August 11, 1917 MUSICAL AMERICA 11 A Modern Woman From "Old Japan'' Is Tamaki Miura~~

Tamaki Miura as Herself and Tamaki Miura as . "Madama Butterfly" Are One and the Same, as the Artistic Portraits Above Bear Witness HE looked as if she had just stepped fi ances for the Japanese prima donna at S down from a panel painted by some Ravinia Park during this month and '"Madama Butterfly" of Tokio Was Pioneer Singer Among early ~:.eptember. On Sept. 20 Mme. craftsman of Old Japan-a tiny, win­ Miura goes to Mexico City, where she some figure in a kimona- of dull blue, Japanese Women-Determined on Musical Career in will appear in Butterfly and Iris with embroidered in great sprays that shaded Spite of Parental Opposition-Exquisite Little Prima the Mexico City Opera Company. On through pink to misty blue, her dark her return in October she will again join Donna of the Orient Believes "Woman's Place Is in the the Rabinoff forces for a season which hair rolled smoothly back in the J apa­ promises to be one of unusual brilliance. nese mode. But the smiling eyes and House," but She Means Opera House-Some of Her MAY STANLEY. cordial handclasp of Tamaki Miura, Early Experiences in India tiniest of prima donnas and the only TRIBUTE TO MC CORMACK operatic singer of Japanese birth, held a distinctly American greeting. to them. · I do not think ever I have for Loridon. In London the Japanese Testimonial from "Lambs"· as Mark of It was a scorching August day, but enjoy singing as I do to those peoples prima donna made her debut at a con­ Appreciation of Tenor's ·Aid "th ~ dainty Japanese singer showed no whose lives are so bare and dreary. It cert in Albert Hall, at which the King make me very happy." and Queen of Great Britain were guests traces of being disturbed by the heat. A delegation from the Lambs' Club of and at whic4 Adelina Patti also sang. New York motored up to John McCor­ Perhaps it was her comfortable garb; Feminism in Japan "They were charming to me, those mack's place in Connecticut one sultry or, it may have been her philosophic But why did not Mme. Miura stay in English," said the little song bird, who turn of mind. Mme. Miura combines Japan to continue her singing while her seems quite unconscious of the fact that afternoon last week for the purpose of husband was in India? her exquisite art has aroused admiration formally presenting to the distinguished the charm of Oriental repose with a not only on the part of royalty, but from mind that is twentieth century feminist A sage little smile greeted the query. tenor a beautifully engrossed set of reso­ "In Japan it is not proper for mar­ operagoers everywhere in England and in its point of view. It is this view­ America. "Then, when I lllade my debut lutions, adopted at a recent meeting of point of hers that has given America ried women to be~ what you call ?-be­ fore the public, yes? My parents and in 'Madama Butterfly'-it was at the the Board of Governors. Mr. McCor­ the opportunity of hearing an ideal London Opera House, for Covent Garden Butterfly, for Mme. Miura does not need my husband's parents they think it a mack is not a "Lamb," but when the club very great disgrace for me to sing; they was closed that year-the King and needed some money a short while ago to act, she just IS Butterfly. Queen came again to hear me. Oh, yes, "This New York of yours to-day, it say it not do honor to my husband's and proceeded to raise it by holding a name. So I go to Singapore. When I I love 'Butterfly' very greatly. You see public gambol, he offered his services; reminds me of Singapore," said Mme. I am what you call 'specialist'; I do not Miura, when she had hospitably served think I may never sing again I grow hence the set of resolutions, which, to very sad; almost I do not wish to live like to do many roles, no. That is not quote the words of the spokesman foi: tall, frosted glasses of iced tea, "this Japanese way; I must be myself, I must heat an_d the thunderstorms," she ex­ if I can not sing," and a wistful look the delegation, De Wolf Hopper, "but clouded for a moment the charming be natural, so when I sing 'Butterfly' I faintly convey how very grateful the plained. am myself-and people are most kind, "When I was first married I went to little face. It gave way to a radiant members of the Lambs feel toward Mr. smile, when I asked how she came to they seem happy when I sing, and I am McCormack for his splendid and gener­ Singapore. My husband is a physician happy if I give them pleasure. and his work took him to one of the choose the career of a singer. ous act." "Always I have sung-and danced," "Besides Butterfly I sing Iris and, of Accompanying the resolutions was a great plantations inland from Singa­ course, many arias from other operas. pore. I stopped in Singapore for a time was the reply. "Then I decide, why not