
America

felt

far Emma

away

till I

saw

portraitof Miss

Thursby

in their music

shop.
"245"

CONFESSIONS
The
us,

OF

AN

OPERA
were

SINGER

warm-hearted
we

Norwegians
of

delightful to
heard all

and

met

many

Grieg's relations, and

came

tales

of him.
to

One
to

of his cousins, I think,

the way

Berlin
no

study
to
on

with

me,

but

to

my

great

regret I had
I
was

time

give her.
my

interviewed could

first

day by

nice
no

little

fellow, who
nor

hardly speak German,

Our
was

and

lish Eng-

French.

conversation
most
a

was

conducted
none

under less.

but difficulties, The

next

enjoyable
request
"'Seit This
you

the

day
a

I received card

for ich

photo
Ihnen

from
sah
means

him,
bin ich

with

saying:
"

sterblich

verliebt."
I

bad I
am

German

approximately, "Since
loved
we

saw

mortally

in love."

We when make

our

stay in Scandinavia.
in

I remember
we

first arrived

Christiania
were

could with

not

out
men

why

the

streets

thronged
two

good
We
met

looking
in

and

women,

from

o'clock after

till three that. and

the

afternoon, and

quite empty

walked

through

the snowy,

glittering avenues,

all these

healthy red-cheeked
and

pedestrians talking and

social
are

laughing
then from

having
their have

wonderful
times

time.

We

discovered
ours.

meal
an

quite different
of coffee, then dinner
at
a

You
at

early cup
o'clock, then

light breakfast
or

eleven
sometimes

three
is

four, preceded
at

by

this walk. is

Supper

served

nine, eight-thirty or
"246"

and

usually laid

out

ROYAL
on
a

HUMOUR
the
centre

long table
meats

in

of

tlie

room.

There

are

cold

and

salads; cold fish and

course,

pickled fish;
first for the

queer

breads;
hors

and, of
d'ceuvres

you

go

wonderful this is where

A

of

countless

varieties, for

they grow.
once

Swede

told

me

you

could

always
when

tell

man Ger-

travellingin Sweden,
ische made Platte
a

because
were

the Schwedto

or

hors of the

d'ceuvres

passed

him, he
savoury is

meal

dainty mayonnaise
as

and

morsels, instead
intended. decorated wooden could about On
eat

of eating them the beautiful Norse

we

an

appetizer, as
of

In

station

Copenhagen,
with all

in the old

style,with
were

scarlet-painted
we

carved

beams,

served and
a

of these
"

dainties and
we

witli bread
I
were

butter, for
German!
at

forty cents
the way and
I at

I wished
were

home,
once

storm-bound with that

hagen, Copenits

fell in love
race

city,and

wonderful heard that

blond

of

big
and

men

and

women.

We

stories

of divorces
nations
us

passionate love affairs,

contrast.
no

made
man

other told
one

pale by
had had when get
a

One
to

lightful dehis had still

he

objection
found

wife
seven,

having
he

lover, but
it time
to

he

she
He

thought
saw

divorce!

quite often

her, and
He liked

said
to

they were
take her
out

the best friends

to

in the world.

dinner

and He
was

the

theatre
us

and "The

tell her Misses

all

about

everything.
and

called

Chickens "247"

Howard,"

CONFESSIONS

OF

AN

OPERA
engagements
That
was

SINGER
from
a

only restrained
us

by business

lowing folof

from

place to place.
he found
to
a

hobby
artist. sang His

his, he said, when

We crossed for back

sympathetic
and
I

Germany,

with
room

Nickisch
behind and valet the

the first time, in with told

me

Hamburg.

the stage swarmed

master

ladies, in the entr'acte,

it
was

the concert looked him

always
he

so.

A
on

over

carefully before
his coat, and I remembered

went

stage,

pulled

down

patted
the of

the Herr

Professor's
in
to

shoulders. watched

cuff story
the door

Metz
see

and

through the crack

if it still held
I sang
me,

good

"

and

it did! in

Later said
you
to

with

Mengelberg

Frankfort.
"I

He

eating apples the

friends Can of mine

while:

engaged
me

because

in Holland

told

you
came

could
to
me

sing.

you?"

After

the

concert

he

again, still eating apples, and

Sie haben
eine

said:

'^Es

is

wahr. koennen To

Prachtvolle kissed und

is
one

Stimme,
my

und

and prachtvollsingen,'"

hand.

hear

Mengelberg
his
own

direct "Tod orchestra

ever

Verklaerung"
of the
most

of Strauss, with

tremendous

things
A

I have

experienced.
a

One

is
an

transported.
aureole how
every

little man

with

tightmouth
by his
he

and
men,

of
is

fair

hair, he

is feared winter

but almost

he

respected!

