Anna Case, known from one end of our land to the other, in song recital,
is surely one hundred per cent. American. She was born in the little
State of New Jersey, and received her entire vocal training right here
in New York City, of a single teacher. No running about from one
instructor to another, "getting points" from each, for this singer. She
knew from the first moment that she had found the right teacher, one who
understood her, what she wanted to do, and could bring her to the goal.
And when one has discovered just the right person to develop talent, one
should have the good sense and loyalty to stick to that person. This is
exactly what Miss Case has done, for along with other gifts she has the
best gift of all--common sense. "Mme. Ostrom-Renard has been my only
teacher," she says; "whatever I am or have accomplished I owe entirely
to her. She has done everything for me; I feel she is the most wonderful
teacher in the world."
[Illustration: ANNA CASE]
A life of constant travel and almost daily concerts and recitals, lies
before Miss Case from early in the Autumn to the end of Spring, with but
a few breathing places here and there, between the tours, when she
returns home to rest up.
During one of these oases it was a pleasant experience to meet and talk
with the charming young singer, in her cozy New York apartment. She had
just come in from a six weeks' trip, which had included concerts in
Texas and Mexico, where the usual success had attended her everywhere.
It must surely give a sense of relief to know that the quiet home is
awaiting one's return; that there are to be found one's favorite books,
music, piano, the silken divan, soft lights, pictures,--all the familiar
comforts one is deprived of on the road.
The visitor, coming in from the biting winds without, was impressed with
the comfort and warmth of the small salon, as the mistress of it
entered. Clad in soft draperies of dull blue, which but thinly veiled
the white arms and fell away from the rounded throat, Miss Case was just
as beautiful to look upon as when she stands in bewildering evening gown
before a rapt audience. And, what is much more to the point, she is a
thoroughly sensible, sincere American girl, with no frills and no
nonsense about her.
After greetings were over, the singer settled herself among the silken
cushions of her divan ready for our talk.
"I believe I always wanted to sing, rather than do anything else in the
way of music. I studied the piano a little at first, but that did not
exactly appeal to me. I also began the violin, because my father is fond
of that instrument and wanted me to play it. But the violin was not just
what I wanted either, for all the time I longed to sing. Singing is such
a part of one's very self; I wanted to express myself through it. I had
no idea, when I started, that I should ever make a specialty of it, or
that, in a comparatively few years I should be singing all over the
country. I did not know what was before me, I only wanted to learn to
sing.
"Now I cannot tell just how I do the different things one must do to
sing correctly. I know that, if I have to master some subject, I just
sit down and work at that thing till I can do it--till it is done. My
teacher knows every organ in the anatomy, and can describe the muscles,
bones and ligaments found in the head, face and throat. She can make a
diagram of the whole or any part. Not that such knowledge is going to
make a singer, but it may help in directing one's efforts."