A REVOLUTION IN OPERA SINGING.

Kumara Times, Issue 470, 29 March 1878, Page 2

A REVOLUTION IN OPERA SINGING.

A late writer saysrParis has now a professor who is, I think, destined to create a revolution in the world of song. He is a Spaniard by birth, by name Emilio Belari, and is himself a singer of note, having been the leading tenor at Les Italians a few years ago. Though still in the prime of life and of his vocal powers, he quitted the stage in order to devote himself to the development of- his theory, and its basis is common sense. Halving studied the throat, its conformation and its maladies as a physician, M. Belari comprehends perfectly the ait of emission of sound and the methods by which weak or defective , voices may be developed and improved. The progress made by his pupils is something really I marvellous. In six weeks the organ i i-i completely changed, as a first-class ' piano t manufacturer might change a | piano by a careful and scientific tun--1 ing, and by replacing imperfect : stiing or key. Under his training the singer never, .becomes fatigued, never | pants for breath, apd, in some instances ; where the pupil was, delicate, the ex--1 pansion of the chest and the consequent improvement in health was really ve- • markable. It is very interesting to see him give a lesson. He stands with his keen, int lligent eves fixed ; upon the scholar, Correcting every .injudicious in inner of drawing the breath, of opening the mouth, or of holding

the arms, os well as the style and banner of ringing. So rapid' is the progress of the pupil under his method that he declares he can train a perfect novice for the'operatic stagh in eighteen months, the tune usually required being three years. He has had wonderful success in repairing and setting to rights the voices dama.gkfi by other professors. He is by birth-a * uoble, and wears in his button-hole.the—-black rossete of the (prder of ts of Malta—a decoration but rarely seen, as it is only bestowed upon .those who can boast of heafren many generations of aristocratic And what is-far more to the purpose, he is an intelligent, cultivated, and refined gentleman. He is quite enthusiastic • about American voices, declaring them _ to be among the fiinest natural organs: in the world, and he says his desire is> - to make his establishment the Conser- i vatoire of America. ~ -..*