That he

spent

night in

the train, as and

conducted

regularly in

Holland,

Germany

Russia.
"248"

ROYAL
I have

HUMOUR
able
to

always
and small.

been

get

on

with

really great
best

musicians,
and when
in

have

found

only the second

seems

cile diffi-

The

path
feel

suddenly
of

smooth absolute
spiring in-

rehearsal, you
and

this weahh

knowlege

authority supporting, leading and

Anxiety
vanishes and one's the best

you.

pours of

from

one

without
every

effort, only with

sensation the

wringing
We
mer,

last
to

drop of beauty from

Sweden have
return to

phrase.
Stenhamto

returned and

concerts
to

with

I should
to

crossed
on

Helsingfors

sing

Dalila, but had

in

account

of engagements

Germany. Through
our

forbears,
in

as

have

said,
we

we

have

many

relations

Germany;
our

and cousins moved

in Berlin

enjoyed
M
s.

immensely
The fill
was

knowing
had

the back

von

General
an

just been

to

Berlin
as

to

extremely high military position,and

we,

he

musical

of

course,

had

much

in

common.

The

daughters were
and
a

all

beautifully brought
as

up;

simple
are.

girls,frank They
sang.

natural
at

German

aristocrats

gave

musical,

which
was

the General
very

and

I both
was so

Their
for

apartment
the
concert sat

large, but
felt
as

crowded Duchess
and her

that abnost

though
as

the

of Dalibor
enormous

in my

throat
me

I sang, in

pearls distracted
I have
were never seen

the

"Sapphische Ode."

such

ably unbelievto

huge pearls. We

asked

to

stay

Abend-

"249"

CONFESSIONS
essen

OF
concert,

AN
and

OPERA
it consisted

SINGER

after

the and
us

chiefly of the
from the party.

sandwiches This showed

refreshments

left

over

again
of
very

the

absolute

simplicity of the

well-born The

German

irreproachable position.
intimate

girls were
Princess
to

with

the Kaiser's and

son,

only
her brated, celeOnkle

daughter, marriage

Victoria of of

Louise,

when
was

the
was

Duke
one

Brunswick's the
us

Irma

bride's-maids. about dinner the

Geo,
whom His

as

we

called
was

him, told
At

Kaiser,

to

he

devoted. would

the

table, he
with who the

said,
men

Majesty

usually talk

only

present, present.
When the

ignoring completely the ladies

might

be

the

General after

made

his re-entry

into

court

for

first time

receiving his high office,all the

to
see

courtiers be

present

watched

just how
would whole
von

he

would

received

by

His

Majesty, which

then
court.

give the
After
was

keynote for his

the

treatment

by

the

general reception.
to

General
room

M with
as

vited inmore

go

into

more

private

several
was

gentlemen.
room

This

promised
talked

well,
more

it

in

this the

that the of his General

Kaiser

intimately with

guests
The
or

choosing.
held his helmet
on

with

its

Feder-husch,
felt the eyes
came

crest

of white

feathers
on

his arm, the

and

of

all assembled

him

as

Kaiser

quickly

"250"

ROYAL
into

HUMOUR
his
way
to

the

room,

and

made that

him.

Now

was

the

critical

moment

might have
confessed
to

everlasting
nervousness,

sequences. con-

Onkle His You

in
meant
a

Geo

but

Majesty
need
a

guessed
new

the

situation, and
that Feder-busch

said, "Hum!
is

helmet,
tone.

shabby,"
this
was was

bantering
for
to

The

courtiers comment,

knew and

friendly, humorous
be

tended in-

laughed

at,

so

they laughed accordingly

and the said
ice
was

at

Onkle
my

Geo's helmet

confusion,
was

broken.

"And

quite new!"

Onkle

Geo, half

indignantly, half laughing.

The this
court
was

very

simple, and
friends who
one

we

heard the

stories
entree.
a

of A

through
D

other
,

had

Graefin

returning

evening

from

court

ball given in honor

me a

of the then
up
on

Regent of Bavaria,
paper,

gave

bon-bon

done

in

silver The
as

with
was

little

photo
and

of the Kaiserin
said
as

it.

bon-bon
one

white,
ber, remem-

tlie Graefin these had

long
the

any

could

been the

official souvenirs

of

court

dinners:

only

photo varied. girlwe

knew,
the had
"

One

charming
came

great favourite
Palace
one

of the

Empress, day, and Majesty

as

back
us

from she

Christmas from
Her

told
a

what

received
a

Christmas muff

greeting
of

ioned small, old-fash-

tippet and
two

woolly white
vases,

Angora,
some one

and had

small, cheap Japanese

"251"

that

CONFESSIONS

OF
the year

AN

OPERA
before. The
to
"

SINGER

given the Empress

one

Royal
extreme

nificence mag-

would
call it. took

expect

gave

way

plicity sim-

let The
gave

us

Kaiser

keen

interest
to

in the

opera,

and

wonderful
saw a

presents
the

his

favourite house
was

singers.
he
was

We

spectacleat
to

opera

that

supposed
under
scenes

have

and inspired,
It
was
a

which
sort

carried
panorama

out

his
in

direction.

of

of

Corfu, where

he

spent much
for I

time.
never

It must
saw so

have much

been

horribly expensive,
at
see

scenery

any

performance, and

it

really was
scenes

exquisite to
unfold Such and The before

those
one.

beautifully reproduced

however, things,

as

painted castles
to
me

and

woods

flowers

always
idea of

seem

excessively naive.
drop imaginative backa

Russian
is

wonderful

more infinitely

stimulating to

performance.
be
a

Of

course,
scene

there

are

places where
a

it

cannot

used.

