CHALIAPINE'S EARLY STRUGGLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 April 1928, Page 7

CHALIAPINE'S EARLY STRUGGLES

|i. is oiteti said that the greatest artists are thoso who have experienced the greatest, difficulties in fheir youth even vvifli fheir art ifsolf Chaliapine. the great- opera, singer, is certainly- a sinking instance of fin's. Not only did he suffer poverty and ill-treatment in his childhood, but when ho had discovered that he. had a good voice and had sung at many social gatherings I’iis difficulties had only just, begun. flo became stage-struck when ho saw a drama- and an opera, and quickly sought a place as supernumerary. Then, when he. had got, the manager to hear him sing lie was offered a. minor part in a. work. It. was not long before ho was word and note perfect and could fake his part of rebear.sal with credit. When it came to the actual performance, however. he suddenly turned perfectly stiff and could neither sing, speak nor move, and to the disgust of tho management and the great hilarity of tho public the. curtain had to be lowered and the performance suspended until another man came to take lus place. Tt was some time after that before be could regain sufficient self.re liance in start, again.