A Wonderful Voice.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13644, 11 July 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Wonderful Voice.

FROM TEACHER TO HEROINE.

One ' of the, most remarkable ",successes of the : present opera , season at CovenitGarden, London, has been achieved by Miss Edith -Walker in the difficult role of Isolde. This talented American artist won great favour in London eight years ago as a contralto, but during the past eighteen, months she lias been developing her -voice., so that she is now able to undertake the greatest soprano parts in the modern'repertoire. How this curious change' of voice came about—one, by the wayj unique'' in operatic annals—she explained tp a "Daily representative. '' "I was born,^'' said Miss Walker; '', at Hopewell, New York, in 1870. My. parents were not musical. A reverse of fortune prompted them to prepare me for earning my own living. What was I fitted for, Was the question.; Well, they sent me to .'Rome, and eventually I graduated there for the teaching profession. I was then 17. I soon obtained ah appoint- , ment, and ; very happy was I in being able to eajra just enough to keep myself, it was a bit of a struggle at first, but I was proud of my independence, and hoped for better times. v

" On Sundays I sang in a church choir, and it was there that a friend: suggested 1 should M». something with my voiced 'Why not become- a profesional singer ' The idea, seemed jolly,, because I thought the life would be a round of luxury and : ease—l realise now that it is not so enchanting. But how was 1, a poor teacher, to obtain money for tuition and for the, bread and butter I wanted during the jears of study. Well, a good fairy came along and placed 1,000 dollars at my .disposal. Then I . was able to tlirqw, up my appointment, and I . went- 1 right away to Dresden'. "5- Luckily I found t-here a 'teacher who took' a great interest in me, and who trained me, as now I know, in the best possible- maimer. Slie made a feii;. ture of working on what it- known as the middle registerj and gradually I increased the range of my voice both up tuid down. : " For' -two years I was with her, and; then came a shock. I had spent all iny money' What could I do. I thought I was proficient enough to go on the opera stage, but she advised me to continue Svith her for- another two years. But how was I' to live pay for my lessons? 'Then a.few influential acquaintances, in ! Dresden who heard me- sing -signed an appeal to, an American millionaire, asking' him to help ine with a, loa-n to enable ma to go dnwith my studies. Three we'eks later <fehat generous' ma,n sent me a cheque. , " I made my debut at the Vienna- OperaHouse as a contraltro, and remained there seven years, , - " During this period I had the honour of singing at many Court functions, and. Once I sang to the German Emperor, who. in the course- of some much-appreciated compliments, said I had a voice of remarkable range, which might be utilised _ for soprano parts. The idea had never struck me that I might- attempt something .else, but I accepted his advice, and m continuing ,my—studies : I was... able m time to fuither increase my range, w'hicli now.extends to nearly four, octaves. Then came an engagement for America from Mr Conried, and directly I got to New York I had the gratification of returning -to the millionaire the money he had sent me. Need I add he was somewhat surprised. : " And now I am back-in London after eight- years absence and find I am still remembered. The London public is certainly a; faitliful and loyal public. But .'apart from (all this . operatic I am ; glad to be-here again, to go round your shops. ■ You ' Londoners hardly appreciate them,' their size; or the. goods on sale. But a visitor, a woman, and an Ameiican 'as well—-though I am a. bit of a cosmp-, politan—revels in looking at the windows .: and sometimes going - insido to buy the tempting And it is a "double pleasure to one like myself who lias had to . struggle for many years to make both j- ends meet.^