If the

is laid in

Childs'
to
a

restaurant

back-drop
used
to

might perhaps be making

aim
its
own

comic

mind
I

not

yet

pictures; but simplicity

be carried who has
seen

hope

and

believe

the the

is towards

in

this

direction; but

must simplicity
ones.

out

and by artists,

first-rate the the of

Who,

the

leaping figuresof
felt
a

Russian scenic smoke

Ballet side
were

in "Prince

Igor," has
tents
on a

lack

on

because

the

with
flat

their

feather

suggested

back-drop?

Who

"252"

ROYAL

HUMOUR
is, one-side
a

longed
steam

for

real, that
from

real,

tents

"

with the

escaping
The

semi-hidden

pipe through
colour and Make far lit

top?

luridness

was

suggested by
thinly swaying
the

more

skilfullytlian
had lights, do and will cry
net.

if rocks,

by red
dience au-

cluttered
the

up

wings.

the with

thinking, blend
artist has

stimulation
been
a

lation, simuno one

if your

true

one

for

flapping pillars, or

crumpled
be what who

leaves

on

"Boris

Goudonow,"
a

as

it used

to

given
real
saw

at

the

Metropolitan, is
vision
can

good example
colour.

of

artist those
to

do

with

Those

figures in
the

brilliant green,

kneeling with

their backs

audience,

barring
minaret

off" the

procession scene,
carried
never

while the eye the

the towering
up

of the cathedral

and

up

at

the

back, will surely

It has

forget
am

light and
to

shade
some

grouping.
of

since, I

sorry

say,

lost
is

its skilful arrangement,

which

suppose

unavoidable,
and
a

but
as

the
to

performance
score

is still
tumes. cos-

homogeneous

unit,

decors,

and

It

was

on

the

Kaiser's
we

birthday
went
to

that

we

saw

"Corfu,"
Hotel
a

and

afterwards

the

newly-opened
seen

Esplanade
All

for supper.

I have
were

never

such all

sight.

imaginable

uniforms

there, on
Some

types

of officers and

foreign diplomats.
and
some

looked

magnificentlyromantic,

as

if

they had

"253"

CONFESSIONS

OF
the comic

AN
opera

OPERA
stage. The

SINGER
women,
as

stepped
usual

from

in

Germany,
and

though

plentifullybe-jewelled,
the
went
men.

looked One hardt's

dull
summer

inadequate beside night

in

Berlin,

we

to

Max
to

Reinsee

small

theatre, the

Kammerspiel,
dear

"Fruehlingserwachen."
ger,
was

My
I had

friend, Oscar
to
see

Saenin
come a

in

town,
opera

and

happened
before. whom

him had had of

box
to
see

at

the

the evening

He he

Berger, the giant baritone

into
a

formed trans-

tenor, Putnam

in

his first performance

Sieg-

mund.

I think

Griswold, that splendid type

of the best

American asked
not

singer, sang
us

the
to

Wanderer theatre

that with
we

night.
him,
chose shall walls showed the
I
as

Saenger
we

to

go

the

had

met

in years,

and

by chance

"Fruehlingserwachen"
forget that evening.
the of
us

of The

Wedekind.

Never wooden box

unseen

quiet, dark

theatre,

and
we

the

comfortable

they
in

into, in which

sat,

seeing but

obccurity; the lack

then
"

of

applause when

the

curtain
actors

fell, and
lead those
most

the
in
my

performance.
opinion, and
which

German the

the

world,

intensity of

players, the
unhappy

skill with

they played those inadequate

children, the
scene

tremulous,

mother, that dark

us

with

its

girl-women shriek,left
German

breat^^ess
The

and

dazed.
I pay
to

highestpossibletribute
some

actors, winter in

and

to

of those

gathered togetherthat
"254"

ROYAL
that theatre. there
in

HUMOUR
a

Such

Falstaff I
nor

never

saw

as

we

saw

"Henry

V,"

such

marvellous
as

tions presentaHal
in

of father's

Shakespeare.
deathbed
scene;

Moissy

Prince
Tear

his

the Doll

lection sheet; the col-

of of the

hangers-on

in the Inn
"

ing Scene, the understandall these

were

of Shakespeare spirit

less pricein

joys. Germany,
there The
is
a

Shakespeare does
and the

not

spell bankruptcy

people really love it, and

in the

perhaps

reason

why.
same

next

night
of
a

house,

you

might

see

translation
tlie
as

French
one or

drawingroom
two,

comedy.

With

exception of
home

these

people

were

quite
I had

at

in that

as

in classic I
saw

drama.

That

never

believed

possible till
to
me

it proven.
were

It had

always seemed
unrivalled
in

that the French

absolutely
ma

such

things
were even

as

"Mile.
more

Georgette,

femme";
as

but

they

sincerely,yet just
It
was

lightlydone
a

by

Reinhardt's
to

people.
to

always
London,
her of

such Paris

joy
or

in

Europe
To
ways,

go
see

the theatre

in

Berlin.

