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Title: The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I
Author: Mapleson, James H., 1830-1901
Language: English
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THE MAPLESON MEMOIRS
VOL. I.
[Illustration: J H Mapleson]
THE MAPLESON MEMOIRS
1848-1888
IN TWO VOLUMES
WITH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR
VOL I
CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND SAN FRANCISCO
BELFORD, CLARKE & CO.,
PUBLISHERS.
1888
[_All rights reserved_].
COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY
JAMES H. MAPLESON
TROW'S
PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY,
NEW YORK.
PREFACE.
HAVING been repeatedly urged by numerous friends on both sides of the
Atlantic to set forth a few of the difficulties attending the career of
an _impresario_, who, during the last thirty years, has fought many
operatic battles, I have undertaken the task, having at the present
moment for the first time in my recollection a few weeks of comparative
repose before again renewing my lyrical campaigns.
I willingly sat down to the work, trusting that an account of the few
partial defeats and the many brilliant victories incident to my life may
be found interesting.
This being my first appearance as an author, I am naturally unpractised
in the artifices of style familiar to more experienced hands.
Some of my plain statements of facts will not, I fear, be fully
appreciated by the personages to whom they refer; and in case they
should feel offended by my frankness, I ask their pardon beforehand,
convinced that they will readily accord it.
J. H. MAPLESON.
_Junior Carlton Club,
21st September, 1888._
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Qualifications for the Career of Impresario--My First Appearance
as Violinist--_Début_ as a Vocalist--Difficulties as a
Critic--Engaged at Lodi and Verona--Radical Operation
on my Throat--I start as Musical Agent--Meeting with
Mr. E. T. Smith--Management of Drury Lane pp. 1-12
CHAPTER II.
Injunction against the Birds on the Trees--Drury Lane Season
of 1859--_Débuts_ of Victoire Balfe, Mongini, and Guarducci--My
Contralto Marries a Duke--The Duke and
Duchess at Naples pp. 13-22
CHAPTER III.
Nocturnal Negotiations--Reopening of Her Majesty's Theatre--Sayers
and Heenan Patronize the Opera--English and
Italian Opera Combined--Smith and his Speculations--Discovery
of Adelina Patti--My Management of
the Lyceum pp. 23-39
CHAPTER IV.
At Her Majesty's Theatre--Verdi's Cantata--Ginglini at the
Seaside--Pollio and the Drum-stick--An Operatic Conspiracy--Confusion
of the Conspirators pp. 40-57
CHAPTER V.
Running over a Tenor--Titiens in Italy--Cashing a Cheque at
Naples--A Neapolitan Ball--Approaching a Minister--Return
to London pp. 58-65
CHAPTER VI.
Production of Gounod's _Faust_--Apathy of the British Public--A
Managerial Device--Damask Crumb Cloth and Chintz
Hangings--Heroic Attitude of a Dying Tenor--Prayers to
a Portmanteau pp. 66-80
CHAPTER VII.
Garibaldi Visits the Opera--Giuglini's Trouble at St. Petersburg--Giuglini
Visited by Titiens--Alarm of Fire--Production
of _Medea_--Grisi's Last Appearance--An
Enraged Tenor pp. 81-98
CHAPTER VIII.
Payment after Performance--Discovery of Madge Robertson--Mario
and the Sheriff--Generosity of the Great Tenor--_Début_
of Christine Nilsson--Destruction of Her Majesty's
Theatre--A Great Philanthropist pp. 99-117
CHAPTER IX.
Proposal for an Operatic Union--Titiens in Dublin--Her
Services as a Pacificator--Autumn Season at Covent
Garden--The Combination Season--Immense Success--Costa's
Despotism--An Operatic Conspiracy--Lucca and
her Husbands pp. 118-135
CHAPTER X.
Gye's Fraternal Embrace--Law-suits Interminable--Dissolution
of Partnership--Return to Drury Lane--Arrival of
Albani--_Début_ of Cainpanini--The Annual Onslaughts
of Mr. Gye pp. 136-149
CHAPTER XI.
Adelina's Successor--A Prima Donna's Marriage Negotiations--Pounds
_v._ Guineas--Nilsson and the Shah--Production
of _Lohengrin_--Salvini's Performances and Profits--Marguerite
Chapuy--Irony of an Earl pp. 150-174
CHAPTER XII.
The National Opera-house--Foundation Difficulties--Primæval
Remains--Titiens Lays the First Brick--The Duke of
Edinburgh the First Stone--The Opera and Parliament--Our
Recreation Rooms pp. 175-183
CHAPTER XIII.
First Visit to America--Making Money out of Shakespeare--Chatterton's
Secret Agents--Bidding for Her Majesty's
Theatre--Illness of Titiens--Gerster's Success--Production
of _Carmen_ pp. 184-198
CHAPTER XIV.
First American Campaign--Difficulties of Embarkation--Concert
on Board--Dangerous Illness of Gerster--Opera
on Wheels--The "Dressing-room Row"--A Learned
Throat Doctor--Gerster Sings before her Judge--The
Pianoforte War--Our Hurried Departure pp. 199-219
CHAPTER XV.
Reception of a Tenor--Belocca and Lady Spencer--Marimon's
Superstitions--Her Lovesick Maid--An Encouraging
Telegram--Marimon in the Cathedral--Disappearance of
a Tenor pp. 220-236
CHAPTER XVI.
Sir Michael and his Cheque--Six Minutes' Bankruptcy--Success
of _Lohengrin_--Production of _Mefistofele_--Return
to New York--_Lohengrin_ under Difficulties--Elsa's Tails--Cincinnati
Opera Festival pp. 237-253
CHAPTER XVII.
Production of _Il Rinnegato_--Ravelli's Operatic Theory
Negotiations with Covent Garden, "Limited"--A Search
for a Prima Donna--Failure of Patti's Concerts--Cincinnati
Opera Festival of '82--Patti's Indisposition pp. 254-272
CHAPTER XVIII.
I Engage Patti--My Military Experience--Influencing Electors--Operatic
Joint Stock Company--Objections to English
Monopoly--Patti in New York pp. 273-291
CHAPTER XIX.
Non-Arrival of Scalchi--General Indisposition--King Kalakau
Ennobles Patti--Ravelli Consults his Dog--The Company
Vaccinated--Patti Eaten by Mice--Arrival of Albani--Cincinnati
Opera Festival of '83--Freedom of the
City pp. 292-308
CHAPTER XX.
Galassi Distinguishes Himself--Politeness of Prime Donne--English
Welcome to Canada--Concert at the White
House--Value of Patti's Notes--Phantom Ship Wrecked--Nilsson's
Contract--Patti's Contract--Return to
England pp. 309-327
CHAPTER I.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE CAREER OF IMPRESARIO--MY FIRST APPEARANCE AS
VIOLINIST--DÉBUT AS A VOCALIST--DIFFICULTIES AS A CRITIC--ENGAGED
AT LODI AND VERONA--RADICAL OPERATION ON MY THROAT--I START AS
MUSICAL AGENT--MEETING WITH MR. E. T. SMITH--MANAGEMENT OF DRURY
LANE.
BEFORE beginning my thirty years' career as an operatic manager, I had
already had a large and varied experience of music in the character of
student, critic, violinist, vocalist, composer, concert director, and
musical agent. At the age of fourteen I entered the Royal Academy of
Music, where the Principal was at that time Cipriani Potter. I took as
my first study the violin, my professor being Watson, under whom I made
good progress. Harmony I studied under Lucas. My compositions are
limited to two pianoforte pieces and a song, which I published soon
after leaving the Academy, where I remained about two years.
I made my first public appearance among the first violins at Her
Majesty's Theatre, where, during the Jenny Lind seasons of 1848 and a
portion of 1849, I played from the same desk as Remenyi, the famous
Hungarian violinist. Remenyi, too, shared my rooms, and often kept me up
at night by his loud and passionate declamations on the subject of
Hungarian independence, and of liberty generally. He had taken part in
the revolutionary movement of 1848, and on its collapse had fled for his
life to foreign parts. Fortunately, he had his violin to depend upon;
and it was in London, I believe, that he first turned his remarkable
talent to practical and pecuniary account.
Mr. [afterwards Sir Michael] Costa had left Her Majesty's Theatre two
years previously to take part in establishing the Royal Italian Opera at
Covent Garden, and the new conductor at Her Majesty's Theatre was our
eminent composer M. W. Balfe. It had already occurred to me to quit the
comparative obscurity of the orchestra for a brilliant position on the
stage; and this idea was encouraged by Balfe, who, during the intervals
of operatic business, gave me singing lessons. I also received
instruction from Gardoni, the tenor, and Belletti, the baritone. As I
had a tenor voice, Gardoni's lessons were particularly useful to me; and
I was led to believe by each of my distinguished professors that I had
in me the making of a primo tenore.
Long before I had completed my studies as a vocalist, an opportunity,
indeed a necessity, for making my first appearance as a singer
presented itself. Not to remain idle during the long months separating
one opera season from another, I took out in the English Provinces in
1849 a company in which were included Sontag, Calzolari, Belletti,
Lablache, and the famous pianist Thalberg. On one occasion, after giving
a concert at Salisbury, the whole party paid a visit to Stonehenge,
where Sontag sang "Casta diva," and Lablache a portion of Oroveso's solo
music among the Druidical remains, so suggestive of the opera of
_Norma_. I have now before me a handsome little clock which Madame
Sontag presented to me at the end of the tour. It is inscribed: "To J.
H. Mapleson from Madame Sontag (Countess Rossi)." I may mention in
connection with this charming vocalist, whose good nature and good
temper were on a par with her talent, a peculiarity which will perhaps
astonish some of the concert singers of the present day. Instead of
avoiding, according to the modern practice, the task of either beginning
or ending a concert, she was ready and even anxious to sing both the
first piece and the last. "If I do not begin the concert people will not
come in time," she would say; "and if I do not end it they will go away
before it is over."
In the autumn of 1850 I took on tour a company which included Roger and
Madame Viardot, the famous representatives of "John of Leyden" and
"Fidès" in _Le Prophète_. Meyerbeer was in constant correspondence with
them. To avoid the expense of postage, he used to send his music written
on such fine paper that to be able to read it with any ease it was
necessary to place it on a back-ground of ordinary writing paper.
In a subsequent tour my leading tenor was one night for some reason or
other not forthcoming. There was no one to replace him, and as I was
myself a tenor I plunged boldly into the gap. I sang with success, but
it occurred to me even as I was singing that I had need of further
instruction. On my return to London I called on Sims Reeves, and sang to
him; when he at once recommended me to go to Milan, and place myself
under Signor Mazzucato, director and principal professor of singing at
the celebrated Conservatorio. Reeves was kind enough to give me a letter
to Mazzucato, under whom he had himself studied, with results which need
not here be set forth.
Before taking farewell of England in order to go through a three years'
course of training in Italy I did a little work as musical critic for a
journal called the _Atlas_, which for years past has ceased to exist,
but which, at the time I speak of, enjoyed a good reputation, especially
in connection with literary and artistic matters. The proprietor, and
ostensible editor, was a well-known journalist, Mr. George Francis,
author of "The Orators of the Age," a series of papers which made some
stir when, before appearing in book-form, they were published in the
pages of _Frazer's Magazine_. Mr. Francis had, I believe, gained his
experience of our British orators in the gallery of the House of
Commons, where he was for many years one of the principal reporters of
the _Times_ staff. Mr. Francis was also a brilliant foreign
correspondent, and it afterwards became a speciality of his to assist
and preside at the birth of new journals. His fee as accoucheur on these
occasions was, I believe, a considerable one. After a time nothing would
satisfy him but to have a paper of his own. He bought the _Atlas_, and
while entrusting most of the editorial work to a Mr. Joyce, who was my
immediate chief, appropriated to himself all free admissions that
reached the office. Accordingly, when it became my duty to write an
account of the first production of _Le Prophète_ at the Royal Italian
Opera, I received instructions from my editor about sending in "copy,"
but was not furnished with a stall. I was to manage, somehow or other,
to hear the opera, and I was in any case to send in a notice of it. I
endeavoured to buy a ticket, but everything was sold.
In my despair I chanced to meet the American philanthropist, Mr George
Peabody, well known by his charitable deeds, and who hastened on this
occasion to perform a good work towards me. He assured me that the
difficulty which troubled me was not so great as I imagined. It was now
late in the afternoon. The performance was to take place that evening,
and Mr. Peabody suggested that first of all the best thing I could do
was to dine with him at the "Hummums." Thence, after finishing a bottle
of excellent port, we walked quietly to the gallery entrance of the
opera--at that time under the piazza, next door to the Bedford
Hotel--bought our tickets, and found places in the very front row.
Soon, however, I was to start for Milan, where, studying constantly with
Professor Mazzucato, I spent nearly three years. Then an engagement was
offered to me at Lodi, where I was to make my first appearance on any
stage as "Carlo" in _Linda di Chamouni_.
Manners and customs at the Lodi Opera-house were at that time rather
peculiar. Refreshments of all kinds used to be served in the audience
department between the acts. Every box was furnished with a little
kitchen for cooking macaroni, baking or frying pastry, and so on. The
wine of the country was drunk freely, not out of glasses, but in
classical fashion from bowls. Attired in the brilliant uniform of my
part I was in the middle of the pit draining one of these bowls, when
suddenly the signal was given for the rising of the curtain. All seemed
lost. But I hurried back to the stage, and fortunately was not very late
for my entry.
My success in Lodi was such that I was offered four pounds a month to
sing at Verona. Here my first duty was to replace Bettini (not the
husband of Madame Trebelli Bettini, but the dramatic tenor of that
name) in the important part of "Manrico." _Il Trovatore_ had but lately
been brought out, and was then in the first period of its success. I had
never heard the work, but the tenor part had been sent to me, and I had
to master it in four days, my final study being made in the diligence,
with no musical instrument to aid me except a tuning-fork. I studied the
part all day and, by the light of a candle, all night, and before I
reached Verona knew it perfectly. The prima donna of the cast was Mdlle.
Lotti, afterwards known in London and elsewhere as Madame Lotti Della
Santa, the second part of her name being derived from her husband,
Signor Della Santa, who, during my stay at Verona, played the part of
the "Count di Luna" to the "Leonora" of his future wife. Bettini married
a sister of Max Maretzek, afterwards well known as conductor and
impresario in the United States. I made a sufficiently good impression
at Verona to cause Signor Bettini, who on my arrival was seriously ill,
to get perfectly well after I had made but two appearances.
Returning to London early in 1854, I gave a grand concert with the
following eminent artists:--Mdme. Clara Novello, Miss Dolby, Mr. Sims
Reeves, Herr Formes, and Mdme. Arabella Goddard. I also took part in it.
My throat, however, had become affected, and after I had been very
thoroughly operated upon by Dr. Billing, I found myself deprived alike
of tonsils, uvula, and voice.
My path had now been marked out for me. For the future I might be a
musical agent, a concert director, or an impresario; but not a vocalist.
In 1855 the two principal members of the touring party I was directing
were Miss Hayes and Mdme. Gassier.
In the year 1856 I started a musical agency in the Haymarket, the first
established in London. Both Mr. Lumley and Mr. Gye applied to me for
singers. As I was well known in Italy, numbers of artists inscribed
their names on my books. I did a good business, and was making a large
income. My business relations bound me more particularly to Mr. Lumley,
the manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, and he had enough confidence in me
to entrust me with the work of adapting Balfe's _Bohemian Girl_ to the
Italian stage. This was about the time of the gala performances in
honour of the marriage of the Crown Prince of Prussia (late Emperor of
Germany) to the Princess Victoria of England, when a number of
Shakespearian representations were given at Her Majesty's Theatre, with
Mr. Phelps in the principal parts.
No Italian version of Balfe's work existed previously, and I received
for mine the sum of £50. Operatic translations are often severely
judged, but it is no easy matter to adapt the words of a song so that,
while other more obvious requirements are duly fulfilled, the accents
shall fall in exact accordance with the composer's music.
In the early part of this year (1858) the late E. T. Smith, then lessee
of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, called upon me at my office, in the
Haymarket, requesting me to aid him in the formation of an Italian Opera
Company, which he wished to secure for his theatre during the coming
summer months. He had so many enterprises on hand that he asked me to
undertake the superintendence and management of the Italian Opera season
he had in view. I explained to him that the business I was then carrying
on required all my care and attention, and that it was far more
profitable than any interest he could offer me in his contemplated
enterprise.
