CAPRICES OF SINGERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 8 March 1912, Page 3

CAPRICES OF SINGERS.

Mr Ned. Forsyth, manager of the Royal Opera, Covent-garden, in an afterdinner speech, told some stories illustrative of singers' caprices:—"One famous singer was anxious to have a ren-er-gagement, but as I could not as3ure him that a contract for the following season would be forthcoming, he tried to play -i rather undignified trick. Just before -iie second act of the work in which he -vas taking the chief part he sent a mes;age to me to the effect that he could not continue because he had a bad throat. He had sung well in the first act, and, consequently, I knew that he was trying to create a difficulty. Happily that night another artist who knew the role happened to be in the house. So I sent an attendant to call him out of the stalls, and when he met me on the stage I asked him to dress at once for the part. Then I went to the 'shamming' star, and, after expressing my regret at his very sudden indisposition, assured him that I was most anxious to cause him no physical inconvenience, and had therefore arranged for Signor Blank to finish the performance. 'I am much better now, Mr Forsyth,' was his reply, and he at once started to go on to the stage. I n the wings he saw the 'understudy,' ready dressed, and, with the remark, 'You won't get a chance to-night,' he sang for the rest of the evening without further trouble." A similar incident occurred during the recent oprra season in Melbourne, when a leading lady early in the day reported that her voice was gone, but she got it back when she found that her non-ap-pearance would mean a change of programme and the putting on of an opera which woidd give a big chance to - a rival vocalist to outdo her.