Lavalliere the
most

with

imitable in-

gamine
and the

was

delicious
actors

ures; pleas-

polish of
or

the older
or

of the French
or

stage, the Marquis

as

Marquise,
be,
actors at
no a

old butler

keeper, housefor
come

the

case

may

is

wonderful
to

model able
to

the
into

student.
a

French
sit down

seem

be

room,

table

and

talk for half

an

hour, using almost

gestures, without
"255"

becoming

in

CONFESSIONS
the least boresome
or

OF

AN

OPERA
When
I

SINGER
scenes

monotonous.

of

strong

passion

are

wanted, the Germans,

A

think, excel
that
ter, mat-

their French
any

rivals.

Frenchman,
to to rant
an

or,

for

Latin,

is inclined
at

just a bit, and

come be-

unconvincing,
but
power

least

Anglo-Saxon mind;
for

the

German,

when

called

upon

strength and

of

and passion, rises thrillingly

sweeps you away.
we

and gloriously,

completely
Even
in

Darmstadt That of

had

many

notable

formances per-

the

"Versunkene We

Glocke,"
had
a

for

instance,
old
actor

was

most

memorable. Well

splendid
and ing nothhis

for have

the

Spirit,Nickelmann,
or more

could

been
up

wetter

unearthy
of the

than

sloshing slowly
webbed,
and then

from

the

depth

well, his

greenish fingersappearing clutchinglyfirst,

his

grating,fishycroak, "R-r-r-rautendelein!
The fellow faun with
was

R-r-r-r-rautendelein!" done

also

excellently
faun-like realized
in

by

young

marvellous

these unpretentious people altogether agility; the

a

the fairy-tale spirit,

wood
way.

feeling of the story,

Where could
you in
see

most
a

imaginative, subtle
town

America

in

of

Darmstadt's

size

such

performance?

"256"

CHAPTER

XXIII

COVENT

GARDEN

AND

"

AMERICA

IN
M Mr.

due

time

we

set

out

for
us

London.

One

of

our

cousins

had

found

delightful
was

diggings
enjoy, cheque
as

in

Street, which
Mrs.

I
me

able
an

to

dear
to

and

Jones
with. his wife

sent

extra

press im-

London

We did

were

waited

upon

by

an

old of

butler, lamb,
cream!

and and

the

cooking.
with and
it.

Such
of

legs

deep
Such

plum
snowy

tarts, napery,
can

lashings
silver

clotted
as

polished

only
It

English
was

butlers

polish
my sung

not

by

any

means

first
in

visit

to

London,

professionally.
rooms

had
seasons,

private
also

drawinggiven
a cital. re-

in

previous

and

had Princess

Her

Royal

Highness
and her

Christian Princess

of toria, Vicat to to

Schleswig-Holstein, graciously
this
concert.

daughter.
to

consented
had after
not

be

my

patronesses
idea how

the had

slightest
kindly
a

range ar-

for

them,
but chairs
I

they

consented

be

present,

gathered
must

that

special

pair

of the

fortable com-

be Then

put
I

directly thought

below "Flowers

stage,
or

with

little

table.

no

"257"

CONFESSIONS
flowers?"
I

OF
should
are

AN

OPERA
to

SINGER
send

have
so

loved

them,
I

but

English Royalties
Somehow
presence

simple

and would

natural be

stinctiv in-

felt that any

one

ostentation
to

ful. distastein the

hates

do the wrong
an

thing

of Personages;
one.

it is

un-American

feeling,

but

human

They
of

applauded
each and I

me

great deal, and

nice

after

bow the

acknowledgment
time

to
an

the

audience

I gave

Princesses

English,straight-up-and-down
was

curtsey,

hope that

right.

In

Germany
was

back-swaying, one-toe-pointed-in-front curtsey

These

manded. de-

things are

at

once

trivial and

vastly
and

important.
The
out

decent

getting Their
to

Royal Highnesses capable

she
manager,
to

in

of the hall I left Christian

in Covent
nervous

the
as

whom
to

Princess be

said

passed, "She
I very
soon

ought
was.

singing
I
was

Garden."
at

rather
Most
so

the

beginning
were so

at

Covent and
soon

Garden.
all of them

of

the

others than
were

famous,
I
to

much

older

I.

However,
nice

got
I
me

recognition and

they

all very
to

me.

enjoyed especiallytalking
all about the

Van

Rooy.
he
wore

He
in

told
the

wonderful
have I
seen

armour

"Ring."
As the

Never he

his

equal
old

as

the of

derer. Wan-

himself

said, the

line

singers,
and
for

giants, the de Reszkes, Teminas,

to

Lehmanns I often

Brandts, seemed

have

died

out.

look

"258"

COVENT
the of but

GARDEN

AND"

AMERICA
breadth

grand line, the dignity,the flowing,noble

gesture
how
one saw

in
one

the
see

older

Wagnerian
Of
young

singers,
my

often

does
are

it now?

course,

memories I
saw

of them tlie
same

those
in Van

of

very

girl,but
voice

thing
and the

Rooy, though his

showed
is

wear,

bigness of their impersonations

my memory,

stamped indelibly on
ones.

dwarfing
He
its

the

lesser

Nikisch that
raw,

came

for the last few

rehearsals. with

took
lated unre-

English-sounding orchestra,
of

sounds unified and have

"

blaring brass,
his till it

and

and rough strings, work would like

a

and

dignifiedit by
power
in his

his personality, what he

were

his brain

produced
His
came

Wagner

glory.
Nikisch

gestures
to

sculptor's. My
also noticed

brother, who
this.

stay with
to

us,

seemed

sculp
again
to

the
us

phrases out
both

of the air, and

brought home

tlie close relation

between

the lines of music Parthenon the Air

and
"

the lines of noble

is it not is

sculpture. The My
with brother

freeze of

music?

says

Bach

absolutely one
pure,

the outlines

of this

masterpiece,

just as
in

noble

and

majesticallysimple, moving
and
The
so

slow, stately rhythm.

