United States or Gabon ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Helmanoff " she laughed unsteadily, "He would be so angry if he heard me, and tell me to study, just as you told the Mademoiselle who went out; but I will do better, Monsieur, believe me. I will work so hard, and my voice will come back in time after " She gazed at him and a mist came over her eyes. "Do take me," she said, "I beg you to take me I beg you."
"I wanted a bird for my Siegfried on Saturday," he went on, "Some one to sit far aloft in the flies and sing, as you sang this morning, high and pure, in the middle of the tone. Helmanoff has trained you well, child, you take the notes as if nature herself had been your teacher. Neumann is gone; she screeches like an owl! Elle a son congé!"
That is just what Helmanoff said, but when I asked them to hear me I went to so many, so many! they were always engaged, or " She caught her breath a little, stumbling over the words: "You think so truly?" "I think so truly," said the Kapellmeister, "You must come to see me at the Opera-House to-morrow and rehearse your part, and I will teach you.
The Kapellmeister passed his hand over his face: "Tschut, child!" he said, "What are you talking about? Be quiet now and sing this as I tell you. You have heard it before?" "Yes, I have heard it." "And sung it perhaps with Helmanoff?" "Yes Monsieur." He handed her the score, running his fingers over the bird motive of 'Siegfried, giving her the key. Then he leaned back again and folded his arms.
"I know what that means. Helmanoff used to get rid of new pupils that way: 'You will hear, he would say; but they never heard." She took a coin out of her dress and looked at it. "The gypsies' wages are gone," she said, "Only this left to pay for my roof and my bed!" She laughed again and glanced about her stealthily as if fearful of being seen, or tracked.
His hand grasped her shoulder, trembling: "Did Helmanoff know you had a voice like that?" he cried, "Tell me, child, did he train you? The part is most difficult to act and to sing. Tell me or am I dreaming still?"
He had long, light hair and fur about his shoulders, and he was big and splendid to look at in his youth and his wrath. He was threatening Mime, and the dwarf was muttering and cursing. Beyond was the pit with the orchestra, the footlights, the House. Kaya listened, and her thoughts went back to St. Petersburg and the class of Helmanoff.
"I told them I had a Brünnhilde here on the spot. Can you do it? I have taken the risk. Can you do it? If you sing as you did that night !" "I will," cried Kaya, "I will!" She pressed against him like the doves, clasping her hands together. "It is only the one scene, Master; I know it so well, every note! Many times I rehearsed it with Helmanoff, many times.
"So," he said, "Then you either have a voice, or you haven't, one or the other. Where did you study?" The girl hesitated a moment; then she bent lower and whispered to him: "St. Petersburg, Monsieur, with Helmanoff." "The great Helmanoff?" "Yes, Monsieur." "You are not French then, you are Russian? They told me Mademoiselle Pou Pou " "That is not my real name." "No?"
Helmanoff used to tell me my voice was cold and pure like snow; there was no feeling, no warmth, no abandon. You see if I have learned it, it is not Helmanoff who has taught me but suffering." Her eyes were like two fires burning, and she put her hand to her throat. "To have the gift of tears you must have shed them," she whispered, looking at him strangely: "You must have shed them."
Word Of The Day