But won over by his solicitations, and influenced by my love of the
divine art, I consented, and found myself at once drawn into the
artistic vortex. My knowledge and experience fitted me well enough for
the conduct of the undertaking, which, however, I considered rather a
hazardous one.
On the one hand would be ranged against me Her Majesty's Theatre, under
the late Mr. Lumley's able management, with such artists as Piccolomini,
Alboni, Giuglini, and the new and successful Thérèse Titiens, who had
already fully captured London; and on the other hand the Royal Italian
Opera, Covent Garden, newly rebuilt, under the skilful direction of Mr.
Gye, with Grisi, Mario, Costa, and a host of celebrities. I felt the
great responsibility of the position I had undertaken. I, however, set
to work and engaged the services of Salvini-Donatelli, Viardot,
Persiani, Naudin, Badiali, Marini, Rovere, Charles Braham and other
tried artists.
My first object was to secure an able conductor. I discovered Signor
Vianesi (afterwards of the Royal Italian Opera, and now of the Grand
Opera, Paris), and appointed him to the post at a salary of £8 a month.
Much trouble was experienced in forming an efficient orchestra on
account of the two great Italian Operas, and still more in obtaining a
stage military band. This latter difficulty I surmounted when one day in
Leicester Square I lighted upon a very excellent one composed of
itinerant Italian musicians performing in the open street.
The season opened in due course, and the public gave ample support to
the undertaking. I will not fatigue the reader by entering into details
with respect to that season, which I began five days before the opening
of the new Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, just rebuilt, in order
that the singers might at all events give two public performances before
the whole attention of the town would be centred on the new theatre.
On one occasion I encountered a slight difficulty, when the opera of _La
Traviata_ had, in consequence of the illness of one of the singers, to
be suddenly substituted for the work originally announced. It was
already half-past seven o'clock at night, and we were without a stage
band.
I sent the call-boy down all the likely thoroughfares where my Italian
wanderers might be playing, and I myself started to look for them in
another direction. I ultimately traced them to a small restaurant in
Soho, where they were eating macaroni. I gave them orders to come on
immediately to the theatre to perform behind the scenes in _La
Traviata_, and hurried back to the theatre. On arriving there I found
the call-boy had brought another street band, which now refused to quit
the stage. At one time things looked very serious, as the Italians of
the opposing bands, with their stilettos drawn, vowed vengeance on one
another. Ultimately all was satisfactorily arranged.
The interest of this first season was kept up until its close, in the
latter part of July. The only other incident here worth mentioning was
the performance, on the 17th July, of Mozart's _Don Giovanni_ with the
following powerful cast:--
"Donna Anna" Madame Pauline Viardot.
"Donna Elvira" Madame Rudersdorff.
"Zerlina" Madame Persiani.
"Don Giovanni" Signor Badiali.
"Leporello" Signor Rovere.
"Commendatore" Signor Marini.
"Masetto" Signor Insom.
"Ottavio" Signor Naudin.
The evening prior to its performance I met Mr. E. T. Smith, who
horrified me by saying that in order to "strengthen up the bill," it
being his benefit, he had added _The Waterman_, in which Charles Braham
would play "Tom Tug," and moreover, introduce into the piece a new song
dedicated by Mr. E. T. Smith to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who,
said Smith, with a knowing wink, were "a most useful body."
I paid no attention to this at the time, thinking it was only a joke;
but on looking at the _Times_ newspaper on the day of the performance, I
found that the announcement, as communicated to me by Mr. E. T. Smith,
had really been made. The performance, too, of the _Waterman_, with the
introduced song, was really given.
I waited with interest to see what the newspapers would say as to my
closing representation. Only one paper mentioned the performance; and it
confined itself to stating that _Don Giovanni_ had been played the
previous evening "by a body of singers whose united ages amounted to
nearly 500 years."
Mr. E. T. Smith, the manager, had made money by our season; and he
remunerated me very handsomely for my labours. In the meantime,
notwithstanding the phenomenal success of Mdlle. Titiens at Her
Majesty's Theatre, Mr. Lumley's difficulties had been constantly
increasing; and Her Majesty's Theatre now closed, never to open again
under his management.
CHAPTER II.
INJUNCTION AGAINST THE BIRDS ON THE TREES--DRURY LANE SEASON OF
1859--DÉBUTS OF VICTOIRE BALFE, MONGINI, AND GUARDUCCI--MY
CONTRALTO MARRIES A DUKE--THE DUKE AND DUCHESS AT NAPLES.
EFFORTS were now made to obtain the lease of Her Majesty's theatre, but
it was so entangled with legal difficulties that it was resolved, on my
advice to remain another year at Drury Lane. I therefore set to work to
secure a very powerful company for the London season of 1859.
During the latter part of 1858 the baritone Graziani had called
repeatedly upon me, stating that as Mr. Gye had not renewed his
engagement, and as there were some arrears outstanding, he was very
desirous that I should engage him for the forthcoming season. After
lengthy negotiations, some time during the month of March, 1859, I
signed with him, and added him to the list of artists in the official
programme.
On the prospectus being issued, law proceedings were immediately
commenced by Mr. Gye, who asked for an injunction to restrain Graziani
from appearing at Drury Lane.
Application was made before Vice-Chancellor Wood, and the most eminent
counsel were engaged on both sides. Mr. Gye retained Rolt, Giffard,
Martindale, etc., whilst Mr. E. T. Smith was represented by Sir Hugh
Cairns, Hawkins, Swanstone, Serjeant Ballantine, Cottrell, Daniel, &c.
The case was heard on the 11th and 12th May, 1859, when an injunction
was granted. At this I felt somewhat astonished, inasmuch as Graziani's
engagement had never been renewed by Mr. Gye, although in a period of
more than eight months the eminent baritone had made more than a dozen
applications for a renewal; neither had his salary been paid him.
I have repeatedly failed to obtain injunctions against my singers, both
here and in America, though the engagements which they had broken were
in every respect perfectly in order. I recollect a case in which one of
my principal singers was announced to appear at the Crystal Palace in a
concert, notwithstanding a written engagement whereby he contracted that
I should have his exclusive services, and that he would sing nowhere
without my written consent. No salary was owing to him, and I felt
perfectly sure of obtaining an injunction, for which I duly applied, in
order to restrain him from committing the contemplated breach of
engagement.
A formal injunction was, in fact, granted; but the case was immediately
afterwards brought before the Lords Justices for a full hearing. As I
was very much occupied at the theatre with rehearsals, and felt sure the
injunction would be confirmed, and, moreover, that the case would occupy
but a few minutes, I did not attend; but at the end of my day's labours,
feeling a little curious, I called on my solicitor on my way home, when
I was informed by his clerk that he was still in Court and that my case
was not concluded. I went there. Sure enough, there were the counsel
still arguing. Two attendants were busily employed handing in law-books
every minute or two, with pieces of paper between the leaves indicating
pages for reference. The counsel on the other side was forcibly
explaining the case by supposing a similar one between a vendor and a
purchaser of sacks of flour. I could not believe that it was my case
they were proceeding with.
Later on "---- _v._----, page----," was quoted, and now sacks of corn
and of linseed were brought in. The candles of the Court were burnt low
down in the sockets, and the three Lords Justices were evidently very
tired, when one of them spoke thus--
"I cannot conceive how Mr. Mapleson could expect to retain the exclusive
services of any vocalist. In my opinion, sweet musical sounds should be
for the benefit of everybody, and Mr. Mapleson might just as well apply
for an injunction to restrain the birds from singing on the trees."
The other Justices concurred in the view that a singer must be free to
sing where he liked.
In the United States I have been invariably unsuccessful in my
applications for an injunction, or of even getting the Courts to define
the meaning of a singer's engagement. The legal mind cannot grasp the
idea. Were it a contract for the erection of buildings or machinery, or
the sale of goods, or the exclusive manufacture of a piece of cotton
printing, the matter would be clear enough. But no evidence on the part
of musical experts is ever by any chance understood by the Court.
The Drury Lane season of 1859 opened on the 25th April with _La
Sonnambula_, when I was fortunate enough to introduce two new singers,
who both met with unequivocal success. One was Mdlle. Victoire Balfe
(afterwards Lady Crampton, and subsequently Duchess de Frias), who
appeared as "Amina;" the other, Signor Mongini, whose triumph was
instantaneous in the part of "Elvino." This was his first appearance in
England.
For this season two conductors had been engaged, Signor Arditi and Mr.
(afterwards Sir Julius) Benedict. Both were excellent, but neither
wished to be mistaken for the other. Both, moreover, were bald, and I
remember on one occasion, when a grand combined performance was to take
place, Benedict going into the prima donna's dressing-room, taking up a
brush, and carefully arranging his scanty hair so as to cover as much as
possible of his denuded cranium.
"What are you about, Benedict?" I asked.
"Nothing particular," he replied; "only I don't want, whilst wielding
the baton, to be mistaken for Arditi."
Soon afterwards Arditi appeared, and with a couple of brushes began
operating on his hair so as to leave as much as possible of his bare
skull exposed to view. He explained his action by exclaiming--
"I don't want to be mistaken for Benedict."
On the following night I brought forward Mdlle. Guarducci, who appeared
as "Leonora" in _La Favorita_, with Giuglini as "Fernando." Guarducci's
success was instantaneous, her lovely voice being the object of
universal admiration.
A very strange thing occurred in connection with Guarducci's _début_.
She had arrived in London only two days before, in the belief that she
would have two or three weeks to prepare the part which she had
undertaken to perform. By a careful process of cramming we got her
through; and she made one of the most marked successes London had
witnessed for many years. I thereupon announced the opera for repetition
four days afterwards, when to my great astonishment Guarducci informed
me that she did not know a note of her part, and it took ten days'
rehearsals for her to learn it in systematic style.
Later on I produced Mercadante's Giuramento, which, however, met with
indifferent success. Mdlle. Titiens shortly afterwards appeared as
"Lucrezia Borgia," when her phenomenal voice attracted such a house as
had rarely been seen. Her performances throughout the remainder of the
season were a series of triumphs never to be forgotten.
Arrangements were afterwards made for an operatic tour in the provinces,
which we commenced in Dublin.
About this time the attentions of an Italian nobleman towards Mdlle.
Guarducci became rather conspicuous, and at Mdlle. Titiens' suggestion I
resolved to ask him what his intentions towards her really were. As no
satisfactory answer could be obtained, Mdlle. Titiens took Guarducci
entirely under her charge, and all communication with the Italian
nobleman was put an end to.
Shortly afterwards he visited me, assuring me his intentions were most
honourable, and begging me to intercede so that he might again meet
Guarducci. Mdlle. Titiens' reply was--
"Yes, as her husband, not otherwise;" and to this ultimatum he
consented.
In the course of a few days preparations were made for the marriage, but
many difficulties presented themselves. The duke's father would have to
be consulted, together with the Neapolitan Government, the Pope, and a
few other powers.
About this time Mr. E. T. Smith appeared on the scene, and he assured
the priests that of his certain knowledge the proposed marriage would be
most agreeable to the duke's father; whilst I, on my side, induced the
Consul of the then King of Naples and of the Two Sicilies to affix the
Government stamp to the contract. I also had a marriage settlement
drawn, whereby it was stipulated that if Mdlle. Guarducci at any time
after the marriage should feel disposed she should have liberty to
resume the exercise of her profession, and take the whole of the
benefits she might derive therefrom for her own use; the duke engaging,
moreover, that on the day he succeeded to his father's property and
title he would assign to her £50,000 for her sole and separate use. The
marriage was celebrated in the Metropolitan Church of Dublin, with full
choral service, in which Piccolomini, Titiens, Aldighieri, Giuglini, and
others took part. The scene was most impressive.
Within a week afterwards the marriage had made such a stir in Italy that
the new duchess had to leave me, and, accompanied by the duke, take her
departure for Italy.
I did not meet them afterwards until the year 1863, when at my hotel in
Naples a gorgeous equipage drove up, in which were the Duke and Duchess
di Cirilla, with a beautiful little child. It appeared that he had
succeeded to his titles and estates, that he had already handed over the
large sum of money promised in the settlement, and that they were the
happiest couple in the world. They insisted upon my spending several
days with them at their palace; and as it was the closing day of the
Carnival we amused ourselves from the balcony of the Palazzo by throwing
the most gorgeous sweetmeats, dolls, and other things at the heads of
the populace. I was afterwards invited by the duke to a wild-boar hunt.
He had charge of all the King's preserves at Caserta, and by his
hospitable attentions he enabled me to pass the time most pleasantly.
Looking over my papers I find, what had really escaped my memory, that
in order to ensure, so far as we could, the execution of the Duke's
promise in regard to the settlement on his wife, Mr. E. T. Smith and
myself made him sign a bond by which he bound himself, should he fail to
fulfil his pledge, to pay to each of us the sum of £5,000.
Here is an exact copy of the deed; the like of which could scarcely be
found in the archives of any Opera House in the world:--
"Know all Men by these Presents that I Alfonso Catalano Gonzaga de Duchi
de Cirella formerly of Naples but now stopping at Gresham Hotel Dublin
am held and firmly bound unto Edward Tyrrel Smith of Pensylvania Castle
Dorset England and Lessee of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane London but now
stopping at Gresham Hotel Dublin and James Henry Mapleson of 12
Haymarket London Gentleman but now stopping at Gresham Hotel Dublin in
the sum of Ten thousand pounds sterling good and lawful money of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to be paid to the said
Edward Tyrrel Smith and James Henry Mapleson or their lawful Attorney
Executors Administrators or assigns to the which payment to be made I do
bind myself my heirs executors and administrators firmly by these
presents Sealed with my seal and dated the eighth day of August in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
The Condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound
Alfonso Catalano Gonzaga de Duchi de Cirella his heirs executors or
administrators shall and do well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto
the above named Edward Tyrrel Smith and James Henry Mapleson their
executors administrators or assigns the just and full sum of Five
thousand pounds sterling of good and lawful money of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland according to the covenant on his part
contained in a certain Indenture of Settlement bearing even date
herewith and made between Carolina Guarducci of the first part the said
Alfonso Catalano Gonzaga de Duchi de Cirella of the second part and the
said Edward Tyrrel Smith and James Henry Mapleson of the third part and
shall also fully perform all and singular the other covenants and
agreements on the part of him the said Alfonso Catalano Gonzaga
contained in the aforesaid Settlement without fraud or further delay
that then the above obligation is to be void and of none effect or else
to stand and remain in full force and virtue in law
ALFONSO CATALANO GONZAGA
DE DUCHI DE CIRELLA
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of by Alfonso Catalano
Gonzaga de Duchi de Cirella the same having been first truly read
explained and interpreted to him by J H Mapleson
THOMAS FITZGERALD
Solicitor 20 Saint Andrew St Dublin
THOS SNOWE
Neapolitan Vice Consul
I hereby certify that the within named James Henry Mapleson took a
solemn oath administered by me that he had truly read explained and
interpreted the true contents of the annexed Bond to the within named
Carolina Guarducci and Alfonso Catalano Gonzaga de Duchi de Cirella
Neapolitan Vice Consulate
Dublin 10th August 1859 (nine)
THOS SNOWE
V Consul"
[Illustration: SEAL.]
CHAPTER III.
NOCTURNAL NEGOTIATIONS--REOPENING OF HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE--SAYERS
AND HEENAN PATRONIZE THE OPERA--ENGLISH AND ITALIAN OPERA
COMBINED--SMITH AND HIS SPECULATIONS--DISCOVERY OF ADELINA
PATTI--MY MANAGEMENT OF THE LYCEUM.
EARLY in the spring of 1860 I opened negotiations again with Lord
Dudley, on behalf of Mr. Smith, to obtain the lease of Her Majesty's
Theatre. After spending two days at Witley Court with his lordship I
returned to London with the lease, and loaded with game.
The next step was to secure the services of Mdlle. Titiens, Giuglini,
and others who still were bound to Mr. Lumley; and for that purpose Mr.
Smith and myself started for the Continent. Mr. Lumley met us at
Boulogne; the Channel, as in the previous year, being still too breezy
for him to cross.
On our arrival we found that Mr. Lumley had prepared a sumptuous
banquet. Every kind of expensive wine was on the table, together with
the most famous liqueurs. The Bordeaux, the Burgundy, the Champagne,
the Chartreuse, the Curaçao, and the Cognac were for us; whilst Mr.
Lumley, like a clever diplomatist, confined himself to spring water.
After I had made several attempts to broach the subject of our visit,
which Lumley pretended not to understand, he showed himself quite
astonished when he heard that Mr. Smith contemplated engaging his
artists. To me fell the duty of conducting the negotiations between
these two wily gentlemen; and it was not until about three or four
o'clock the following morning that things began to get into focus. Mr.