We
gave

the

"Ring" three
and
I

times

I sang latter much

the
in

Erdas

and

Fricka

Waltrautes.

"Goetterdaemmerung"
Nikisch.
We

enjoyed doing
it at

with he

only

rehearsed
"259"

the

piano, and

CONFESSIONS
said
as

OF
sat

AN

OPERA
bin ich

SINGER

he

down: die

"Jetzt
Waltraute
I

neugierig.
sein,
traute Wal-

Entweder oder sehr

can

kann

wunderschoen
am

langweilig." ("Now
either be very He did of
not

curious.
very

beautiful

or

ing.") uninterest-

find it fits of
I feel

langweilig however. depression

I must I
so

I had after
am
so

one

my

often

get

singing, (when

leave
any
was one

the
can

stage, I
do
or

hopelesslybad,
me

and

nothing

say

cheers

inwardly), and day after Waltraute.

like to, and
more

it

particularly
never

abysmal,
just as phrase
one

the

One
my

sings
the
one

would much
can

in

head

I hear
any

so

beautifullydone
That

than lunch with and the

I

but Caruso faithful

were

do it.

day

I sat

at

with
me.

my

Marjorie, who
in
a

always puts

up
us,
on

We

lunching
blues. and
we

little place near

eye

was

deep

in the

Marjorie's
saw a

fell

graph Daily Tele-

wonderful
so

criticism sincere

by
and
can

Robin
ciative. appre-

Legge; just a few

It much
to
one

words, but
such
a

helped
for

lot.
or

Criticism The has

mean

so

good phrase

evil.
critic

thought

of

cruelly amusing
to to

the

coined, unable
come

resist the very

you
same

human time you

you

temptation, will
step
out
on

winging
sing
ing strik-

the

next

the stage to
wave

the

role, and
afresh and

feel that sardonic

your

you
nerves.

jangling
courage

already quivering
that
to

It takes
a

after of

go

on.

On

the contrary,

few

words
"260"

appreciation of what

"

hCA
CARUSO's
CARICATURE OF KATHLEEN HOWARD

COVENT
you have

GARDEN
so

AND"

.\MERICA

tried

hard, through such

many

long
of

years,

to

do

will

tide you and

you

over

black

hours
so

ment, discourage-

think:
write

"I can't be

absolutely rotten,
and he's

didn't
to

that about about

most

me?
An

supposed

know

something
criticism

it."

structive intelligentcon-

is the
to

helpful thing possible,

to correct

and

stimulates remarks

one

work

one's

faults. and but

Personal
one

wound swallow
is not

one's hard
a

feelings deeply,
and
go

is

obliged to

bravely

on,

the

policeman's life
The

happy

one.

Royal Opera
and
are on

is in the middle

of the

vegetable
the

market,
streets

the of

days

when

produce
It I

arrives
was

full
one

cockney
to

porters.

rather dressed
a

amusing
in
my
new

day, going
black hat.
satin

rehearsal. from

was

suit

Paris, and
me,

smart

little white

A
men

porter caught sight of

on

pushed
said,
That's
wen

back
"Get

the
out

other of the
I

both

sides cahn't
to

of
yer,

me,

and

loidy'swy,
always

Bill? the

roight.Miss,
Ahm The and

loikes

see

1yd ies
neat,

workin', that's
next

right. Miss,
raining and
I

very
was

too."
smart, air

day
same

it
man

was

not

so

the

saw

me

and like

said

with
so

an

of
as

disappointment,
Miss." yisterdy, I have "bluff" often
or

"Ah

don't

it 'aaf

well

heard

of American directors
were

singers who
into

could them

"hypnotize"

giving

chances

which

they thought they

"261"

entitled

to, and

CONFESSIONS
from This which

OF

AN

OPERA
with

SINGER

they always emerged

I once,

flying colours.
once,

is the tale of how

and

only
at

tried to

"bluff," and
When
to

how

nearly got caught

for Covent

it.
was

the list of roles

me

Garden
on

mitted sub-

in Berlin

I had

actually sung
I

the stage found this

never

all of them

but

one,

Brangaene.
to

always

lady
I

so

weak, compared
me

Isolde, that she had

I had
never

interested

and especially, that

studied

her.

decided, however,
of the roles

having
that

sung

ninety-nine per
risk the
one

cent,

they wanted

I could

per
not

cent.,

Brangaene, hoping
I learned
concert
was

Kirkby-Lunn

would

relinquishher.
time

the role, though, in record trusted

to

between
season

dates, and
to
a

"luck."

