CARUSO

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 50, 27 August 1921, Page 16

CARUSO

FADS AND FOIBLES,

HOW HE CARED FOR HIS THROAT 4

The opera was " Aida." Caruso was to sing Radames, and he was in his dressing-room at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, at 5 o'clock sharp, three hours before the beginning of the performance. I was privileged to remain with him all the evening (writes " B " in Sydney Sun). " I like to arrive early and to take my time," explained Caruso. "lain not yet American."

Tlie famous tenor was accompanied by two valets, "who were celerity and deftness personified. They feverishly, unpacked grease) paints, atomisers, vaporisers, cigarettes, toiler waters, tooth, paste, apples, salt, combs, .brushes, and Heaven only knows what: Caruso removed his outer clothes and began the nightly homage to the throat. j At first he sat before a washstand and for three solid minutes cleaned and polished his teeth. Then one of the ■valets handed him a glass .of warm water in one hand and a round box of little brownish crystals in the other. Caruso took a handful,of crystals and dropped them into the water, where they dissolved immediately. "Thatjis gargling salt," he explained, " and I use it for my first gargle." THE CHIMNEY-SWEEP. This operation took four minutes, and then he used the vaporiser. A glass of water containing bicarbonate of soda and glycerine was placed on a, little stand ; a rubber hose connected with tho ■ vaporiser was put into the glass,-and a, thin forceful sputtering spray shot out a full foot. Into this tiny spray Caruso plunged, mouth open. Then the'heavy artillery answered the little gun,' for Caruso coughed back at the spray, choked, bellowed, and sputtered. Into each nostril, then deep down into the throat shot the bicarbonate of soda and glycerine, ove^ and over , again, until Caruso coughed no more. > "Now it is clear," he said, rising. "You have no idea how' much dirt can collect in the throat and nose in a day's time." / \ A cold-water gargle—sterilised water minus the -salt —followed, and in turn. came a spray for the riose only, of a very dark' colour, the name of which Caruso could not recall. Then, with menthol and, vaseline on absorbent cotton, attached to long. sticks, the tenor swabbed out his throat, as a gunner would a cannon. One more gaigle of cold water, and the performance was over—it had taken 22 minutes ! Am- then the most amazing! thing happened. Caruzo put on his' bathrobe, and walked out into the corridor smoking a cigarette ■ Shades of bicarbonate of soda, of gargling salt, of glycerine, and of menthol—of what avail were you!, BITTEN! Back into the dressing-room, and Caruso began to make up. The dressers were lacing his long boots, which he wore in the 1 first act, and there was af flood of eloquent Italian in his ear, for a good-looking young compatriot of his stood behind the tenor. Caruso did not turn his bead; he continued to rub in the grease-paint, and the young Italian behind him continued to ' talk,; for five solid minutes. Then Caruso shrugged one of his 'expressive shoulders, and said one word to the valet on the right, who stooped lacing the boot, dived into his pocket where he kept the tenor's money, and from a mass of banknotes took a five-dollar note. Caruso passed: it over his shoulder to the waiting hand of the good-looking chap. There was a murmured "G-razie ■ signore!" and; the work went' an. . "He said he Was an Italian acrobat," said Caruso, "that he met me once in Boston, and that he is in hard luck now." .Here the tenor sighed, and added, "Well, it'may be so, for we all have hard luck at on ß time or another." The tenor leant over the dressing-table, and sliced one of the big apples into quarters. ''On the nights I sing,, I take lunch at'l o'clock," said Caruzo, slowly, "then I do not touch anything until after the performance, except two apples. I always eat two apples, one night arranged to bring t ehyoungor performance. And I am as hungry as a bear when midnight comes, and it is time, for my supper! Apart from* the hunger, there is the exhaustion' that comes from an evening of singing, fam never tired during the .performance-^ never! Tt always comes 15 minutes after the final curtain. It is the reaction, I suppose." ; ,■''.' .THE: FRIENDLY GARGLE. The two valets were now (dexterously dressing him for the first act. One was safety-pinning him, whilst the other buckled his armour: Then Caruso cleared his throat, and rah over a scale, his magnificent tenor, vibrating from the walls of the little room. The effect was almost magical. The tenor "was ready half an hour before!the beginning of the opera. • The curtain rose at 8,10, and at 8.5 ' Caruso had taken another salt and water gargle, and had tucked a tiny bottle of the stuff into his tunic. " I never go on the stage without this little bottle," he said, smilingly. "If I go hoarse suddenly, I have a remedy; if I don't need it, well, it is satisfying to know it is near me. I should be lost without it." : "But suppose you did,go hoarse," il asked with surprise, " how could you use it in full view.of the audience?" ' Caruso laughed heartily. " I have done it hundreds of times," .he said. "One may pass one's hands across one's face, yes ; andiiave a little bottle of salt water handy. And one may throw the head back for an instant also! Then there is always a big orchestra to play:music, that hides a little gargle!"' During the second act,, when. Matzenauer was singing her duet with Aida, Caruso rushed to the wings and started to sketch her with her mouth wide open.. With legs* stretched far apart, pad and pencil in hand, his huge helmet supporte4 on one ear, Caruso stood in the wings, in full view of at least 300 persons in'the audience, and sketched Matze-. nauer. Batteries of opera-glasses were levelled at him, for he must have presented an unusual picture from the front of the house. ' ;