Lumley, in the meantime, had kept ordering innumerable syphons and
_fines champagnes_ for Mr. Smith, before whom the bottles were
perpetually empty. As Mr. Smith warmed up, he wanted extensions for the
following autumn, to which Lumley, reluctantly, of course, agreed. In
the end the transfer was to cost some £16,000--I having obtained a
reduction of £3,000 or £4,000 from the original price insisted on by
Lumley. I afterwards had to draw an engagement that would prove
satisfactory to both parties; a matter which was not finally settled
until nearly six o'clock in the morning.
Mr. Smith having observed that he would see to the financial part being
promptly carried out, Mr. Lumley replied that he would prefer to have
bills drawn and handed over to him at once, payable at different dates,
for the whole of the amount. He feared, he said, that some hostile
creditor might attach any moneys in Smith's hands payable to him. Smith
regretted that in France they could not purchase bill stamps, otherwise
he would have been delighted to meet Mr. Lumley's views. Mr. Lumley,
however, in getting a brush from his little hand-bag found some papers
he could not account for, but which had somehow got in there; and these,
to the astonishment of both Lumley and Smith, proved to be bill stamps.
The next thing was to draw the various bills; and Smith remarked before
leaving the banqueting-room that it would be better to finish the
remains of the bottle then before him, lest the hotel servants should do
so and get drunk. Mr. Lumley, instead of going to bed, went back to
Paris by the early morning train, while Smith and myself returned to
London.
The company for the season of 1860 was a marvellously attractive one.
Admirable, too, were the works produced.
Mr. Smith about this time had acquired various restaurants in London,
besides the Alhambra, Cremorne Gardens, Drury Lane, and a variety of
other establishments. The management of the opera was, therefore, left
entirely to me, except that I received occasional visits at the most
unseasonable hours from Mr. Smith, who arrived with the strangest
suggestions. About this time the celebrated fight for the championship
took place between Sayers and Heenan, and as the Covent Garden people
were getting rather ahead of us, Mr. Smith, with a view to increased
receipts, insisted on my announcing that Messrs. Sayers and Heenan, who
had fought the day previously, would attend the opera in their bruised
state. It was with the greatest difficulty that I afterwards got the
announcement withdrawn from the papers. Both men appeared, nevertheless,
that evening--one worse-looking than the other--in a private box which
Smith had prepared specially for them on the grand tier; one corner
being filled with brandies and sodas, and the other with bottles of
champagne. Both men were so fatigued with their business of the previous
day that before the end of the first act they went home, much to my
relief.
Shortly afterwards Smith proposed that the Champion's belt (which had
been divided in two) should be presented on the stage between the acts
of the opera. This, too, I overruled, and the ceremony ultimately took
place at the Alhambra.
On another occasion Mr. Smith suggested to me an idea that had occurred
to him for closing up Covent Garden, by giving a grand double
performance of _Il Trovatore_ without any increase of prices. He
proposed dividing the stage into two floors, as in the opera of _Aida_,
with the occupants as follows:--
Top floor. Bottom floor.
"Manrico" ... Mongini ... Giuglini.
"Conte di Luna" ... Aldighieri ... Everardi.
"Azucena" ... Alboni ... Borghi-Mamo.
"Leonora" ... Grisi ... Titiens.
The singers were alarmed, as the matter became serious. This project,
however, like previous ones, I ultimately succeeded in setting aside. I
pleaded that the preparations for the production of Oberon, now resolved
upon, needed all my attention. Benedict, the favourite pupil of Weber,
had undertaken to adapt the famous opera for the Italian stage by
introducing recitative and excerpts from some of Weber's other works,
whilst Planché, the author of the libretto, undertook the _mise en
scène_. A really grand performance took place, with the following cast
of characters:--
"Sir Huon," Mongini; "Scerasmin," Everardi; "Oberon,"
Belart; "Fatima," Alboni; "Rezia," Titiens.
Despite the artistic successes of the season, matters, as usual with
operatic managers, did not go well in a financial sense. This, in a
great measure, was to be accounted for by the drain on our exchequer
caused by Mr. Smith's numerous outside speculations; for the receipts
from the various establishments were all lumped into one banking
account.
On one occasion I recollect having a deal of difficulty with the
Sheriff's officers, who had got possession of the wardrobes. We were on
the point of producing the _Huguenots_, and the whole of the dresses for
that opera were under ban. One afternoon Smith came in; and after some
little time it appeared that the officers had agreed not to take the
_Huguenots_ until we had had two performances out of it.
In fact, there was always some trouble going on, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that we got through the season.
In the Boulogne contracts Lumley's artists were ceded not only for a
summer, but also for an autumn season at Her Majesty's. As, however,
they were to sing but three times a week, it occurred to me that English
opera might be tried with advantage on the alternate nights.
Arrangements were accordingly entered into, through the kindness of Mr.
Thomas Chappell, with Mrs. L. Sherrington, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr.
Santley. Charles Hallé was at the same time engaged as conductor.
Negotiations were also entered into with Macfarren for the production of
an English work entitled _Robin Hood_, the libretto by Oxenford. The
opera met with very great success, so much so that the chief attentions
of the public were directed to the evenings on which _Robin Hood_ was
performed. I then opened negotiations with Vincent Wallace to prepare an
opera to follow, entitled the _Amber Witch_, libretto by Chorley, in
which Mr. Sims Reeves, Mrs. L. Sherrington, Santley, Patey, and others
appeared.
But again the war cloud seemed to hover over the establishment, and
again the Sheriff's officers appeared in force. It was thought advisable
to transfer the _Amber Witch_ to Drury Lane, leaving the myrmidons of
the law in possession of the theatre and its belongings. The _Amber
Witch_ wardrobe (which somehow had fallen off the portico of the theatre
early one Sunday morning) found its way to the other theatre. Here the
part of the "Amber Witch" was undertaken by Madame Parepa, _vice_
Sherrington.
* * * * *
Mr. Edward Tyrrel Smith, with whom I had business relations for some
three or four years, was an extraordinary personage, whose like could
only be met with in our own time, and in such capitals as London or
Paris, where the population in general has certainly not the faintest
idea how some small part of that population lives. Mr. E. T. Smith had
made up his mind early in life to be the possessor, or at least the
handler, of considerable sums of money; and he at one time found it
worth his while, so as never to be without funds, to hire daily, at the
rate of £1 a day, a thousand-pound note, which was obligingly entrusted
to him by a money-lender of the period, one Sam Genese.
There are not many persons to whom such a loan would be worth the
thirty-six and a half per cent. interest which Mr. E. T. Smith paid for
it. He was an adept, however, at all kinds of business, and his
thousand-pound note enabled him to make purchases on credit, which,
without deposit money, he would have been unable to effect. Attending
sales he would buy whatever happened to suit him, with a view to
immediate resale, offering his thousand-pound note as a deposit, to
discover, as a matter of course, that it could not be changed, and have
the article for which he had bid marked down to him all the same. Then
he would resell it, and pocket the difference.
The mere exhibition of the thousand-pound note secured him a certain
amount of credit, and he was not likely ever to meet with an auctioneer
able to change it. Before offering his (or rather Mr. Genese's) note he
took care to write his name on the back of it. Afterwards his usurious
friend would replace the note that had been endorsed by a brand new one,
and occasions presented themselves in which it was a distinct advantage
for E. T. Smith to be known as a gentleman who, in the course of a
comparatively short space of time, had inscribed his name on several
bank-notes, each for a thousand pounds.
Once, when St. Dunstan's Villa, in the Regent's Park, was knocked down
to Smith for ten thousand pounds, the thousand-pound note which he had,
as usual, in his waistcoat pocket was just what was wanted to satisfy
the auctioneer's immediate demands. Smith handed up the note with the
observation that he would turn the place into a second Cremorne Gardens,
in which character it could not fail to attract thousands of people and
bring in lots of money. At this announcement the auctioneer drew back
and informed the apparently eager purchaser that the house could be
converted to no such purpose.
One day, when I had run down to Brighton with Mr. Smith, then associated
with me in the management of Drury Lane, we missed, by about half a
minute, the return train we had intended to catch; and we had now two
hours to wait. Smith could not remain idle, and strolling with me along
the Parade his attention was attracted by a corner house which was for
sale, and which, it at once struck him, might be turned to profitable
account as a milliner's shop. He inquired as to the rent and other
conditions, bought the house there and then, and at once ordered that
the windows on the ground floor should be replaced by much larger ones
of plate glass.
That night he started for Paris, and in the Passage du Saumon, where
bonnets of almost the latest fashion can be purchased for moderate
prices, laid in a stock of millinery for his Brighton "_magasin des
modes_." While making his purchases in Paris he secured the services of
two eligible young women, who were brought over to direct the Brighton
establishment. This, within a very short time, he duly opened under the
name of "Clémentine," and the house of Clémentine did such good business
that a few weeks afterwards its spirited proprietor was able to sell it
at seven hundred pounds' profit.
On the occasion of a melancholy event which compelled all the London
managers to close their theatres, Mr. E. T. Smith saw in this day of
national gloom a tempting opportunity for a masked ball. It was to be
given at Her Majesty's Theatre, and earnestly as I sought to divert him
from his project he insisted on carrying it out. I had no right of veto
in the matter, and the masked ball took place. The sum of one guinea
entitled a ticket-holder to entrance and supper, and a day or two before
the entertainment fires were lighted in the property-room, the
painting-room, and the wardrobes, in order to cook some hundreds of
fowls which had been purchased in the market, after ordinary market
hours, at a very cheap rate.
Wine would be an extra charge. In order to suit the tastes of
connoisseurs, Mr. Smith made large purchases of Heidsieck, Pommery
Greno, Perrier Jouet, and other favourite brands somewhere in
Whitechapel, where they can be secured at a much less cost than at
Epernay or Rheims. When the wine came in he showed it to me with a look
of pride, and opened a bottle of someone's _cuvée réservée_ in order to
have my opinion. I told him frankly that the bottles, labels, and the
names branded on the corks seemed all that could be desired, and that I
found nothing bad except the wine. This he seemed to look upon as an
unimportant detail, and the Whitechapel champagne was sold to infatuated
dancers at ten and twelve shillings a bottle.
About this time I chanced to hear of an extraordinary young vocalist,
who had been charming the Americans, and, although hardly nineteen,
seemed to have obtained a firm hold on the sympathy and admiration of
their public. I opened negotiations at once, in order to secure her
services for the forthcoming season at Her Majesty's, and a contract was
duly entered into on behalf of Mr. Smith, whereby the little lady
undertook to sing four nights on approval, when, in case of success, she
was to have a salary of £10 a week. I likewise concluded an engagement
with Mario, whose term had expired at Covent Garden, and with Madame
Grisi; while Costa undertook to join the following year on the
expiration of his existing contract with Mr. Gye.
In fact, all looked very promising for the year 1861. But, as the time
approached, I found more difficulty than ever in communicating with Mr.
Smith, who seemed to be out of the way. I then accidentally learned that
owing to the extreme financial difficulty in which he was placed through
his numerous outside speculations he had been compelled to accept an
offer from Mr. Gye of £4,000 on condition of his not opening.
In accordance with this arrangement Her Majesty's Theatre remained
closed.
Some time in the month of April the little lady from America arrived and
sent me up her card, bearing the name of Adelina Patti. She was
accompanied by Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law. They wished to
know when Mr. Smith's season was likely to begin. I could give them no
information beyond the current report which they had already heard
themselves. The little lady, who was then seated on a sofa at the
Arundel Hotel, at the bottom of Norfolk Street, Strand, suggested that I
should try the speculation myself, as she felt sure she would draw
money. I thereupon asked her to let me hear her, that I might judge as
to the quality of her voice, to which she responded by singing "Home,
Sweet Home." I saw that I had secured a diamond of the first water, and
immediately set about endeavouring to get Her Majesty's Theatre. But
this was a hopeless business, as Smith, who still held the lease, was
nowhere to be found. Shortly afterwards, however, I met Smith by chance,
and proposed renting Drury Lane from him, without saying what for.
Two days later he brought me an agreement which he requested me to sign.
I said that I should like first to glance over it. He pointed out to me
that I might give operas, dramas, pantomimes, ballets, in fact
everything; and that I should have no difficulty in making a very fine
season. But on the top of the page overleaf my eye caught sight of a
parenthesis, within which were the words "Italian Opera excepted." I
thereupon put down the pen, raised some question about the deposit, and
afterwards kept clear of Mr. Smith.
But many years after he had ceased to be connected with theatres I one
day received a letter from him, in which he told me he was in the metal
trade, and asked me to send him a couple of stalls for himself and his
"old woman." The heading of the letter announced the character of his
new business, and he added in a postscript: "Do you ever want any tin?"
Nothing now remained but to secure the Lyceum; the only other theatre
available. This I did. It having been occupied but two or three years
previously by the Royal Italian Opera, I considered the locale would be
perfectly suited for my purpose. I thereupon started off to Paris to
find Mr. Lumley, from whom I now wished to secure for myself the singers
still engaged to him. Mr. Lumley had unfortunately left for Marseilles.
I myself started for Marseilles, but in passing Avignon I thought I saw
black whiskers in the passing train resembling those of Mr. Lumley. But
I was not sure. I therefore continued my journey.
"Mr. Lumley, est parti," I was told on my arrival. I returned to Paris,
and was informed that he had gone to England, which I knew was not
possible, except on a Sunday. This being Saturday, I determined to stop
at Boulogne and make inquiries; and in the same hotel where I had
conducted the negotiations some two or three years previously I found
him. I soon completed my arrangements, undertaking to give him half my
total gross nightly receipts in exchange for Titiens and Giuglini. I
undertook to provide the whole of the expenses, with Alboni, Patti, and
others among my other singers. I returned joyfully to London, and at
once went to the Arundel Hotel to inform Miss Patti and Strakosch of my
good luck. They did not seem overjoyed, or in any way to participate in
my exuberant delight.
Maurice Strakosch told me that as their last £5 note had been spent he
had been obliged to borrow £50 of Mr. Gye, which intelligence at once
reduced my height by at least two inches; and after a deal of difficulty
I ascertained that he had signed a receipt for the said loan in a form
which really constituted an engagement for the Royal Italian Opera,
Covent Garden.
In short, I found myself manager of the Lyceum Theatre, with an
expensive Company, and with Mdlle. Patti opposed to me in the immediate
vicinity at Covent Garden.
My season opened at the Lyceum on Saturday, the 8th June, 1861, the
opera being _Il Trovatore_, "Manrico," Signor Giuglini; "Il Conte di
Luna," Signor delle Sedie, the eminent baritone, who made his first
appearance in England; "Ferrando," Signor Gassier; whilst "Azucena" was
Mdme. Alboni, and "Leonora," Mdlle. Titiens; Arditi conducting the
orchestra, which was composed of the members of the Philharmonic Society
and Her Majesty's private band. On the second night I gave _Lucrezia
Borgia_, with Giuglini, Gassier, Alboni, and Titiens in leading parts.
In the meanwhile I placed Verdi's new opera, _Un Ballo in Maschera_, in
rehearsal in order that I might have the honour of representing it for
the first time in this country; and by dint of almost superhuman effort
on the part of Arditi and the principal artists, I produced it some few
days before Covent Garden, although it had been in rehearsal there for
over six weeks. I well recollect how, after a fatiguing performance of
such an opera as _Les Huguenots_, _Lucrezia Borgia_, or _Norma_, Mdlle.
Titiens, Giuglini, and other artists would go in the direction of Eaton
Square to take supper with Signor Arditi, and at about half-past one in
the morning begin rehearsing. The rehearsals terminated, the full blaze
of the sun would accompany us on our way home to bed. This was done
night after night.
But our efforts were rewarded by the immense success the opera achieved
at its first performance.
During the first weeks of my management I had a strong
counter-attraction operating against me in the shape of a large fire
raging in Tooley Street, which it seemed to be the fashionable thing to
go and see. Thousands attended it every evening.
Before the close of the season I gave a grand combined performance
composed of excerpts from various operas--a kind of representation never
popular with the British public; but, this being the last night of my
season, the house was crowded from top to bottom. During the evening the
choristers had banded together, threatening to refuse their services
unless I complied with an exorbitant claim which I considered they had
no right to make.
Prior to the curtain rising for the final section of the
performance--the entire fourth act of the _Huguenots_--I was sent for.