The had

drawing
I

close, and

all the operas

were

passed
one

off well, when,

just as
called

we

going

to

dinner

evening,

was

to

the

'phone

and ill

told Madame
at

Kirby-Lunn
of the
to

had

been of

taken

suddenly

the

beginning
not

first act
go
on

"Tristan," would

probably
I

be able

in the

second, and
up. is not
not

would

please come
In
a nervous

rightdown
tremor,

and for

make

Brangaene
I
was

easy
sure

without

orchestra

rehearsal, and
cues,
on

quite
out

of all the business

to wear,
over

I
my

went

down, hunted

thing some-

put

trusty
act
was

"beauty" wig,
an

riedly hurductor, con-

went

the second
memory

with

assistant

finding my
and

standing wings.
I

the

strain,

then

stood

trembling

in the

thought to

"262"

COVENT

GARDEN
and

AND"
shivered.

AMERICA
What
to

myself
"

"Nemesis!"

hoped
to

was

tliat if Madame
it

reallywas
before the
I had

going

have

give

up

might

be

just

lovely "Warnung" always

soaked when wanted
to

hind be-

the scenes, that. There

as

because

sing

I stood

and

the

rouge

into
one

my is
"

face
not
a

it

always mysteriously does,

best, leaving
Poor
ever me

at

one's

pale

and

anxious

real

Brangaene.

Madame

Kirkby-Lunn
fainted

sang

just as
the
ond sec-

beautifullyas
act.
to

though, but
into

after and

went

her

dressing room
go

offered

do the last bit and

let her

home

after her
it
was a

plucky
less thank-

fight. She, however,

task for and
to
a

said she realized

to

singer
that she rested

finish

another think

singer'sperformance,
of

would

not

asking me
quested re-

do

it.

She the

awhile,

I still

hovering, as
was

by
then
a

management,
more

till all

over;

and
sung

went

home,

exhausted resolved
not to

than
sin

if I had
no

performance,

but

more,

and

thanking my
The and Italian all

gods

that I had

had

to

face

that critical

assemblage
they

without
was

adequate preparation.
to
come

season

directlyafter
our

ours,

came

driftingin during
One

last
up

days, to
in my
a

report

for

rehearsal.

day
for
a

as

was

dressing room,
golden droning
breath
"

preparing
below
at
a

matinee,

I heard

me,
room

rising and
rehearsal.

fallingon
Words

half

Caruso

cannot

"263"

CONFESSIONS
describe the A
some

OF

AN it, but
later

OPERA
it gave I
was me

SINGER

beauty day
or

of
two

exquisite
the

pleasure.
House
on

at to

Opera
the
hearsal re-

errand

and

chanced
was

hear

of

"Pagliacci."

Caruso
as

about strolling
a

the
grey

stage,

beautifully dressed
hat, gloves of
The the
time
came

usual, with
and

pale lightsolo.
ductor, con-

Derby
cane.

wash-leather for

coloured He stood
as

his famous
on

near

with footlights when

his eyes
over

the

we

usually do
unfamiliar

running

familiar

role with with

an

conductor.
stream

He

began softly
so

his wonderful and

so

effortless

of tone,
imitation.

acteristic charthe the

impossible
his emotions,

of

As

music

worked with and it

on

always just below

voice

surface

this

great
in
out

artist, his

thrilled

stronger
full flood thanked Covent the
most

stronger

spite of him,
its luscious
a

till suddenly in
"

poured
anew

stream

and

one

God

for such
on

voice.
a

Garden brilliant
woman

the

night of
1 have best the
in

Court
ever

ball
seen.

holds The

audience her and

one

English jewels
of

is at

evening dress, the

aff'air most zling. daz-

are

fabulous

whole

I remember

evening seeing King

It
was

Manoel

Portugal

in

box.
own

shortly after
and

his

hasty

from flight his box

was

his

country,
a

by

an

odd

chance

just under
which
our was

very

large

"Exit"

sign, the

pertinence of
Destinn
was

striking.
in

Senta
"264"

"Hollander."

She

was

COVENT

GARDEN
from

AND"
and
at

AMERICA
rehearsal she had
to

just back
cut out

America,

several
from

portamenti which, she said, she had

the Italians,but At die which infuriated she the rected direhearsals

contracted German

conductor.

stage

everything in
which attaches

accordance the
utmost

with

Bayreuth
to

tion, tradievery

importance

slightest stage position; and

her the
wore

the other
reverent

singers followed
devotion.
as

directions

witli

an

almost
was

At

performance
a

she

wonderful,
bridal

usual.
a

She
sort

real

Norwegian
A

headdress,
super,
on

of
out,

basket remarked hat?" It word

was

of flowers.
in

Cockney
me,

his way

passing

"I

s'y? wot

price Destinn's

strange, coming
is understood

from

Germany,

where
to

every

almost whose

by the audience,
not

sing
to

to

people
text;
one

facial

expression did

respond

the
is

feels diat the inner

meaning

of the words
to
a

lost, is going for nothing, and

sense

this leads the

vague
to

of

irritation, if

one

allows

impression

dominate. There
were

several

young

Americans

with

us

with

gloriousvoices, straightfrom
They
were

Jean

de Reszke's
some

studio. of the full

were

to

sing the Rheintochter, and

the

Walkuren ambition

in

"Ring."
for

One the

or

two

were

of

and

thankful

experience they
of them,
rare

receiving, while
showed
a

being paid.