sheet containing the autographs of 874 sing in public? So I do." · The 'Caro Nome' I like best of Italian members of the club. Mr. McCormack and then went up river to join my arias. Japanese songs I sing after they husband. Oh, I shall never forget it, (It woul.d seem that the simple femi­ intimated that he would order a frame nine method of taking what one wants have melody composed for them. The for this ,.unique souvenir immediately. the miles and miles of chocolate-colored Japanese native music lacks melody. I water and the native captain praying holds quite as good in Japan as America. "Don't do it just yet," interjected Willie But this is irrelevant, of course, and has am sorry to say this, for I love the art Collier, "there are about thirty or forty · to Mahomet when the storm arose one of Japan. We draw, we paint, yes, but night! There were no other passengers nothing to do with the story.) more names to be added. Some of the "I was, what you call, very great we do not compose music-yet. Some boys are in Australia, some in South on the boat and the natives were keep­ day, perhaps, but not yet." ing a fast, so they did not eat in the novelty, and when there are royal visit­ America and some in France. It will ors from other lands then I am sum­ Mme. Miura has a great desire to take take time to hear from them all, but the day time, but had a feast each night at American singers back to Japan, that midnight. moned to court to sing before the guests. name of every 'Lamb' must get in there." I sing for the Duke of Connaught when her comp:;~triots may learn to· know and Singing for the Coolies England . send him to visit Japan and love the music of other lands. also before the German prince, when he Music at Onteora "It is very different country in India; American Triumphs what you call primeval life. The jungle was guest of the Japanese court. Then Perry Averill, baritone, assisted by comes right up to the houses, and one I marry; follows my trip to Singapore. "Just now they do not like my way of Elena de Olloqui, pianist, gave the fol­ night a tiger . came and carried off my We are there ten months, when my hus­ singing, my people do not," she ex­ lowing program at the largest musical pet dog. And when I rode on the river band finish the work he has to do and plained. "They say it is not Japanese gathering of the summer at the country in a sampan I always feared the huge we return to Japan. My husband de­ way, but they will like it, in time, when house of Mrs. Alfred Bishop Mason crocodiles that followed. First I had cide that he will study, research work, they have heard many of your singers." (Mary Knight Wood, the composer), at no piano and I was so sad. ·Then one you say, in Berlin. I say I will go with Mme. Miura's American debut was Onteora, Sunday morning, July 29: day I · discovered in one of the houses him. Our parents become very much made two years ago with Max Rabinoff's Beethoven's "Adelaide" and Grieg's "The a very old piano, and I was so grate­ shocked. They say married woman operatic forces. Her tour with the Bos­ First Primrose" and "On the Hills," Mr. ful. I named ·it ·'Gift of God.' Then "should stay at home and wait patiently ton Opera Company has given opera­ Averill; Chopin's Etude No. 3, "Hark! I could practise. My husband and I until husband returns, but I say I will goers in many parts of this country the Hark! the Lark," and "Maiden's Wish," would walk down to the river banks go with my husband to Berlin-so I go," opportunity of hearing this delightful Miss de Olloqui; Thomas's "Si j'etais Roi" at sunset and I would sing, oh, very she added with the na'ive smile of a Butterfly. On Aug. 20 she goes to and "Le Bonheur et !'Amour" and Hue's much I would sing, ·out by the choco­ charming child. Washington to appear in concert before "J'ai pleure en Reve," Mr. Averill; De­ late-colored river in the sunset! It was Her Debut in London the Japanese Commission at the Japa­ bussy's "Reflets dans l'Eau" and two the time of day when the coolies came nese Embassy. It will be her second "Danzas" by Granados, Miss de Olloqui; back from their labor. There was a Mme. Miura and her husband reached appearance at the Capitol this year, as Mary Knight Wood's "Song of Joy," little, narrow path that led in from the Berlin about a month before the out­ she was one of the principals at the "Prayer for Sleep" and "Love Song of fields and they would come along it, break of the great war. They had de­ opening of the National Sylvan Theater Egypt," Mr. Averill. Mr. Averill's ac­ chanting their queer little songs. Then cided to stofl in Berlin, but their am­ in Washington this. summer. Plans are companiments were played by Mary they would wait and listen while I sang bassador advised against it and they left under way for several guest appear- Knight Wood, the hostess.