All reasoning with the chorus singers was useless. I therefore left the
room, telling them to remain until I returned, which they promised to
do. I then instructed Mdlle. Titiens and Giuglini that the
"Conspirators' Chorus" ("Bénédiction des Poignards") would be left out,
and that the act must commence, as it was now very late, with the entry
of "Raoul" and "Valentine" for the grand duet, whereby I dispensed with
the services of the chorus altogether.
No sooner did they hear that the opera was proceeding than they one and
all surrendered. I, however, had the pleasure of telling them that I
should never require one of them again--and I never did.
This really was the origin, now common at both Opera-houses, of the
introduction of choristers from Italy. I may mention that the members of
my refractory chorus were people who had been some thirty or forty
years, or even longer, at the Opera-houses and other theatres in London,
and it was really an excellent opportunity for dispensing with their
services.
At the close of the opera season, on balancing my accounts, I found
myself a loser of some £1,800. Thereupon, I resolved to carry on the
Opera again in a larger locale next year in order that I might get
straight; vowing, as the Monte Carlo gambler constantly does, that as
soon as I got quite straight I would stop, and never play again. I have
been endeavouring during the last thirty years to get straight, and
still hope to do so.
CHAPTER IV.
AT HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE--VERDI'S CANTATA--GIUGLINI AT THE
SEASIDE--POLLIO AND THE DRUM-STICK--AN OPERATIC
CONSPIRACY--CONFUSION OF THE CONSPIRATORS.
EARLY in the following spring, I succeeded in securing a promise of the
lease of Her Majesty's Theatre for 21 years, for which I deposited
£4,000 pending its preparation. I hastened to make public announcement
of the fact. Lord Dudley, however, kept varying the conditions of
payment, which I understood originally to have been a deposit of £4,000
to remain as security for the payment of the rent throughout the
tenancy. His lordship contended, however, that the sum deposited was in
part payment of the first year's rent, and that another £4,000 must be
paid before I could obtain possession.
This was indeed a terrible set-back to me, and I was at my wits' end
what to do. However, through the kindness of my friend Mitchell, who
subscribed largely, together with various members of the trade, I
secured the remainder; and on the first day of April--ominous day!--I
passed through the stage door with the key of the Opera in one pocket
and £2--my sole remaining balance--in the other. I stood in the middle
of the stage contemplating my position. I was encouraged by the
celebrated black cat of Her Majesty's; which, whether in good faith or
bad, rubbed herself in the most friendly manner against my knees.
Prior to the opening of my season of 1862 I made an increase in the
number of stalls from seven to ten rows, my predecessor having increased
them from four to seven. This removed the Duke of Wellington, who was an
old supporter of the house, much farther from the stage, it having
always been his custom to occupy the last number. Thus in Mr. Lumley's
time he occupied No. 82, in Mr. Smith's time 163, whilst this increase
of mine sent back His Grace to 280. Nothing but the last stall would
satisfy him; he did not care where it was.
Prior to my opening the most tempting offers were made by Mr. Gye to my
great prima donna Titiens. Her name, which closed my list of artists,
was mentioned in my prospectus with the subjoined prefatory remarks:
"The Director feels that with the following list of artists nothing more
need be said. Of one, however, a special word may not be out of place,
since she may without exaggeration be said to constitute the last link
of that chain of glorious prime donne commencing with "Catalani. It is
seldom that Nature lavishes on one person all the gifts which are needed
to form a great soprano: a voice whose register entitles it to claim
this rank is of the rarest order. Melodious quality and power, which are
not less essential than extended register, are equally scarce. Musical
knowledge, executive finish, and perfect intonation are indispensable,
and to these the prima donna should add dramatic force and adaptability,
together with a large amount of personal grace. Even these rare
endowments will not suffice unless they are illumined by the fire of
genius. By one only of living artists has this high ideal been
reached--by Mdlle. Titiens."
The subscriptions began pouring in, and all appeared _couleur de rose_,
when Mr. Gye's envoy, the late Augustus Harris, again appeared, Titiens
not having yet signed her contract with me; and he produced a contract
signed by Mr. Gye with the amount she was to receive in blank. She was
to fill in anything she chose. It was indeed a trying moment, and
various members of her family urged her to give consideration to this
extraordinary proposal. She, however, replied in few words: "I have
given my promise to Mr. Mapleson, which is better than all contracts."
My season, therefore, commenced in due course.
I had got together a magnificent company, and as the public found that
the performances given merited their support and confidence, the
receipts gradually began to justify all expectations, and within a
short time I found myself with a very handsome balance at my bankers.
This may be accounted for by the very large influx of strangers who came
to London to visit the Exhibition of 1862. One day, about this time, in
coming from my house at St. John's Wood, I met Verdi, who explained to
me that he was very much disappointed at the treatment he had received
at the hands of the Royal Commissioners, who had rejected the cantata he
had written for the opening of the Exhibition. I at once cheered him up
by telling him I would perform it at Her Majesty's Theatre if he would
superintend its direction, Mdlle. Titiens undertaking the solo soprano
part. The cantata was duly performed, and the composer was called some
half-dozen times before the curtain. At the same time the work was
purchased by a London publisher, who paid a handsome price for it. Verdi
appeared very grateful, and promised me many advantages for the future.
Early in the season I produced the opera of _Semiramide_, in which the
sisters Marchisio appeared with distinction. Afterwards came Weber's
romantic opera of _Oberon_; J. R. Planché, the author of the libretto,
and Mr. Benedict, Weber's favourite pupil, taking part in its
reproduction.
This was followed by the remounting of Meyerbeer's _Robert le Diable_,
with Titiens in the part of "Alice," the whole of the scenery and
dresses being entirely new. Mdlle. (now Mdme.) Trebelli shortly
afterwards arrived, and on May 4th appeared with brilliant success as
"Maffio Orsini" in _Lucrezia Borgia_, her second appearance taking place
four days afterwards in the part of "Azucena" (_Trovatore_), when her
permanent reputation seemed to be already ensured, as it in fact was.
About this time I had a great deal of difficulty with the tenor,
Giuglini, who, like a spoilt child, did not seem to know what he really
required. He went down to Brighton accompanied by a certain notorious
lady, and all persuasion to induce him to return proved useless. He said
he had the "migraine." Thereupon I hit upon a device for making him
return, which succeeded perfectly.
On the day of my visit I announced the _Trovatore_ for performance, with
Naudin, the tenor whom I had introduced some two years previously to
London, in the principal _rôle_. I spoke to a friendly critic, who
promised, in the event of Naudin's meeting with the success which I
anticipated, to make a point of recording the fact; and on the following
morning at Brighton, as I was accidentally walking with Giuglini, I
purchased the paper in which my friend wrote and handed it to the lady
who was absorbing all Giuglini's attention. I casually observed that
Giuglini might now remain at Brighton for a lengthened period. In the
course of an hour the tenor was on his way to London, volunteering to
sing the same evening if necessary; adding, however, a condition which
really caused me some inconvenience.
He now informed me that he had written a better cantata than Verdi's,
and that unless I performed it I could no longer rely upon his services;
if, however, his work were given he would remain faithful to me for the
future. The work was duly delivered, in which I remember there was a
lugubrious character destined for Mdlle. Titiens, called "Una madre
Italiana." Giuglini further required 120 windows on the stage, from each
of which, at a given signal, the Italian flag was to appear; and no
smaller number than 120 would satisfy him. We were at our wits' end. But
the difficulty was met by arranging the scene in perspective; grown-up
people being at the windows nearest the public, then children at those
farther removed, until in the far distance little dolls were used.
At a given signal, when the orchestra struck up the Garibaldi hymn,
these were all to appear. I need scarcely say that the cantata was given
but for one night. Poor Arthur Bacon, of the Ship Hotel, backed up
Giuglini's own opinion when he declared it to be "a fine work."
The business meanwhile kept on increasing. In fact, I kept the theatre
open on and off until nearly Christmas time, and always to crowded
houses.
During my autumn provincial tour of 1862 I had much trouble in finding a
substitute for my contralto, at that time Mdlle. Borchardt, who was
suffering from a sudden attack of "grippe;" an illness which, at least
in the artistic world, includes influenza, low fever, and other maladies
hard to define. The opera announced was _Lucrezia Borgia_, and my
difficulty was to find a lady capable of singing the part of "Maffio
Orsini." I improvised a substitute who possessed good will, but was
without knowledge of music and had scarcely a voice. In an apology to
the public I stated that Mdlle. Borchardt being indisposed, another
artist had at a moment's notice kindly consented to sing the part of
"Maffio Orsini," but that "with the permission of the audience she would
omit the brindisi of the third act."
This seemed little enough to ask, though the part of "Maffio Orsini"
without the famous drinking song, "Il segreto per esser felice," was
only too much like the celebrated performance of _Hamlet_ with the part
of the Crown Prince of Denmark left out.
It being quite understood, however, that the brindisi was to be omitted,
the singer left out on her own account and by my special directions
(scarcely necessary, it must be admitted) the legend of the opening
scene. Cut out the legend and drinking song, and nothing of the part of
"Maffio Orsini" remains except the few bars of defiance which this
personage has to address to "Lucrezia Borgia" in the finale of the first
act. These, however, can be sung by some other artist, and an audience
unacquainted with the opera will probably not complain if they are not
sung at all. The brindisi of the banqueting scene could not, of course,
have been omitted without explanation. But the necessary apology having
been frankly made there was nothing more to be said about the matter.
I hoped that Mdlle. Borchardt would be sufficiently recovered to
undertake next evening the part of "Azucena" in _Il Trovatore_. But "la
grippe" still held her in its clutches. She would have sung had it been
possible to do so, but all power of singing had for the time left her,
and it was absolutely necessary to replace her in the part which she was
advertised to play.
In the first act of _Il Trovatore_ "Azucena" does not appear, and I had
reason to believe, or at least to hope, that before the curtain rose for
the second act I should succeed in persuading my _seconda donna_ to
assume in the second and succeeding acts--in which "Leonora's" confidant
is not wanted--the character of "Azucena."
At the last moment my eloquence prevailed, and the _seconda donna_
declared herself ready to undertake the part of the gipsy. As for
singing the music, that was a different question. Already instructed by
me, she was to get through the part as well as she could without
troubling herself to sing.
Meanwhile I had desired Titiens, Giuglini, and Aldighieri to exert
themselves to the utmost in the first act; and it was not until after
they had gained a great success in the trio which concludes this act
that I ventured to put forward an apology for my new and more than
inexperienced "Azucena."
It was necessary first of all to see to her "make up," and as soon as
the requisite permission had been given, I myself covered her face--and
covered it thickly--with red ochre. Unfortunately, in my haste and
anxiety I forgot to paint more than her face and the front part of her
neck. The back part of her neck, together with her hands and arms,
remained as nearly as possible a pure white. I had told my new "Azucena"
to sit on the sofa, resting her head upon her hands, and this, at the
risk of bringing into too great contrast the red ochre and the pearl
white, she obligingly did.
I had arranged that after the anvil chorus, the opening scene of the
second act should terminate; the duet between "Manrico" and "Azucena"
being thus left out. We passed at once to the "Count di Luna's" famous
solo, "Il balen," and so on to the finale of this act. In the third act
"Azucena" was simply brought before the Count and at once condemned to
imprisonment. In the fourth act she had been strictly enjoined to go to
sleep quietly on the ground, and not to wake up until "Manrico" was
decapitated.
Thus treated, the part of "Azucena" is not a difficult one to play; and
how else is it to be dealt with when the contralto of the Company is
ill, and no adequate substitute for her can possibly be found?
The devices, however, that I have set forth are obviously of a kind that
can only be resorted to once in a way under stress of difficulties
otherwise insurmountable.
Accordingly, when the third day came and Mdlle. Borchardt was still too
unwell to sing, there was nothing left for me but to announce an opera
which contained no contralto part. The one I selected was _Norma_, a
work for which our principal tenor, Signor Giuglini, had conceived a
special hatred and in which he had sworn by the Holy Virgin and Madame
Puzzi never to sing again. I must here break off for a moment to explain
the origin of this peculiar detestation.
About a year before Giuglini had been playing the part of "Pollio" to
the "Norma" of Mdlle. Titiens; and in the scene where the Druid
priestess summons by the sound of the gong an assembly which will have
to decide as to the punishment to be inflicted upon a guilty person
unnamed, Mdlle. Titiens, on the point of administering to the gong an
unusually forcible blow, threw back the drum-stick with such effect,
that coming into violent contact with the nose of Signor Giuglini, who
was close behind her, it drew from it if not torrents of blood, at least
blood in sufficient quantity to make the sensitive tenor tremble for his
life. He thought his last hour had come, and even when he found that he
was not mortally wounded still nourished such a hatred against the
offending drum-stick that he uttered the solemn combination oath already
cited, and required, moreover, that the drum-stick should never more be
brought into his presence. If not destroyed, it was at least to be kept
carefully locked up.
Mdme. Puzzi had been to Giuglini more than a mother. Frequently, indeed,
this lady helped him out of scrapes in which a mother would probably not
have cared to interfere. She rescued him, for instance, more than once
from enterprising young women, who, by dint of personal fascinations, of
flattery, and sometimes of downright effrontery, had got the
impressionable singer beneath their influence. When things were at their
worst, Giuglini would write or telegraph to "Mamma Puzzi," as he called
her; and his adopted mother, to do her justice, always came to his
relief, and by ingenuity and strength of will freed him from the tyranny
of whatever siren might for the time have got hold of him.
When, therefore, he swore by Madame Puzzi he was serious, and when he
pronounced his grand combination oath, "By the Holy Virgin and Madame
Puzzi," it was understood that he had spoken his last word, and that
nothing could ever move him from the determination arrived at under such
holy influences.
Giuglini was in many things a child. So, indeed, are most members of the
artistic tribe, and it is only by treating them and humouring them as
children that one can get them to work at all.
The only two things Giuglini really delighted in were kites and
fireworks. Give him kites to fly by day and rockets, roman candles, or
even humble squibs and crackers to let off at night, and he was
perfectly happy. Often in the Brompton Road, at the risk of being
crushed to death by omnibuses, he has been seen lost in admiration of
the kite he was flying, until at last the omnibus men came to know him,
and from sympathy, or more probably from pity for the joy he took in
childish pleasures, would drive carefully as they came near him.
His fireworks proved to him more than once a source of serious danger.
On one occasion, in Dublin, for instance, when he was coming home from
the theatre in company with Mademoiselle Titiens, who had just achieved
a triumph of more than usual brilliancy, the carriage, already stuffed
full of fireworks, was surrounded by a number of enthusiastic persons
who, heedless of the mine beneath them, smoked cigars and pipes as they
at the same time leaned forward and cheered.
Let us now return to the doings of Signor Giuglini in connection with
the opera of _Norma_, in which he had sworn his great oath never again
to appear.
I have said that the artist is often child-like; but with this
childishness a good deal of cunning is sometimes mixed up. The one thing
he cannot endure is life under regular conditions. Exciting incidents of
some kind he must have in order to keep his nerves in a due state of
tension, his blood in full circulation. It annoys him even to have his
salary paid regularly at the appointed time. He would rather have an
extra sum one day and nothing at all another. The gratuity will give
him unexpected pleasure, while the non-payment of money justly due to
him will give him something to quarrel about.
The artist is often suspicious, and in every Opera Company there are a
certain number of conspirators who are always plotting mischief and
trying to bring about misunderstandings between the manager on the one
hand, and on the other the vocalists, musicians, and even the minor
officials of the establishment.
Needless to say that the singer on the night he sings, his nerves
vibrating with music, cannot at the end of the performance go to bed and
get quietly to sleep; and on one occasion, at Edinburgh, I passed on my
way to my bed the room in which Signor Giuglini was reposing, with a
cigar in his mouth, between the sheets and listening to the tales, the
gossip, the scandal, and the malicious suggestions poured into his ears
by the _camorristi_ of whom I have above spoken.
All I heard was, uttered in exciting tones, such words as "extra
performance," "almanac," "imposition," "Mapleson," and so on.
I knew that some plot was being hatched against me, but what it could be
I was unable to divine; nor, to tell the truth, did I trouble myself
much about it.
Meanwhile I had spoken to Mr. Wyndham, manager of the Edinburgh Theatre,
about the necessity, should Mademoiselle Borchardt still remain ill, of
performing some opera in which there was no part for a contralto. He saw
the necessity of what I suggested, and agreed with me that _Norma_ would
be the best work to play. I, at the same time, informed him that
Giuglini had sworn "by the Holy Virgin and Madame Puzzi" never more to
appear in that work, and I had no reason for believing that he had
forgotten either his impressive oath or his bruised nose.