Some

however,
among

quite extraordinary attitude,not

"265"

CONFESSIONS
students with of the

OF

AN

OPERA
The
air

SINGER
was

moneyed
at

class. the

filled
at at

their

complaints
of the

length of rehearsals,
for the Rhinemaidens,
was

the discomfort

swings
I

anything and everything.

one

present
Pitt aside the

one

day

when

of them him her

to

called task
"

Mr.
not

Percy

and

gravely
her

took
to

for

having

swings adjusted

comfort
with the

thereby incidentally killing

management,
in
a

chances

for great

beginner
fuss

fore is beand

anything a beginner
is it.

Opera House,
no

supposed
These
at

to

find her

level and

make

about

of girls constantly spoke loftily the

an

their

pleasure dis-

way

things were
of their

run.

When

they
owing

were

offered

extension

contracts, could said

you you

to

the repetitions of the

to

"Ring," they
on.

hardly be
to

brought knowing
your

consider
game,

signing
"Girls,
some

them,
be
on

the
to

day
as

will
now

knees

get such

engagements of

hold. with
a

You

have

the chance
in
a

singing

difficult parts and

you

great Master
seem

great

Opera House,

don't

in the least to

realize what

that means."
was

I regret
I think in

to

say
one,

my
a

prophecy

nearly

correct,

for

only
career.

really serious
attitude
is
can one

girl,has prospered
assumes

her

The
in

to

one's

operatic work
and
me

early years
a

surely
follow

reflected
is that

later, given
matter

the best advice

student

by Schumann-Heink, they
ask
you
to

"Sing everydiing, no

what

do." "266"

COVENT
It what
was

GARDEN
very

AND"
to

AMERICA
the discussions We
gave
as

amusing

hear
wear.

to

the

audience
more or

should less
one

the

formances per-

on

the

ning Bayreuth plan, beginpause.

early
was

and

with

unusually long
the hour
set

As

it
to

broad
up,

daylight at
as

for

the curtain
to

go

and

the

perfect Londoner
but

loathes

be about

after dark bothered

at

in many.

anything

evening dress, the problem

is de in the

Besides, evening dress

Some and rushed
some

rigueur

Covent
to

Garden. dress and

came

home

longest
the

pause

dine;

frankly

omitted

first acts
wore

late, splendidly be-jewelled; some

and

evening
sun was

dresses

kept

on

their and

evening
bared

coats

till the

decently down;
shoulders. and

then
were

their

suitablynaked
and

Others

just dubby
in

high-necked,

brought
and

sandwiches
more

their
erent rev-

pockets,feeling the
in consequence.

holier

Germanly

It is
one

great
you

help

to

be

able

to

afford

to

have

some

with
most
a

in opera
to

life.

Home

surroundings
and
it is hard

are

the make
any
never

conducive home

good work,
you

to

alone; but

do

not

absolutely need
"morals"
were

one,

if this is not

possible. My
"infamous
conductor
or or

in
to
me

danger

"

no

proposals"
director.

were

made

by agent,
one

In

my

first engagement,

two

of the
young

giddier

members
"

of the company

had

affairs with "267"

officers

in

no

CONFESSIONS
case a

OF

AN
as

OPERA
with
in
a

SINGER
married theatre
were

flagrant scandal,
relations
to

man.

Their that
correct

each

other

the
most

all

could

be

demanded.
was

The

exaggeratedly
me.

behaviour

exacted
went
a

from
a

One

day

in

Metz, for example,

with the

we

for
nice
was a

walk

in the country

lyricbaritone,
of
we ours.

little

chap,

who

was

great friend
autumn,

It

lovely, frosty day

fast

in

and
we

were

walking
a

through
the

forest

road, when
wife of
an

passed

carriage

with

very

prim
an quaintance ac-

officer sitting in it. of

ours

The
a

next

day,
that the

told

us,

as

joke,
her,
a

same

woman

had
me

said

that afternoon Howard

to
was

"I

thought
"So

you

told

that Fraulein
our

lady?"
walking

she

is," said
can't be.

friend. I
saw

"Oh, no," said the other, "she

and her
sister

her

with

one

of the singers from

very
our

the theatre, and "What

were were

they

were

ing behavasked
to

badly."

they doing?" holding

and
on

friend. said

"They
she,
in
to
a

all three tone!

his

stick!"
I
went

horrified
my

abroad
is much
to

learn

business
it
not

I learned
necessary

it.
to

There
go

talk
prepare

about

being
an

abroad the

oneself

for
in

operatic career,
when the

but

time
can

has

not

yet
same

come

America
to

student work

find the
071

opportunity
her

practice,or
faults. In
I

out

the do

stage

beginner's
when

Europe

you

can

this in blissful will

come

semi-obscurity.
a

hope

and

believe

the time
"268"

girlwill

COVENT
not

GARDEN
go

AND"
all I
may
went

AMERICA

have

to

through

tlirough in
it in her
own

order

to

develop
But
are

her

talent, but

do

country.
whose
eyes and
a

tlie wonderfulness
open
cannot

of

Europe

for those

yet be

replaced by America,
more

real side To have

as

artist will

surely flower
I

perfectly on
that I of

that

of the

water.

