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Show "Opera in Engtish" I Declares de Koven If a country of the sizo of Italy can support, as it docs today, more than sixty theaters and opera houses where original opera is produced, think of tho possibilities of operatic production in a country of tho sizo and wealth of America, Amer-ica, when opera, through being sung in the vernacular, shall attain that measure of popular intorest and appreciation which will render it an essential part of tho intellectual and artistic life and enjoyment of tho people hore as it is in Italy today. Were such a condition of opora-giving ever to obtain in this country, coun-try, as is by no means unlikoly, wo should havo permanent opera companies not only in our principal cities, but in a scoro, a consequent incrcasod domand for English operas by native coiiiposera, and an addod inccntivo for our composers com-posers to work in a field whoso present harvest is principally glory; while the thousands of 3'0ung American Hingers now barnstorming iu opora iu foreign countries, singing minor roles at starvation star-vation salaries, would havo tho needed and much-to-bo desired opportunity of being heard und appreciated in tho country where they belong and from which this prosont 'lack of opportunity has to a groat extent exiled them. There are today hundreds of thousands of young men and women stinging singing sing-ing in this country, waiting, hoping, and too often in vain, for the hardly won chanco to show their talents to the public, pub-lic, and thus justify tho labor, timo and money spent in cultivating them. Now that it is possible as never before to obtain in this country a competent and thorough vocal training, there is all the more need for those who elect to gain an education here to bo heard hero without being first compelled to go abroad to obtain the reputation which now seems necessary to secure them even a hoaring at home. The fact that the diction of many of our native-born singers is faulty and imperfect im-perfect in English has been due largely to tho necessity of singing almost exclusively ex-clusively in foreign languages consequent conse-quent upon their having boon trained abroad. It is certain, and T can. not make the contention too emphatic, that with proper study any intelligent person can sing tho English language intelligibly. Tho fact has been proved over and ovor again, and should therefore no loncor be cited.as a principal and prohibitive objection to the English language as a language of opera and song. ftoginald do Ivovcn. Will Tell of Noted Organs. A H. Peabodv. organist of St. Mark's cathedral, will deliver a lecture on noted pipe oruans before the music section of the Ladles' Literary club, at the regular meeting to be held Tucsdav, April 14. at 2.15 o'clock. The complete programme for the session follows: Piano solo, "The Banjo" Gottschalk Mrs. B. B. Corliss. Reading, "District School Contest." "What Your Mother Felt In the Long Ago" Mrs. R. S. Allison Vocal solo, "Neth Dltnno," "I Love You So" De Koven Miss Lillian Pholps. Miss Helen Hanchett, accompanist. Chorus, "Spring Song" Dudley Buck Euterpo society. Violin solo, "Mazurka do Concert".. Ovlde Musln Miss Genevieve Malone. Miss Loretta Malone, accompanist. Lecture, "Noted Pipe Organs In This Country and Abroad".. A. 11. Peabodv Vocal solo, "O Promise Me"...De Koven Mrs. C. C. Snyder. Mrs. A. T. VoIImer, accompanist. Cello solo, "Gavotte" Pepper C. D. Schettler. Morris Stephenson, accompanist. Helen Hall Recital. Miss Matlc Hall presents one of her advanced pupils. Miss Helen Hall, In u recital Monday evening. April 20, at the Ladles' Literary club house. She will be assisted by Mrs. C. E. Richards. |