It was resolved, therefore, to announce Signor Corsi for the part of
"Pollio." This might have suited Giuglini, from the superstitious point
of view; but it put him out in the project which, prompted by the
_camorristi_, he had formed for extorting from me a certain sum of
money. He was engaged to play sixteen times a month at the rate of sixty
pounds a performance. I had wished to have his services four times a
week; and in signing for sixteen performances a month it did not occur
to me that now and then in the course of the year the tenor might be
called upon to give a seventeenth. This was the point which he and his
fellow-conspirators had been discussing in his bedroom on the night when
it had struck me that some sort of dark scheme was being prepared for my
confusion.
It had been pointed out to Giuglini that if he sang on the 31st of the
month, as I originally intended him to do, he would be singing once too
often--once more than had been stipulated for in his engagement; and
thereupon he would be in a position to enforce from me whatever penalty
be might choose to impose. This he deigned to fix at the moderate sum of
£160; and his claim was sent in to me just before--in consequence of the
continued illness of Mdlle. Borchardt--I had decided to change the
opera, and out of respect for Signor Giuglini's own feelings, to assign
the tenor part in _Norma_ not to him, but to an artist who was not bound
to keep clear of this opera either by a peculiarly solemn oath or by
painful recollections of a dab on the nose from a vigorously-handled
drum-stick.
The opera, then, was announced with Signor Corsi in the part of
"Pollio;" and there seemed to be no reason why the performance should
not go off successfully. I noticed, however, some ominous signs, and,
for one reason or another, it seemed to me that the carefully-laid mine,
if it exploded at all, would burst that evening.
Giuglini was in a very excited condition, and I knew that whenever he
felt unduly agitated he sent for "Mamma Puzzi" to come and soothe his
irritated nerves. I did not know where Mdme. Puzzi was; but I _did_ know
that she might at any moment arrive, and I therefore gave orders that
she was not, under any circumstances, to be admitted. The stage door was
closed absolutely against her. With or without explanations, she was not
to be let in.
When the night for the performance arrived I took care to see that
Signor Corsi, at the proper time, was fitly attired for the character
of "Pollio." He had often played the part before in company with Mdlle.
Titiens, and I saw no reason for believing that his performance would
not on this, as on previous occasions, be thoroughly satisfactory. The
house was crowded. "Oroveso" had sung his air, and was being warmly
applauded. I stood at the wing close to the first entrance and waited
for Corsi to appear. The music in announcement of "Pollio's" entry was
played; but no "Pollio" was to be seen. I motioned to Arditi, and the
introductory strains were heard again. Still no "Pollio."
I rushed to Corsi's room in order to find out the meaning of the delay,
when, to my consternation and horror, I saw Corsi seated in a chair with
Mdme. Puzzi--Mdme. Puzzi, to whom all access to the theatre had been so
strictly forbidden!--pulling off his fleshings (she had already divested
him of his upper garments) while Giuglini was hurriedly taking off his
costume of ordinary life in order to put on the uniform of the Roman
soldier.
Giuglini, I found, had some days before telegraphed to Mdme. Puzzi at
Turin begging his "mamma" to hurry to Edinburgh, where her child was in
a terrible difficulty; and to Edinburgh she had come.
Mdme. Puzzi, refused admission at the stage door, had before the raising
of the curtain gone round to the pit entrance, paid for her place,
climbed over into the stalls, and then clambered from the stalls to the
orchestra, and--most difficult of all these gymnastic
performances--from the orchestra to the stage. She had then made her way
to the dressing-rooms, and, finding Corsi already costumed for the part,
had by persuasion or force induced him to change clothes with the
excited tenor, who, by the very lady who was now helping him to break
his vow, had sworn never to play the part he was on the point of
undertaking.
The curtain, meantime, had been lowered, amidst deafening protests from
the audience; and it was difficult to know what to do, until Giuglini,
having, with due assistance from his "mamma," completed his toilette,
declared himself ready to sing the part of "Pollio" provided one hundred
pounds were stopped out of the receipts to pay him for his extra
performance!
On my afterwards taunting Giuglini with having broken his vow, he
declared that Mdme. Puzzi possessed the power to liberate him from it.
When the audience were informed that the part of "Pollio" would be
played by Signor Giuglini, they were naturally delighted. The
performance was begun again from the beginning. The drum-stick, however,
in accordance with Giuglini's earnest prayer, was kept in the
property-room under lock and key, and Mdlle. Titiens struck the gong
with her hand.
Afterwards Giuglini showed himself a little ashamed of his conduct; and
of the hundred pounds paid to him for the extra performance he
presented fifty to Mrs. Wyndham, with a request that she would expend
the money in the purchase of a shawl. Mrs. Wyndham, however, would do
nothing of the kind. She considered that I had been very badly treated,
and made over the sum to me.
The remaining fifty pounds had to be shared between Giuglini and the
conspirators who had put him up to the trick, each of them having
bargained beforehand for a share in such plunder as might be obtained.
Then a claim was put in by Mdme. Puzzi for her travelling expenses from
Turin. This her affectionate child was not prepared to allow, and some
violent language was exchanged between him and his "mamma." How the
delicate matter was ultimately arranged I forget; but in the end, when
he had satisfied all demands made upon him, Giuglini could scarcely have
gained much by his too elaborate stratagem.
CHAPTER V.
RUNNING OVER A TENOR--TITIENS IN ITALY--CASHING A CHEQUE AT
NAPLES--A NEAPOLITAN BALL--APPROACHING A MINISTER--RETURN TO
LONDON.
ONE afternoon about four o'clock, during the month of November, 1862,
Giuglini sent word that he would be unable to sing the part of "Lionel"
in _Martha_ that evening, having had some dispute at home. All my
persuasion was useless; nothing would induce him, and as at that period
of the year there were no tenors to be found in London, I was at my
wits' ends to know what to do, and I ultimately decided to close the
theatre, having no alternative. I therefore got into a hansom and drove
off to inform Mdme. Trebelli, also Mdlle. Titiens, who was dining at her
house, that there would be no need of their coming down.
On turning the corner of the Haymarket, Piccadilly, the horse's head
struck a gentleman and forced him back on to the pavement. The cab was
stopped, and a policeman came up. The gentleman was not, however,
injured, and to my great astonishment he turned out to be an English
tenor, who had been lately in Italy. On learning this I politely took
him into my cab and inquired what had brought him back to England. He
said that he had been performing at various Italian theatres, and that
he was now very desirous of obtaining a _début_ in this country.
I at once informed him that nothing could be easier, and that it would
be best for him to make his appearance immediately, without any further
preparation, for thus he would have no time to reflect and get nervous.
I then quite casually, as we were going along, asked him if he knew the
opera of _Martha_, to which he replied that he knew nothing of the music
and had never seen the work. This for the moment wrecked all my hopes as
to saving my receipts that evening, the booking for which exceeded £600.
My impulse was to stop the cab and put him out; but first I sang to him
a few bars of _M'appari_. This romance he said he knew, having
occasionally sung it at concerts, but always with the English words. I
thought no more of ejecting him from the cab, and continued my drive up
to St. John's Wood.
On my relating to Mdlle. Titiens and Mdme. Trebelli how by good luck I
had nearly run over a tenor they both said it was useless to think of
attempting any performance.
I assured, however, my newly-caught tenor that if he would only be
guided by me and appear forthwith he would make a great success. I at
once set to work and showed him the stage business in the drawing-room,
requesting Mdme. Trebelli to go through the acting of the part of
"Nancy," and Mdlle. Titiens through that of "Martha." I explained to the
tenor that on entering he merely had to come on with his friend
"Plunkett," go to the inn table, seat himself, drink as much beer as he
liked, and at a given signal hand over the shilling to enlist the
services of "Martha" at the Richmond Fair, after which he would drive
her away in a cart. This would complete Act I.
In Act II. he simply had to enter the cottage leading "Martha," and
afterwards to attempt to spin (two drawing-room chairs served as
spinning wheels), until at last the wheels would be taken away by the
two ladies. When the spinning quartet began he was merely to laugh
heartily and appear joyous. In the third act I explained that he might
sing his song provided always that he confined himself to Italian words.
It did not much matter, in view of the public, what he sang if he only
kept clear of English; and I advised him to keep repeating _M'appari_ as
often as he felt inclined. This he did, and in consequence of a printed
apology which I had previously circulated in the theatre, to the effect
that Signor Giuglini had refused his services without assigning any
reason, my new tenor was warmly applauded, receiving for his principal
air a double encore, and afterwards a recall. In the last act there was,
of course, nothing for him to do, and the newspapers of the next morning
were unanimous in his praise.
The singer who rendered me these services was Mr. George Bolton, who
some years later (his voice having by that time become a baritone)
played with great success the part of "Petruchio" to Minnie Hauk's
"Katherine" in Goetz's _Taming of the Shrew_.
In the course of the season, which ended about the 18th December, I had
accepted an engagement for Mdlle. Titiens to sing at the San Carlo of
Naples. The contract was made direct with the Prefect, at the
recommendation of the "Commissione." The leading soprano engaged by the
manager had not given satisfaction, and the "Commissione" had the power,
before handing over the subvention, of insisting on the engagement of a
capable artist so as to restore the fortunes of the establishment.
Naturally, then, on my arrival with the great prima donna every possible
difficulty was thrown in our way. At length the _début_ took place, when
Titiens appeared as "Lucrezia Borgia." The vast theatre was crowded from
floor to ceiling, the first four rows of stalls being occupied by the
most critical "cognoscenti," who literally watched every breath and
every phrase, ready in case of need to express hostile opinions. At
length the boat came on, and "Lucrezia" stepped on to the stage amidst
the most solemn silence; and it was not until the close of the
_cabaletta_, of the first aria that the public manifested its
approbation, when it seemed as if a revolution were taking place. Mdlle.
Titiens' success went on increasing nightly, and the theatre was
proportionately crowded.
I recollect on one occasion after I had made four or five applications
to the Prefect for the money payable for the lady's services he handed
me a cheque the size of a sheet of foolscap paper. The amount was £800
for her first eight nights' services. On presenting myself at the bank I
was referred from one desk to another, until I was told that I must see
the chief cashier, who had gone out to smoke a cigar, and would not
return that day. I went again the following day, and after waiting a
considerable time at length saw him, when he told me to go to a certain
counter in the bank where I should be paid.
I endorsed the cheque in the presence of the cashier, who told me,
however, that he could not hand me the money for it unless my signature
was verified by the British Consul. On going to the British Consul I
found that he had gone to Rome, and would not be back for a couple of
days. At length I obtained the official verification of the signature,
and presented myself for the seventh time at the bank, when I was
invited by the cashier to go down into the cellars, where a man told me
off the amount in bags of silver ducats, which he drew from a large iron
grating. He did not count the sacks he was giving me, but only those
remaining behind; which left me one bag short. This he did not care for;
he only wanted his own remainder to be right.
Eventually the manager of the bank insisted on my having the amount
stated in the cheque, and I was then left to myself, surrounded by my
bags, with no porters to move them for me.
On my returning to the manager, who was very polite, and telling him
that I wished for the money in gold napoleons, he said it would be very
difficult, and that in the first place I must hire men to carry the bags
of silver up into the gold department. Thereupon I bargained with four
ill-looking individuals who were brought in out of the streets, and who
moved the bags at my risk to the gold department, when a vast premium
had to be paid. On my leaving the bank with the gold I saw my four
lazzaroni who had helped to move the silver, with hundreds of others,
all extending their hands and following me.
I drove with difficulty to the British Consul, who happened to be a
banker, followed by this vast multitude; for such a sum of money had not
been seen for a long time in or about Naples. I had now to pay another
large premium to get a bill on London for my gold, and this concluded
the matter, which had occupied me altogether seven days and a half.
After the next payment had become due I went three or four times to the
Prefect, but could never find him. One day, however, about twelve
o'clock, I was told he was within, but that he had a headache, and could
not see anyone. I nevertheless insisted on the necessity of his
receiving me, saying that otherwise the night's performance at the San
Carlo might be jeopardized. I was invited upstairs, where his Excellency
was eating macaroni in the grand ball-room, lying on a sofa, which had
served as a bed, he having returned home too late to mount the stairs,
whilst about eighty Bersaglieri were rehearsing a selection from
_Rigoletto_ for a ball he was going to give that evening. The sound was
deafening.
The Prefect was very polite, and gave me another of those large cheques,
which with a little manipulation I induced the British Consul to change,
and get me a bill for it. The Prefect invited me very courteously to the
ball he was giving, at which over 2,000 persons were present. It was a
most magnificent affair, the four angles of the large room being
occupied by wild boars roasted whole (with sundry fruits, wines, etc.),
to which the guests after every dance or two helped themselves, and then
continued their dancing.
At that time I was very anxious to secure the lease of the San Carlo
Opera-house, and by the aid of my friend the Prefect so far advanced
the matter, that it wanted but the sanction of the Minister at Turin to
complete it. The pay-sheet of the orchestra contained over 150 names,
but as the salaries varied from six to eight shillings a week I made no
objection to this. The heaviest salary was that of the conductor
Mercadante (composer of _Il Giuramento_, &c.), who received £5 a week.
On leaving Naples I went to Turin to present myself to the Marquis
Braham, but before I could get my card forwarded, even to the first
room, I was obliged to make a monetary advance. On reaching the second
room I was referred to another room on the entresol. It was impossible
to gain entrance, or even get my card sent further, without the help of
a napoleon. On going into the fourth room another tax was laid upon me,
and it being evening I thought it better to go home and reserve my money
offerings towards meeting the Marquis Braham until the next day. I
returned, armed with sundry five-franc pieces and napoleons; but it was
not until the fourth day, when I gave an extra douceur, that I could
approach him at all. It then appeared that someone had anticipated me,
and I was recommended to wait another year. I left for England, and the
matter dropped.
CHAPTER VI.
PRODUCTION OF GOUNOD'S "FAUST"--APATHY OF THE BRITISH PUBLIC--A
MANAGERIAL DEVICE--DAMASK CRUMB CLOTH AND CHINTZ HANGINGS--HEROIC
ATTITUDE OF A DYING TENOR--PRAYERS TO A PORTMANTEAU.
ON my return from Italy I set to work preparing for my grand London
season of 1863, and entered into several important engagements. About
this time I was told of an opera well worthy of my attention which was
being performed at the Théâtre Lyrique of Paris. I started to see it,
and at once decided that Gounod's _Faust_--the work in
question--possessed all the qualities necessary for a success in this
country. On inquiry I found that Mr. Thomas Chappell, the well-known
music publisher, had acquired the opera for England. The late Mr. Frank
Chappell, on the part of his brother, but acting in some measure on his
own responsibility, had bought the Faust music for reproduction in
England from M. Choudens, of Paris; and I have heard not only that he
acquired this privilege for the small sum of £40 (1,000 francs), but
moreover that he was remonstrated with on his return home for making so
poor a purchase.
The music of an opera is worth nothing until the opera itself has become
known, and Messrs. Chappell opened negotiations with Mr. Frederick Gye
for the production of _Faust_ at the Royal Italian Opera. The work,
however, had not made much impression at the Théâtre Lyrique, and Mr.
Gye, after going to Paris specially to hear it, assured his stage
manager, the late Mr. Augustus Harris, who had formed a better opinion
of Gounod's music than was entertained by his chief, that there was
nothing in it except the "Chorus of Soldiers." After due consideration
Mr. Gye refused to have anything to do with _Faust_, and the prospect of
this opera's being performed in London was not improved by the fact
that, in the Italian version, it had failed at Milan.
Meanwhile I had heard Faust at the Théâtre Lyrique, and, much struck by
the beauty of the music, felt convinced that the work had only to be
fitly presented to achieve forthwith an immense success in London. Mr.
Chappell was ready to give £200 towards the cost of its production, and
he further agreed to pay me £200 more after four representations,
besides a further payment after ten representations.
Certain that I had secured a treasure, I went to Paris and bought from
M. Choudens a copy of the score, the orchestral parts, and the right for
myself personally of performing the work whenever I might think fit in
England. I then visited Gounod, who for £100 agreed to come over and
superintend the production of what he justly declared to be his
masterpiece.
I was at that time (as indeed I always was when anything important had
to be done) my own stage manager. My orchestral conductor was Arditi;
Titiens undertook the part of "Margherita;" Giuglini that of "Faust;"
Trebelli was "Siebel;" Gassier "Mephistopheles;" and Santley
"Valentine."
Far from carrying out his agreement as to superintending the production
of the work, Gounod did not arrive in London until nearly seven o'clock
on the night of production; and all I heard from him was that he wanted
a good pit box in the centre of the house. With this, for reasons which
I will at once explain, I had no difficulty whatever in providing him.