those who

go

can

only say
sister
at

hope they may

the tremendous

advantage
a

fairy god-parents,

had, and

perhaps

Marjorie.
Garden
soon

After
manager

tlie season of the York.

new

closed

Covent

met

the

Century Opera,
off'ered
return to
me a

to

be

opened
and I

in New

He
to

long

contract,

finallydecided
of Edward
at

America. Baird
in
a

saw

graph photopaper

Kellogg
read
to

musical with

this time, and I said

of his connection

the of

terprise. en-

myself, "That
ever

is the type

man

I shall marry
I
came

"

if I

do

marry."
my

to

the with

Century,
him
our

met

husband,
of the
too
war

E. the and
to

K.

B.,

and which

worked

for

the

success

opera,

lay very
and the

near

hearts ; but

other
come, over-

unfortunate
we

circumstances
were

proved
to

much
I

forced

suspend.
which with which

tained finallyatmost
ever

Metropolitan Opera,

I find the
I have

house absorbingly interesting been all.

connected,

and

which

is the

greatest school

of

"269"

CONFESSIONS

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER

REPERTOIRE

1.

Carmen

In

French, German, English.

2.

Amneris

(Aida) French, German,

English, Italian.
man, (Trovatore) Italian,Ger-

3.

Azucena

English.
4. Fides

(Prophete) French,
man.

Ger-

"

5. Dalila

(Samson

et

Dalila)
lish. Engman, Ger-

French, German,

6. Martha

(In Faust) French, English.

7.

Siebel

(In Faust) French, English.

(In

man, Ger-

8. Maddalena

Rigoletto) Italian, English.

man, Italian, Ger-

German,
9.

Nancy
Ortrud

(In Marta)

English.
10.

(Lohengrin)
English.

German,

11.

Lucia

man, (Cav. Rus.) Italian,Ger-

English.
12.

Lola

man, Ger(Cav. Rus.) Italian,

English.
13.

Mary
"270"

(Flieg.Hollaender)

man. Ger-

REPERTOIRE
14.

Erda Erda Schwertleite

(Siegfried). (Rheingold). (Walkuere). (Walkuere), (Walkuere).

15. 16.
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

Grimgerde
Waltraute Waltraute Erste Fricka Flosshilde Flosshilde Hexe Norn

(Goetterdaemmerung). (Goetterdaemmerung).
(Walkuere).

(Goetterdaemmerung).
(Rheingold).
(Haensel German,
und

23. 24.

Gretel)

English.

25.

Nicklaus

(Hoflfman) German, English. (Merry Widow), (Waltzertraum). (Zauberfloete). Meinung

.

26.
27. 28. 29.

Valencienne Frederika Dritte Dame

Oeffentliche

(Orpheus welt). (Gluck). (Geisha).

in

der

Unter-

30.
31. 32. 33. 34.

Orfeo

Molly Georgette
Pamela Graefin

(Gloeckchen),
(Fra Diavolo). (Trompeter). (Fledermaus). (Lustige Weibe).
,

35.
36.

Orlofsky
Frau Reich
.
. .

37.

Page

(Salome).
"271"

CONFESSIONS
38. 39.

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER

Olga Magdalena
Graefin

(Dollar Prinzessin).

(Meistersingers).
(Heilige Elisabeth)
man, Ger-

40.

English.
41. 42.

Martha

(Undine).
(Wilhelm

Hedwig

Tell) German,

English.
43.

Gertrude Marzellina

(Hans Heiling). (Figaro)

Italian,
man. Ger-

44.

45. 46.
47.

Graefin Ascanio

(Wildschuetz).
(Benvenuto

Cellini).
willen)
man, Ger-

Jacqueline

(Arzt wieder

English.
48.

Gertrude

(Romeo

and

Juliet)

man. Ger-

49.

Stephano

(Romeo

and

Juliet)

man, Ger-

English.
50. 51. Hexe Ulrica

(Sieben Schwaben). (Masken

German.

Ball)

Italian,

52.
53. 54.

Hexe Cleo Suzuki

(Koenigskinder). (Kuhreigen).
ian, (Butterfly) English, ItalGerman.

55.

Magdalena
"272"

(Evangelimann).

REPERTOIRE

56.

Carmela

(Jewels

of the

Madonna)
man. Ger-

English, Italian,

57. 58.

Mother Cieca

(Louise)

(Giaconda)
English,

German,
Italian.

59.
60. 61. 62. 63. 64.

Nutrice Blumenmaedchen
....

(Boris). (Parsifal). (Rosenkavalier). (Thais).

Benson
. . .

Annina

ALbine Mistress

.(Lakme).
(Weisse Dame). (Zigeuner Baron). (Marouf )
.

Margarethe

65.
66. 67.

Cypra
Fattoumah Amelfa Mrs. Everton

(Le Coq d'Or).

68.

(Shanewis).
Etc., etc.
STUDIED NOT SUNG

Brangaene
Mutter Gertrud

(Tristan). (Haensel
Etc., etc.
und

Gretel)

THE

END

"273-^