"How did I learn to know these things? By constant study, by constant
listening--for I have very keen ears--by learning the sensations
produced in throat and larynx when I made tones that were correctly
placed, were pleasing and at the same time made the effects I was
seeking.
"Milan is my home city--beautiful Milano under the blue Italian skies,
the bluest in the world. As a young girl, the daughter of well-to-do
parents, I studied piano at the Royal Conservatory there, and also
musical theory and counterpoint. I shall ever be grateful I started in
this way, with a thorough musical foundation, for it has always been of
great advantage to me in further study. When my father met with
reverses, I made good use of my pianistic training by giving piano
lessons and making a very fair income for a young girl.
"But I longed to sing! Is it not the birthright of every Italian to have
a voice? I began to realize I had a voice which might be cultivated. I
had always sung a little--every one does; song is the natural,
spontaneous expression of our people. But I wished to do more--to
express myself in song. So I began to teach myself by singing scales and
vocalizes between my piano lessons. Meanwhile I studied all the books on
singing I could lay hands on, and then tried to put the principles I
learned in this way in practice. In trying to do this I had to find out
everything for myself. And that is why I know them! I know exactly what
I am about when I sing, I know what muscles are being used, and in what
condition they ought to be; what parts of the anatomy are called into
action and why. Nature has given me two great gifts, a voice and good
health; for both these gifts I am deeply grateful. The first I have
developed through arduous toil; the second I endeavor to preserve
through careful living, regular hours and plenty of exercise in the
fresh air. I have developed the voice and trained it in the way that
seemed to me best for it. There are as many kinds of voices as there are
persons; it seems to me each voice should be treated in the way best
suited to its possessor. How can any other person tell you how that
should be done?" And the singer gave me a bright look, and made a pretty
deprecating gesture. "You yourself must have the intelligence to
understand your own case and learn how to treat it.