One afternoon, a few days before the day fixed for the production of the
opera, I looked in upon Mr. Nugent at the box-office and asked how the
sale of places was going on.
"Very badly indeed," he replied.
Only thirty pounds' worth of seats had been taken.
This presaged a dismal failure, and I had set my mind upon a brilliant
success. I told Mr. Nugent in the first place that I had decided to
announce Faust for four nights in succession. He thought I must be mad,
and assured me that one night's performance would be more than enough,
and that to persist in offering to the public a work in which it took no
interest was surely a deplorable mistake.
I told him that not only should the opera be played for four nights in
succession, but that for the first three out of these four not one place
was to be sold beyond those already disposed of. That there might be no
mistake about the matter, I had all the remaining tickets for the three
nights in question collected and put away in several carpet bags, which
I took home with me that I might distribute them far and wide throughout
the Metropolis and the Metropolitan suburbs. At last, after a prodigious
outlay in envelopes, and above all postage stamps, nearly the whole mass
of tickets for the three nights had been carefully given away.
I at the same time advertised in the _Times_ that in consequence of a
death in the family, two stalls secured for the first representation of
_Faust_--the opera which was exciting so much interest that all places
for the first three representations had been bought up--could be had at
twenty-five shillings each, being but a small advance on the box-office
prices. The stalls thus liberally offered were on sale at the shop of
Mr. Phillips, the jeweller, in Cockspur Street, and I told Mr. Phillips
that if he succeeded in selling them I would present him with three for
the use of his own family. Mr. Phillips sold them three times over, and
a like success was achieved by Mr. Baxter, the stationer, also in
Cockspur Street.
Meanwhile demands had been made at the box-office for places, and when
the would-be purchasers were told that "everything had gone," they went
away and repeated it to their friends, who, in their turn, came to see
whether it was quite impossible to obtain seats for the first
performance of an opera which was now beginning to be seriously talked
about. As the day of production approached the inquiries became more and
more numerous.
"If not for the first night, there must surely be places somewhere for
the second," was the cry.
Mr. Nugent and his assistants had, however, but one answer, "Everything
had been sold, not only for the first night, but also for the two
following ones."
The first representation took place on June 11th, and the work was
received with applause, if not with enthusiasm. I had arranged for
Gounod to be recalled; and he appeared several times on the stage, much,
I think, to the annoyance of Arditi, to whom the credit of a good
_ensemble_ and a fine performance generally was justly due. The opinions
expressed by several distinguished amateurs as to the merits of Gounod's
admirable work were rather amusing. The late Lord Dudley said that the
only striking pieces in the opera were the "Old Men's Chorus" and the
"Soldiers' March;" which was going a step beyond Mr. Gye, who had seen
nothing in the work but the "Soldiers' Chorus."
Another noble lord, when I asked him what he thought of _Faust_,
replied--
"This demand is most premature. How am I to answer you until I have
talked to my friends and read the criticisms in the morning papers?"
The paucity of measured tunes in the opera--which is melodious from
beginning to end--caused many persons to say that it was wanting in
melody.
The second night _Faust_ was received more warmly than on the first, and
at each succeeding representation it gained additional favour, until
after the third performance the paying public, burning with desire to
see a work from which they had hitherto been debarred, filled the
theatre night after night. No further device was necessary for
stimulating its curiosity; and the work was now to please and delight
successive audiences by its own incontestable merit. It was given for
ten nights in succession, and was constantly repeated until the
termination of the season.
So successful was _Faust_ at Her Majesty's Theatre that Mr. Gye resolved
to produce it at once; and he succeeded in getting it out by July 2nd.
The following was the cast of the work at the Royal Italian
Opera:--"Margherita," Miolan-Carvalho (the creator of the part at the
Théâtre Lyrique); "Siebel," Nantier Didiée; "Mephistopheles," Faure;
"Valentine," Graziani; "Faust," Tamberlik.
The success of _Faust_ at the Royal Italian Opera was so great that it
enabled the manager to keep his theatre open until long beyond the
usual period. On the 15th May of the following year _Faust_ was
reproduced with Mdlle. Pauline Lucca and Signor Mario in place of Madame
Miolan-Carvalho and Signor Tamberlik. Three weeks afterwards, June 7th,
the part of "Margherita" was assumed for the first time by Adelina
Patti.
Mr. Gye, who had purchased of M. Gounod "exclusive rights" over the
work, sent to inform me that he did not wish to interfere with my
arrangements during the season already begun, but that for each
performance given at Her Majesty's Theatre he should expect in future to
be paid, and that meanwhile he had a claim against me of £800 for
performance of the work given in London and the provinces during 1863
and 1864. I, of course, resisted this extraordinary pretention on the
part of Mr. Gye; for, as the reader has already been informed, I had,
before producing _Faust_, purchased from the Paris publishers the right
of performing it wherever I personally might think fit. Mr. Gye brought
his action, of which the result was to establish the fact, painful
enough for M. Gounod, that, owing to some defect in regard to
registration, no exclusive rights of performance could be secured for
_Faust_ in England by anyone.
After the close of the season of 1863 I made a concert tour in the
autumn, a recital of _Faust_ being the chief attraction. The company
comprised Mdlle. Titiens, Mdme. Trebelli, Mdlle. Volpini, Signor
Bettini--who had just married Trebelli--and Signor Volpini. After we had
been out about two or three weeks Signor Volpini became very ill, and
whilst at Birmingham sent for a leading physician, who, on examining
him, said he would require a deal of attention, but that he hoped to
bring him round in about a couple of weeks. The patient replied that on
no account would he separate himself from his wife, who had to travel to
some fresh city daily, but that the doctor must do what he could for him
until he left the following morning with the Company. This he insisted
upon doing.
From Birmingham we went to Bristol, and on arriving the sick tenor was
at once put to bed and the leading physician sent for, who, on examining
him, asked who had been attending him. On the name of the Birmingham
physician being mentioned, the Bristol physician rejoined: "A very able
man. One of the very first in the profession." The patient had been in
good hands.
But on seeing the last prescription the doctor was astonished that his
predecessor should have written such a thing; in fact, he could scarcely
believe it, and it was fortunate for the patient he had left Birmingham
and come to place himself under his care.
The patient informed the physician that on no account could he part from
his wife, and that he would have to move off with the Company the
following morning to Exeter.
From Exeter we went to Plymouth, from Plymouth to Bath, from Bath to
Oxford, and so on during a space of some two or three weeks, the sick
tenor being carried from the hotel to the railway and from the railway
to the hotel, and each medical man of eminence making the same
observations with regard to his esteemed colleague in the previous town;
each one exclaiming that had Volpini remained in the previous city he
must have died. He was carried to London, and there he remained, as all
thought, on his death-bed, at the Hôtel Previtali, Panton Square. He was
not yet, however, destined to die, and, as I am about to relate, it was
a miracle that saved his life.
About this time I had engaged Sims Reeves to sing the _rôle_ of "Faust"
on certain evenings at Her Majesty's Theatre, and one day received a
telegram from the eminent tenor, dated "Crewe," expressing his
astonishment that I had announced him for that evening, when the
engagement was for the following one.
I at once went off to Sims Reeves's house, and learned from the butler
that his dinner had been ordered for half-past seven o'clock. I
thereupon informed the man that the orders had been changed, and that
the dinner was to be served at twelve o'clock instead of the time
originally fixed. I ascertained that Mr. Reeves was to arrive at Euston
Station, and there met him, accompanied by Mrs. Sims Reeves.
While she was busying herself about the general arrangements, I got the
tenor to myself and told him the difficulty I was in, to which he
replied that it was quite impossible for him to sing that evening, as he
had ordered his dinner at home. I at once explained that I had postponed
it for a few hours, and that a light dinner was being prepared for him
in his dressing-room at the theatre.
The suddenness of my proposition seemed rather to amuse him, as he
laughed; and I was delighted to get a kind of half-promise from him
that, provided I mentioned the matter to his wife, he would consent.
At this moment she appeared, asking me what I was talking about to her
husband. One of us began to state what the object in view was, when she
exclaimed--
"It's all nonsense; but I can well understand. Mapleson is an
impresario, and wants to ruin you by making you sing."
She then asked me how I could possibly think of such a thing when the
chintz and the crumbcloth of his dressing-room had not been fixed?
It was the custom of Mrs. Reeves to hang the walls with new chintz and
place a fresh-mangled white damask cloth on the floor the nights her
husband sang; and on this occasion the sacred hangings had gone to the
wash.
I explained that I had provided other chintz, but to no effect. Reeves
was hurried to his brougham and driven away, his wife remarking as she
looked scornfully at me: "He's only a manager!"
It being now half-past six I was in a nice state of mind as to how I
could possibly replace the great tenor in _Faust_. Signor Bettini, it
was true, had on the concert tour sung portions of the garden scene and
the duet of the prison scene in the recital of _Faust_ which we had
given throughout the provinces. Signor Volpini, moreover--only he was on
his death bed--knew the introduction and the trio of the duel scene.
Putting all this together I decided on my course of action.
First I called on Signor Bettini, requesting him to oblige me by going
to the theatre.
I next presented myself at Volpini's hotel, when I was informed that I
must step very quietly and say but few words. On entering I was told by
the invalid in a faint whisper that it was very kind of me to call upon
him; and he wished to know whether I had really come to spend the
evening with him. I told him that I had been informed on entering that
my visit must be a short one.
He asked me again and again what could possibly be done to save his
life, as he had tried all the doctors, but in vain. I said I would give
him my advice if he would only follow it. I then assured him that he had
but one chance of recovery. He must first allow me to mix him a pint of
Château Lafite and a couple of raw eggs, beaten up with powdered sugar,
and come down with me to the theatre, where, after drinking it, if he
was to die, he could die like a man before the footlights.
A faint smile came over his pallid countenance. Of course he thought I
was joking. But in due course the Château Lafite appeared, and the eggs
were beaten up, and I managed to make him swallow the stimulating
beverage. I put him on his flannel dressing-gown, took the blankets off
the bed, and, wrapping him up in them, carried him myself in a
four-wheeler down to the theatre.
I explained to him that he would have very little to do, beginning
simply with the few bars of the introduction; after that nothing but the
music he had been in the habit of singing on the concert tour. I
explained to him that although "Mephistopheles," the Prince of Darkness,
would in the eyes of the public transform him from an old man into a
young one, there would be no difficulty about this inasmuch as Bettini
would continue the part. Later on he could sing the trio in the duel
scene, where with his lovely voice a great effect would be produced.
The long and short of it was I induced him to dress; and all now seemed
in good order. I explained the matter to Titiens, Trebelli, and Arditi;
and as I had not touched a particle of food since nine o'clock that
morning, I went next door to Epitaux's, where I ordered a very small
repast, pending the commencement of the opera.
I had hardly seated myself at the table when my servant rushed in,
stating that there was a general row going on amongst the artists, and
that they were all going home. The doors of the theatre had been opened,
and the apology for the absence of Sims Reeves, which I had posted on
the outer doors, had been accepted by the public. This was evident from
the fact that over £650 of money was now in the house. The audience must
be already a little irritated by the disappointment, and I knew that any
further one might be attended with serious consequences. I believed that
there would be a riot unless the representation took place.
On entering the stage-door I met Mdlle. Titiens, who was about to step
into her carriage, going home. She told me it was useless to think of
performing. This was at ten minutes past eight. I begged her to remain.
I gave orders to the hall-keeper not to let anyone out of the place, and
to get two policemen to assist him. I then crossed the stage to the
dressing-room, where high words were going on--first between the two
tenors, and afterwards between their two pretty wives. Mdme. Volpini's
voice was uppermost, and I heard her say to Trebelli--
"Of course you will rejoice! My poor sick husband brought out at the
risk of his life, and then simply to undertake an old man's part, with
grey hair and beard concealing his beauty; whilst your husband is to
come on and make all the love in the garden scene, and get all the
applause."
Mdme. Trebelli responded by snapping her fingers at Mdme. Volpini, and
taking her husband, despite my entreaties, from the theatre. All this
excitement tended to work Volpini up; and, like a true artist, he said
he would do his best--even if he had to walk through the scenes in which
he was unacquainted with the music--rather than let me be disappointed.
It was now half-past eight, and the opera was on the point of
commencing. This I had ordered should be done punctually. Meanwhile I
had followed Mdme. Trebelli to her apartments in Regent Street. The
excitement had made her quite ill, and she was totally unable to appear
in consequence. I appealed forcibly to her husband, begging him if he
would not sing "Faust" to help me by taking the part of "Siebel." He was
a very good musician, and as at this time he never quitted his wife's
side I knew that he must be intimately acquainted with the music. I
thereupon got him down to the theatre in time for the garden scene, had
his moustache taken off, and put him into his wife's clothes. Everything
went off brilliantly, the male "Siebel" and the dying "Faust" sharing
with the admirable "Margherita" the applause of the evening.
The sudden exertion, the unwonted excitement, had really the effect of
saving Volpini's life; and he lived happily for many years afterwards.
During the worst stage of poor Volpini's illness, when, as already set
forth, he persisted in being moved from town to town, wherever his
charming wife had to go, they were both astonished one night to find
that their little girl, a child of three or four years of age, had got
out of bed, and apparently was praying to a large travelling trunk which
accompanied them on all their journeys. Kneeling before the huge box,
the little thing was heard to say: "And make my dear papa well again, or
I will believe in you no more."
The explanation of this touching mystery was that the little girl had
been in the habit of saying her prayers before an image of the Holy
Virgin, which the family carried with them from town to town. The image,
or picture, was now enclosed within the travelling trunk which had not
yet been unpacked, and the affectionate child addressed it where she
knew it to be.
CHAPTER VII.
GARIBALDI VISITS THE OPERA--GIUGLINI'S TROUBLE AT ST
PETERSBURG--GIUGLINI VISITED BY TITIENS--ALARM OF FIRE--PRODUCTION
OF "MEDEA"--GRISI'S LAST APPEARANCE--AN ENRAGED TENOR.
IN 1864 my season opened brilliantly, and on the fifth night I induced
Garibaldi, who was then in this country, to visit the theatre; which
filled it to overflowing. On that evening Titiens and Giuglini really
surpassed themselves; and at the close of the opera Garibaldi told me he
had never witnessed such a spirited performance, and that he had been
quite carried away by the admirable singing of the two eminent artists.
The opera was _Lucrezia Borgia_.
Some few nights afterwards I placed Nicolai's opera, the _Merry Wives of
Windsor_, before the public, under the name of _Falstaff_, introducing a
charming contralto named Bettelheim; who undertook the _rôle_ of "Mrs.
Page," whilst Titiens impersonated "Mrs. Ford," Giuglini "Fenton,"
Bettini "Slender," Gassier "Mr. Page," Santley "Mr. Ford," &c., &c. The
magnificent new scenery was by Telbin. The opera met with most
unequivocal success, and was repeated for several consecutive nights.
But, as with so many other operas, the public were so slow in expressing
their approbation that it gradually had to drop out of the _répertoire_.
Shortly afterwards I produced, remounted, Beethoven's _Fidelio_, with
Titiens as the heroine, which was given some seven or eight nights in
succession to the most crowded houses. In the winter I gave my usual
extra performances in the provinces and in London.
Prior to the close of the London season of 1864 Giuglini signed an
engagement for St. Petersburg, receiving a very large honorarium for his
services. Regarding himself as the only representative of "Faust," he
had not taken the precaution of stipulating for his appearance in this,
or, indeed, any other part in his _répertoire_. On his arrival he was
much mortified to find the Covent Garden artists, of whom there were
several, always working and intriguing together; and to Giuglini's great
dismay the part of "Faust" was assigned to Signor Tamberlik; Patti being
the "Margherita" and Nantier Didiée the "Siebel." Now passed some two or
three weeks before Giuglini could obtain a _début_. One afternoon, about
three o'clock, he was informed by the intendant that he was called upon
to perform the _rôle_ of "Faust," Tamberlik being taken suddenly ill.
This was indeed good news, and he set about arranging his costumes and
looking over the music. Towards six o'clock he heard it rumoured that
Madame Patti would be too indisposed to sing the _rôle_ of "Margherita,"
and that he would have to appear with some _débutante_.
This thoroughly unnerved him, and he himself became indisposed, which he
at once notified to the intendant. At the advice of some friends he was
induced to take a walk, and pay a visit to some acquaintances to spend
the evening.
