"I believe strongly that a singer cannot adequately express the
beautiful and pure in music while cherishing at the same time, a bad
heart and a mean nature behind it. Singing is such a personal thing,
that one's mentality, one's inner nature, is bound to reveal itself.
Each one of us has evil tendencies to grapple with, envy, jealousy,
hatred, sensuality and all the rest of the evils we are apt to harbor.
If we make no effort to control these natural tendencies, they will
permanently injure us, as well as impair the voice, and vitiate the good
we might do. I say it in all humility, but I am earnestly trying to
conquer the errors in myself, so that I may be able to do some good with
my voice. I have discovered people go to hear music when they want to be
soothed and uplifted. If they desire to be amused and enjoy a good
laugh, they go to light opera or vaudeville; if they want a soothing,
quieting mental refreshment, they attend a concert, opera or oratorio.
Therefore I want to give them, when I sing, what they are in need of,
what they are longing for. I want to have such control of myself that I
shall be fitted to help and benefit every person in the audience who
listens to me. Until I have thus prepared myself, I am not doing my
whole duty to myself, to my art or to my neighbor.
"We hear about the petty envy and jealousy in the profession, and it is
true they seem to be very real at times. Picture two young women singing
at a concert; one receives much attention and beautiful flowers, the
other--none of these things. No doubt it is human nature, so-called, for
the neglected one to feel horribly jealous of the favored one. Now this
feeling ought to be conquered, for I believe, if it is not, it will
prevent the singer making beautiful, correct tones, or from voicing the
beauty and exaltation of the music. We know that evil thoughts react on
the body and result in diseases, which prevent the singer from reaching
a high point of excellence. We must think right thoughts for these are
the worth while things of life. Singing teachers utterly fail to take
the moral or metaphysical side into consideration in their teaching.
They should do this and doubtless would, did they but realize what a
large place right thinking occupies in the development of the singer.
"One could name various artists who only consider their own
self-aggrandizement; one is compelled to realize that, with such low
aims, the artist is bound to fall short of highest achievement. It is
our right attitude towards the best in life and the future, that is of
real value to us. How often people greet you with the words: 'Well, how
is the world treating you to-day?' Does any one ever say to you--'How
are you treating the world to-day?' That is the real thing to consider.
"As I said a few moments ago, I have studied ten years on vocal technic
and repertoire. I have not ventured to say so before, but I say it
to-night--I can sing! Of course most of the operatic tenor rôles are in
my repertoire. This season I am engaged for fourteen rôles at the
Metropolitan. These must be ready to sing on demand, that is at a
moment's notice,--or say two hours' notice. That means some memory work
as well as constant practice.
"Would I rather appear in opera, recital or oratorio? I like them all. A
recital program must contain at least a dozen songs, which makes it as
long as a leading operatic rôle.
"The ten years just passed, filled as they have been with close study
and public work, I consider in the light of preparation. The following
ten years I hope to devote to becoming more widely known in various
countries. And then--" a pleasant smile flitted over the fine, clean-cut
features,--"then another ten years to make my fortune. But I hasten to
assure you the monetary side is quite secondary to the great desire I
have to do some good with the talent which has been given me. I realize
more and more each day, that to develop the spiritual nature will mean
happiness and success in this and in a future existence, and this is
worth all the effort and striving it costs."