About ten o'clock the door was rudely opened without any warning, and an
_employé_ entered, accompanied by two officials, one of whom politely
raised his hat and said, "Signor Giuglini, I believe?" to which the
Signor replied that he was Giuglini. They thereupon immediately left.
Nothing more was heard of this matter until about a fortnight
afterwards. It being pay day for the principal artists, that afternoon
the Imperial Treasurer called at Giuglini's house with a roll of rouble
notes, requesting him to sign the receipt for his month's pay, which
Giuglini at once did. But on leaving, the treasurer begged to draw his
attention to the notes, as a deduction of £150 had been made from his
monthly stipend in consequence of his having left the house on the day
he was reported to be indisposed. He got into a towering fit of rage,
requesting the balance to be handed to him, as he was allowed certain
days of indisposition according to the terms of his contract. The
treasurer replied that according to the provisions of that clause he
should have remained at home in his house on the day of his reported
illness. The arguments became very warm, and Giuglini, in a fit of rage,
threw the whole bundle of rouble notes into the stove, which was then
burning; and from that moment his reason seemed to have left him.
On the termination of my spring concert tour in 1865 we began a season
of opera in the beginning of March at Dublin, Giuglini promising to join
us at the conclusion of his St. Petersburg engagement, which ended about
that time.
One morning at breakfast I received a telegram from London: "Come on at
once. Giuglini arrived." I was indeed delighted, and, having notified
the good news to the Dublin press, left immediately for London. On my
arrival at Giuglini's house in Welbeck Street I was told that he was
very much indisposed in consequence of the fatigues of the journey, and
that his mind did not seem quite right. I went upstairs to him at once.
He was very pleased to see me, but to my astonishment he had no trousers
on. Otherwise he was all right.
I talked with him some time, and advised him to put on the necessary
garment, so that we might start that evening for Dublin. By force of
persuasion I at last obtained his consent to let me put his trousers on
for him, and in the course of an hour succeeded in getting one leg in. I
then ordered some oysters for him, and talked to him whilst I was
coaxing in the other leg. This I at length managed to do, when to my
horror I found the first leg had come out again. After wasting the whole
of the day I found myself too late to catch the Irish mail, and the
Signor still with one leg only in his pantaloons.
Whilst Giuglini was sleeping I inquired as to the full particulars of
his condition, and was informed that he had arrived from St. Petersburg
in charge of a hired courier, who simply wanted a receipt for him. At
the same time his magnificent fur coats and other costly clothing were
all missing. He had made the journey in second-class, wearing a summer
suit although it was the depth of winter; and on examining his jewel
case I found that the stones had been taken out of everything he
possessed, although the articles themselves were there. It was indeed a
sad affair. I was advised to place him for a short time under the care
of Dr. Tuke, and I had then to hurry back to Ireland.
On my return to London I went to pay Giuglini a visit at Chiswick,
Mdlle. Titiens insisting on accompanying me. We waited some time during
which we were particularly cautioned not to approach him. At length he
entered; he was delighted to see us and talked quite rationally. We
persuaded the doctor to allow us to take him for a drive, the signor at
the same time expressing a wish to be driven to the Star and Garter, at
Richmond, to dine. To this the keeper, who was on the box alongside the
coachman, objected, promising Giuglini that if he would return to the
doctor's he should have a nice large plate of meat, which seemed greatly
to please him. Giuglini had previously complained to me that he was made
to drink sherry, a wine which he particularly disliked, his ordinary
drink being claret or claret and water. He afterwards sang us "Spirto
gentil" from the _Favorita_, followed by "M'appari" from _Martha_,
singing both airs divinely. The only thing peculiar was that his tongue
was drawn very much to the right, and that he had to stop after every
ninth or tenth bar to straighten it.
When we got back to the doctor's Mdlle. Titiens and myself stayed to
dinner. During the repast Giuglini, who had been looking forward to his
plate of meat, came into the room exhibiting on a very small plate a
very small piece of meat.
"Look what they have given me, Thérèse," he said to Titiens. "I am
afraid to eat it," he added, in a tone of irony; "it might give me an
indigestion."
My firm belief is that if I could have got both Giuglini's legs into his
trousers the day that he arrived in London I should have saved him.
Living something like his ordinary life, among his old companions, he
would have had at least a chance of getting well.
Thus matters went on until the London season of 1865 opened, which took
place on the Saturday night of the Easter week. I had made a series of
improvements throughout the theatre, by reducing considerably the number
of the private boxes, and enlarging those I retained. I likewise removed
the twelve proscenium boxes, ten each side of the stage, thereby
advancing the drop curtain some 16 feet nearer the public. This gave me
much more room behind the scenes.
Amongst the new singers I introduced was Miss Laura Harris, who
afterwards, as Mdme. Zagury, achieved brilliant success throughout the
whole of Europe; also Mdlle. Ilma de Murska, a lady who at once took
high rank from her phenomenal vocal qualities. I also presented Signor
Foli, a young artist, who was engaged at the Italian Opera in Paris, and
who soon became a public favourite; likewise Signor Rokitanski, another
eminent basso. Despite the blow I had received in the loss of Giuglini I
went to work with renewed energies, and presented to the public
Beethoven's _Fidelio_, with a magnificent cast, including Titiens, the
incomparable "Leonora." I, moreover, mounted in great style Mozart's
_Flauto Magico_, Titiens being the "Pamina," Ilma de Murska the "Queen
of Night," Sinico the "Papagena," and Santley the "Papageno;" whilst the
subordinate parts were all undertaken by principal artists.
During the last act an accident occurred, which might have been very
serious, inasmuch as the house was crowded from the stalls right up to
the back of the gallery. In preparing for the final scene some of the
gauze, which had been used for clouds during the evening, caught fire
over the gas battens. Instantly the alarm was given, when one of the
flymen, at the risk of his neck, flung himself across the stage,
balancing himself on a "batten" (a narrow strip of wood, some forty feet
long), while he cut the ropes with his knife, causing the burning gauze
to fall down on to the stage, where it was extinguished by the firemen.
Mr. Santley, who was undertaking the _rôle_ of the "Bird-catcher,"
remained on the stage unmoved. He walked forward to the audience, and
addressed them in these eloquent words--
"Don't act like a lot of fools. It's nothing."
This speech had an immediate effect; and Santley continued his song as
if nothing had happened. But for his presence of mind the loss of life
would have been most serious.
I likewise produced Cherubini's tragic opera, _Medea_; a work considered
by musical amateurs one of the finest dramatic compositions ever
written. No musician ever exercised more influence on his art than
Cherubini. His compositions are of the first authority, so that no
musical library, whether of the professor or the amateur, can claim to
be considered complete without them. The part of "Medea" was represented
by Mdlle. Titiens. In assuming this _rôle_ Mdlle. Titiens certainly
added the final touch of lustre to her lyric crown. I need scarcely say
the opera was magnificently mounted, even to the smallest detail. It
was particularly successful, and still retains its place in the
_répertoire_. I was interested to find in what large numbers the
relatives and descendants of Cherubini were attracted to my theatre by
the announcement of his Medea. Naturally they all expected free
admissions, even to great-grandchildren and third cousins.
The season was a very successful one. In the autumn I started the
regular provincial opera tour, Mario being my principal tenor, vice
Giuglini. We commenced in Manchester, where Mario's unrivalled
performances in _Faust, Rigoletto, Martha, Ballo in Maschera_, and _Don
Giovanni_ attracted crowded houses. We afterwards visited Dublin,
proceeding thence to Belfast, Liverpool, etc., terminating, as usual,
about Christmas.
In the early part of January, 1866, I made a very successful concert
tour, giving no less than one hundred and twenty concerts in some
seventy cities in sixty successive days, with two very strong parties:
Titiens, Trebelli, Santley, Stagno, and Bossi in one; and Grisi,
Lablache, Mario, Foli, and Arditi in the other; ending up with a
brilliant series of operas with casts combined from the two parties in
the northern capital and at Glasgow, where Mdme. Grisi distinguished
herself in the _rôles_ of "Lucrezia Borgia," "Norma," "Donna Anna," etc.
Thus matters went on until the London season. On each occasion when I
visited Giuglini I found no improvement, and it was ultimately decided
that a sea trip might benefit him. He, therefore, left London in a
sailing ship for Italy. I never saw him afterwards. I need scarcely add
that his loss was irreparable.
I opened my London season of 1866 early in April, for which I engaged a
very powerful Company, including Mdme. Grisi. I announced her engagement
in the following terms:--
"Mr. Mapleson has the gratification to announce that he has prevailed on
Mdme. Grisi to revisit the scene of her early triumphs, and again to
appear at the Theatre, her previous connection with which formed one of
the most brilliant epochs in operatic history. Mdme. Grisi will once
more undertake some of the parts which she created, and in her
impersonations of which will be revived the traditions obtained direct
from Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini. These representations can only
extend for a few nights, and they will derive additional interest from
the fact that Mdlle. Titiens has consented to take part in them as a
mark of respect to one who for so many years reigned absolutely without
a rival on the lyric stage."
I was justified in making this announcement in consequence of the
magnificent style in which Mdme. Grisi had been singing during our
spring opera tour.
Grisi seemed interested and affected by her return to the old house of
which she had taken leave twenty years previously. The old _habitués_
came in large numbers to see her, to hear her, and naturally to support
her with their applause on her first (which proved also to be her last)
appearance. This took place on the evening of May 5, 1866. The Prince
and Princess of Wales were both present.
When the gondola came down, from which, in the first act of _Lucrezia
Borgia_, the heroine makes her entry, there was breathless attention
throughout the house. The great vocalist had the command of all her
resources, and sang the two verses of "Com'è bello" admirably, omitting,
according to her custom, the _cabaletta_, which Titiens and all other
"Lucrezias" made a point of giving.
Well as she sang, I noticed some signs of nervousness. She had been
visited by misgivings before the performance began. I had done my best,
however, to reassure her, and was under the impression, judging from the
apparent result, that I had succeeded. But her hands, I remember, just
as she was going on, were extremely cold. I took them in my own, and
found that they were like stone.
At the end of the first act, on the conclusion of the scene in which
"Lucrezia" is taunted and reproached by her victims and their friends,
Mdme. Grisi, accustomed to the stage of the Royal Italian Opera,
remained too far in front, though at a point where, at Covent Garden,
the curtain would have fallen between her and the audience. It was
otherwise at Her Majesty's Theatre (I refer, of course, to the old
building), where the stage advanced far into the audience department;
and when the curtain came down the "Lucrezia" of the evening found
herself kneeling on the ground (in which attitude she had defied the
conspirators) and cut off by the curtain from the stage behind. This
placed the unfortunate singer in a ludicrous and, indeed, painful
position; for she had a stiffness in one of her knees, and was unable on
this occasion to rise without the help of the stage attendants.
Mdme. Grisi was, of course, much distressed by this _contretemps_. She
had recourse, however, to the homeopathic remedies which she always
carried with her, and after a time was herself again. These remedies
were for the most part in the form of stimulants, which, however, Mdme.
Grisi took only in the smallest quantities. Her medicine-chest contained
a dozen half-pint wicker-covered bottles, which held, besides orgeat and
other syrups, brandy, whisky, hollands, port-wine, and bottled stout.
In the second act Mdme. Grisi got on very well, especially in the scene
with the bass preceding the famous trio. In the passionate duet with the
tenor, just when the Duke, after administering the poison to "Gennaro,"
has gone away, she made an unsuccessful attempt to reach the A natural;
and the failure caused her much confusion. She got through the
performance; but she ran up to me immediately the curtain fell and
exclaimed that it was all over with her, and that she never could appear
again.
The notices next morning were sufficiently favourable; but it was
evident that the career of the great vocalist was now, indeed, at an
end. Let me here say a word about Mdme. Grisi's pecuniary affairs.
After the duel between her husband, M. de Meley, and Lord Castlereagh a
separation took place; and the injured spouse made an arrangement by
which he was to receive out of his wife's salary the moderate income of
two thousand a year. This she was to pay as long as she remained on the
stage. In order that the famous singer might enjoy the use of her own
earnings, I made an agreement with her by which on my provincial tours
she was to sing for me gratuitously, while I at the same time engaged to
pay Signor Mario £300 a week. For this salary the two admirable artists
were ready to sing as often as I liked. They were most obliging; full of
good nature, and without any of the affectation or caprice from which so
few singers at the present day are free. They took a pleasure in their
performances, and thought nothing of playing three or four times a week.
They would have sung every night had I been unreasonable enough to ask
them to do so.
Far from insisting that she should never be called upon to do anything
that was not expressly set down for her in her written contract, Mdme.
Grisi would often volunteer her assistance in cases where it was really
very useful. In _Don Pasquale_, for instance, while Mario was singing
the beautiful serenade "Com'e gentil!" she would direct the chorus
behind the scenes, singing herself and marking the time on the
tambourine.
She was invaluable to Mario in many ways, not only in connection with
his art, but also with the occupations of his ordinary life. She was
always punctual, and, indeed, a little before the time; whereas Mario
was invariably late. He had always his cravat to tie or a fresh cigar to
light just when the last moment for catching the train had arrived. He
was the most inveterate smoker I ever knew. He had always a cigar in his
mouth, except when he was on the stage and actually in the presence of
the audience. When he came off, if only for a moment, he would take a
puff at his still burning cigar, which he had carefully left in the
wings where he would be sure to find it again. "Faust" in the garden
scene passes for a few moments behind some bushes at the back of the
stage. During those moments Mario had just time to enjoy a few whiffs,
after which he returned to continue his love-making.
Mario spent large sums of money on his favourite weed, and thought
nothing of giving away a box of cigars to a friend for which he had paid
(to some friendly tobacconist who had cheated him) £5 or £6 a hundred.
About this time I charged Mr. Telbin and his talented sons to paint me
the whole of the scenery for Meyerbeer's _Dinorah_, which was brought
out in due course, Ilma de Murska appearing as the demented heroine,
Gardoni as "Corentino," and Santley as "Hoel." It was a truly
magnificent performance, well worthy the reputation of the theatre.
Shortly afterwards I produced another classical opera, which was gladly
welcomed by all musical amateurs. The work I refer to was Gluck's
_Iphigenia in Tauris_--a work not less remarkable for its intrinsic
merits than for having been the cause of one of the most fierce and
prolonged artistic controversies on record. Paris, ever the _champ de
bataille_ of such contests, was, figuratively speaking, shaken to its
foundations by the antagonistic Gluckists and Piccinists; and the
dispute was only ended by Gluck leaving France.
This work was likewise magnificently put upon the stage, Titiens,
Santley, and Gardoni really surpassing themselves.
I afterwards had the honour of introducing Mozart's comic opera, _Il
Seraglio_, in which Mdlle. Titiens appeared as "Constanza," the
remaining personages being entrusted to Dr. Gunz, Signor, Stagno,
Rokitanski, &c.
One evening, when the opera of _Rigoletto_ was being performed, with
Mongini as the "Duke," feeling tired, as I had been working in the
theatre throughout the day, I went home just before the termination of
the third act. I had been at home about three-quarters of an hour when
my servant hurried up in a cab to inform me that the curtain had not
yet risen for the final act, and that a dreadful disturbance was going
on in consequence of some question with Mongini, who was brandishing a
drawn sword and going to kill everybody. I immediately slipped on my
clothes and went down to the theatre.
At the stage door, without her bonnet, I met the tenor's charming wife,
the only person, as a rule, who could control him in any way; and she
entreated me not to go near him, or there would be bloodshed. I
insisted, however, on going to his room without delay, as the curtain
was still down and the public was getting tumultuous. I took the
precaution of buttoning my overcoat across my chest, and in I went, my
first words being--
"This time, Mongini, I hear you are right (_Questa volta sento che avete
ragione_)."
With this preliminary we got into conversation, but he still remained
walking up and down the room with nothing but his shirt on and a drawn
sword in his hand. I saw that I had to proceed very slowly with him, and
began talking on indifferent matters. At last I asked him the details of
all the trouble. He thereupon explained to me that the master tailor,
who had been requested by him in the morning to widen his overcoat by
two inches, had misunderstood, and contracted it by two inches. I wished
to have a look at the dress, which, however, was lying on the floor torn
to pieces. I assured Mongini that the man should be cruelly punished,
and he and his family put upon the streets to starve early the next
morning.
He then got calmer, and I casually observed, "By-the-bye, is the opera
over yet, Mongini?" to which he replied, "No, it is not."
"Never mind that," I continued; "the public can wait. Everyone, by the
way, is talking of the magnificent style in which you have been singing
to-night."
His eyes brightened, and he said he should like to go on with the opera.
"Not at all a bad idea!" I remarked.
"But I have no dress," said Mongini, rather sadly; "it is destroyed."
I suggested that he should wear the dress of the second act, putting on
the breastplate and the steel gorget with the hat and feathers, and he
would then be all right, and "La Donna e Mobile" would make amends for
the delay. He dressed and followed me to the stage, when I made the sign
for the stage manager to ring up the curtain, greatly to the
astonishment of Mongini's wife, who was fully expecting to hear that I
had been run through the body.
The next day at twelve o'clock, as per appointment, Mongini came to my
office to be present at the punishment of the master tailor. I had taken
the precaution to inform the tailor, who was a single man, that he had a
wife and four children, and that he was to be sure and recollect this.
I called him into my room in the presence of Mongini, and told him
gravely that he with his wife and children must now starve. There was no
alternative after the treatment Mongini had received the previous
evening.
Mongini at once supplicated me not to let the children die in the
gutter, as it might injure him with the public, and he ended by
promising that if I would retain the tailor in my service he would sing
an extra night for nothing.
CHAPTER VIII.
PAYMENT AFTER PERFORMANCE--DISCOVERY OF MADGE ROBERTSON--MARIO AND
THE SHERIFF--GENEROSITY OF THE GREAT TENOR--DÉBUT OF CHRISTINE
NILSSON--DESTRUCTION OF HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE--A GREAT
PHILANTHROPIST.
AT the close of the London season of 1866 we went to Ireland for the
usual autumn operatic tour, stopping _en route_ at Liverpool to give a
morning concert. The rush was so great that all the metal cheques for
the half-crown seats were exhausted and we had to use penny pieces.
Numbers of the public found out, therefore, a ready way of getting in
without payment. As soon as I observed this, and as there were still
many hundreds unable to obtain admission, I conducted them across to
another door which led into the orchestra. There being no money-taker, I
let some four hundred of them crowd in, impressing upon them that they
would have to pay half-a-crown apiece as they came out; and I must add
that every one paid up punctually.
We left Liverpool after the concert for Dublin, where we fulfilled a
very profitable engagement.
After leaving Dublin we went, early in October, to Leeds, and afterwards
to Hull, at which latter place I recollect well that a full rehearsal of
_Les Huguenots_ was necessary in consequence of a new "Queen" having
joined the company. Both Mario and Titiens complained of the incident
and wondered how they were to finish the rehearsal in time to dine by a
quarter past three, it being a general rule with artists not to eat
later than that hour when they have to sing the same evening. We began
the rehearsal early; and it was not until after two that it was
concluded. The dinner being nearly ready at the hotel, I went in a
carriage to fetch Mario and Titiens back from the theatre without loss
of time. At a quarter past three I found them both seated in the stalls,
witnessing a morning performance, at which a Miss Madge Robertson was
playing in a piece called _A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing_. So rivetted to
the spot were Titiens and Mario--both exclaiming "Do not disturb us, let
us wait a little longer"--that it was nearly five o'clock before I got
them home, when it was, of course, too late to dine. Not that they
regretted this. They both told me that I ought to write to every London
manager telling them what a charming actress they had discovered. I need
hardly say that the Miss Robertson of those days is now Mrs. Kendal,
more perfect in her art than ever.
I again started my concert tour in the early part of January, 1867, with
Titiens, Trebelli, and others; and was as usual pre-eminently successful
all along the line. Mario joined us about the 7th March in Scotland.
About this time he experienced considerable worry through being served
with various writs for bills of exchange, for which he had received no
consideration whatever, and which had been accumulating for many years.
In more prosperous times preceding the period in question he had
frequently assisted young artists, painters, sculptors, and Italians
generally, who had come to this country with recommendations to him, and
who had nearly all proved most ungrateful. It was computed that over
£40,000 had been distributed by the great tenor on various occasions
amongst his compatriots and others seeking aid.
I recollect meeting at Fulham one Sunday at dinner a young sculptor who
had arrived with a letter of recommendation to Mario, and who on
presenting himself exclaimed that he had not come to borrow money,
hearing how much victimized Mario had been by others. All he wanted was
to bring a piece of sculpture from Rome to London, for which he already
had a purchaser in view; and if Mario would but accept a bill at two
months, which he then had with him, he would within a month have sold
his work and the money could be put to Mario's credit, so that the bill
would be punctually met. In fact, every possible device was resorted to
by persons well acquainted with his generous nature--which brings me to
the case in point.
We had gone through a most arduous tour, and Mario had been singing four
times a week throughout the whole time, and with most brilliant voice.
As he had sung four nights running during the week I am speaking of, and
was to be replaced the following evening (Saturday) by Signor Tasca in
the _Huguenots_, he devoted his last day to the packing of his luggage,
intending to leave by an early train for York, whence, after a night's
rest, he would go on to London, presenting himself on the Monday for
rehearsal at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, where the season
was to commence on Tuesday.
In the hall at the Edinburgh Hotel, where Mario had put up, a Sheriff's
officer was waiting for him with a writ or an attachment for £100; and I
thought to help him out of the dilemma by the following device, knowing
how delicate and sensitive he was. I called to bid him good-bye, taking
with me a closed envelope containing a £100 note. I by degrees gave him
to understand that I had been looking about the city for some little
souvenir, but without success, and as his taste was so superior to mine,
if he would select one in memory of the pleasant time we had spent
together, I should feel obliged. I at the same time handed him the
envelope. I was on the point of leaving the room when a note was
brought to me, requesting me to come to the theatre at once, as Tasca,
the new tenor, had been taken ill at the rehearsal, and was obliged to
go home. Mario, noticing signs of displeasure across my brow, insisted
upon knowing the reason; and after some pressure I informed him that the
new tenor, who was to replace him, had fallen sick, and that I must be
off to see how the matter could be remedied.
My dear friend patted me on the shoulder, and said he knew of a way. The
opera to be performed being _Les Huguenots_, for the benefit of Mdlle.
Titiens, he would try, he said, to satisfy the public in the part of
"Raoul," and thus help me out of my difficulty. I readily acceded, and
asked him to name any terms he liked; but he assured me that he should
consider himself amply repaid if I would be present at Covent Garden on
the following Tuesday, when he was to appear as the "Duke" in _Un Ballo
in Maschera_, as that would encourage him. I thanked him, and was again
leaving when he called me back to express his displeasure at my having
offered him the hundred-pound note in the envelope, requesting me at
once to take it back. This I, of course, declined to do, until at last
he said--
"If no one is to have it, it had better go into the fire; but sing I do
not unless you allow me to return it to you at once."
All argument was useless. Then reluctantly I left him.
The following Monday night I started for London, where I attended the
opening of the Royal Italian Opera the next evening, and had the
pleasure of applauding Mario, and complimenting him in his
dressing-room, after the second act. He could not express sufficiently
his delight at my being present.
The London season of 1867 was remarkable for the first performance in
England of Verdi's _Forza del Destino_.
Prior to the commencement of this season my attention had been drawn to
a young Swedish singer, named Christine Nilsson, who had appeared at the
Théâtre Lyrique of Paris, and was attracting a certain amount of
attention. I went over and heard her in the _Magic Flute_, and was
delighted with the purity of her voice. She was also singing _La
Traviata_ and _Martha_. I at once concluded an engagement with her.
Before disclosing the fact to Arditi, or any other member of my Company,
I invited Mdlle. Titiens and Mdme. Trebelli, with Signor and Mdme.
Arditi, over to Paris for a fortnight's holiday prior to the
commencement of our laborious London season. Amongst the places of
amusement we visited was the Théâtre Lyrique, where the Swedish singer
was that night filling the _rôle_ of "Martha." I must say I was not
impressed myself, whilst the remainder of the party thought nothing
whatever of her. I, therefore, refrained from even hinting that I had
already engaged her. As the time approached, the lady insisted on making
her _début_ as "Martha." I plainly foresaw that it would be the
greatest possible mistake to acquiesce in her desire; and, after a
lengthy discussion, Verdi's _Traviata_ was decided upon. I at once
instructed a Bond Street dressmaker to make her four of the most elegant
toilettes possible, discarding _in toto_ the costume of the 16th century
so far as "Violetta" was concerned.
At all times it is a difficult thing for a manager to employ with
advantage assistants placed among the audience to support either a new
singer or a new piece; for grave mistakes are sure to be made, thus
defeating the object for which the supporters were intended. I have
often known singers send in friends to applaud; but they invariably
begin their uproar on the appearance of the singer, even before he or
she has uttered a sound.
On one occasion I recollect at Her Majesty's Theatre a singer appearing
in _Il Trovatore_, and about a dozen bouquets falling at her feet from
the top boxes before she had sung a note.
I saw that great judgment was necessary, while convinced in my own mind
that I possessed a jewel of the first water. I, therefore, gave the very
simplest instructions as to the amount of encouragement necessary for my
fair Swede in order to ensure the rapture of London; knowing that when
once serious attention had been drawn to her she could do the rest
herself on her own merits. Being very fond of rowing in my spare time on
the River Thames, I made an arrangement with the head-boatman at Essex
Stairs, near where I resided, to supply me with some twenty-five
horny-handed watermen, who were merely told that they should receive one
shilling apiece provided they did _not_ applaud Mdlle. Nilsson--the lady
who would appear on the stage at the beginning of the opera, wearing a
pink dress. They were moreover informed that when the first act was over
and the curtain down, they would be paid a shilling apiece for each time
they could get it up again; and I believe they succeeded some five or
six times in their repeated attempts. That was all that was ever done
for Mdlle. Nilsson; her extraordinary talent did the rest. At all
events, it gave her a fair start, and her _début_ was the talk of
London.
Mdlle. Nilsson's performances were continued throughout the season with
increasing success, she appearing successively as "Martha," "Donna
Elvira," and the "Queen of Night" in the _Magic Flute_. She repeated the
_Traviata_ again and again, bringing the season to a most brilliant
termination.
After a short holiday I recommenced my regular autumn tour in Dublin,
repeating the usual Liverpool morning concert with the usual success.
After visiting Liverpool and Manchester, I returned to London and opened
my season on the 28th October.
In consequence of my having engaged a female harpist I received a round
Robin from the orchestra, threatening to leave at the end of the week
unless I at once replaced her by a male performer. I insisted on
receiving the week's notice to which I was entitled, and, seeing
evidence of a conspiracy, took out a summons against every member of my
orchestra. On the day fixed for the hearing the musicians excused
themselves, through their solicitor, from appearing, their case not
being ready. Afterwards I myself was unable through indisposition to
appear on the day to which the case had been adjourned. At this there
was much groaning among the defendants, and threats were uttered. The
Trade Unions were very active just then throughout the country, and the
players had been promised unlimited support towards maintaining their
menaced strike. At last the case was heard; but on the very day before
the one fixed by the Magistrate for giving his decision an occurrence
took place which rendered all further proceedings in the matter
unnecessary.
Towards the end of November an insurance agent called upon me urging the
necessity of effecting an insurance on my properties, scenery and
dresses, which had been accumulating since the beginning of my tenancy.
I replied that in consequence of the high rate of premium it was better
to let things take their chance. Besides, there was no probability,
under my management, of the theatre ever being destroyed by fire.
Eventually we came to terms as to the rate to be charged.
About this time a proposition was made to let the theatre to Professor
Risley for his Japanese performances, to run from Christmas to February.
A large sum of money was to be paid to me, and it was verbally agreed
that my treasurer should be retained by the new-comers to superintend
the front of the house and the monetary arrangements.
On the 7th December, during a rehearsal of _Fidelio_, my insurance agent
called to complete the insurance. I showed him the inventories of the
different departments, and agreed to insure for £30,000; but as the
costumier's list was not at hand, and the costumier himself was out at
dinner, the agent suggested my giving him £10 on account and keeping the
matter open until the following Monday, when he would call again. Just
as he was leaving the room my treasurer came in, stating that he had
just heard that the Japanese people did not intend to avail themselves
of his services after he had given them all the information respecting
the working of his department.
I asked whom they _had_ engaged. He mentioned the name of Mr. Hingston,
at which I started, and said--
"If Hingston is engaged, good-bye to the theatre. It will make the
fifteenth that will have been burnt under his management."
On hearing this, the insurance agent stepped across the room and again
suggested that I should hand him the £10 to keep me right till Monday.
I jokingly said: "There is no fear;" and he took his departure.
I remained working in my office at Pall Mall until about six o'clock
that evening. As I was engaged to dine at Mdlle. Titiens's in St. John's
Wood, I had but a few moments to put my head into the box-office, which
was just closing, and ask Mr. Nugent for some opera tickets for the
following night. I did not, according to my custom, go through his
office on to the stage (which I might have done while he was getting out
the tickets), fearing I should be too late for the dinner.
About half-past eleven o'clock that evening our party was alarmed by a
violent ringing of the bell. Then my servant rushed in with his clothes
very much torn, uttered some inarticulate sounds, and fell on a chair,
pointing upwards. On looking out of the window we saw that the sky was
bright red, although we were four miles from the fire. Mdlle. Titiens
and Signor Bevignani exclaimed with one voice: "It's the theatre!"
I hastened down at once, accompanied by Bevignani, only to find
impassable barriers of soldiers and populace, and it was not without
great difficulty I could approach the building. On my pointing out to
the firemen certain doors which they ought to break open in order to
recover wardrobes, music, &c., I was told to "mind my own business."
They then went to quite another part and began chopping and breaking,
whereas had they allowed themselves to be guided by me they might have
saved a considerable portion of my property. It was not until three
hours afterwards that the fire reached that part of the theatre which I
had pointed out as containing things which might have been saved.
Lord Colville was very kind, and with his assistance I reached one
portion of the building, to which he accompanied me, enjoining me to
save engagements or any important documents in my private rooms at Pall
Mall. But I was so bewildered that all I could do was to seize a dress
coat and an opera hat, with which I came downstairs, leaving all my
papers and documents on the table. I remained until two or three in the
morning. Then, my presence being useless, I went home to change my
clothes, which were freezing on me, and next hurried to Jarrett, my
acting manager.
Jarrett was in bed. But he had already heard of the calamity, and
expressed great regret. I desired him at once to go over to Chatterton,
the then lessee of Drury Lane, who resided in the neighbourhood of
Clapham, and endeavour to secure his theatre from March till the end of
July before he could hear of my disaster.
"Go as quickly as possible," I said, "and if the newspaper is lying
about be careful he does not see it."
On arriving at Chatterton's the first thing Jarrett saw, lying on the
hall table, was the _Times_ newspaper. He threw his top coat over it,
and waited quietly downstairs until Chatterton, who was dressing, could
receive him. Then, like the able diplomatist he was, without appearing
at all anxious, he concluded a short agreement whereby I was to have
the use of Drury Lane for the following spring and summer seasons, with
a right to renew the occupation for future years. By half-past nine
o'clock Mr. Jarrett was able to hand me the agreement, and it was not
until half-past ten that Mr. Gye drove up to Mr. Chatterton's to inform
him of the disaster Mapleson had met with, and at the same time to offer
him £200 per week provided he did not let Drury Lane for Italian Opera.
The day after the fire I received letters of sympathy from all parts of
the country; likewise telegrams of condolence, including one from Her
Majesty the Queen, which greatly affected me. In fact, my nerves were so
unstrung that I was hardly master of myself. In the course of the next
day His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales came to see me. I showed him
over the ruins of what the day before had been the Opera-house. After
his departure I was so unnerved that I took to my bed in the adjoining
hotel, and remained there some two weeks.
The Monday after the fire the insurance agent, with whom I had neglected
to do business, called upon me to assure me of his deep sympathy, since
if I had paid him the £10 on account of the proposed insurance he would
now have had to give me a cheque for £30,000. I told him that I was
exceedingly glad I had not paid him the £10, as I certainly should have
been suspected of having myself caused the fire, and should never
afterwards have been able to set myself right with the public.
Prior to my recovery, amongst the numerous callers was one particularly
sympathetic gentleman, who came in a carriage and pair, and said he
would see that the theatre was rebuilt, asking, as it were, my
permission for this. I was deeply touched by his kindness. Some short
time afterwards he wrote saying that he thought it better, for my sake,
that Covent Garden should be closed, and that he had seen Mr. Gye and
made terms for its purchase. On a later occasion he called upon me, and
stated that the site of Her Majesty's Theatre, which had then been
cleared by Lord Dudley, being such a desirable one, he was in treaty
with the Bank of England to lease it to them at a considerable ground
rent, they erecting the building. By this means, he explained, the
£80,000 then lying in consols for the purpose of re-erecting the theatre
could be handed over to me. But he ultimately consented that I should
give him half.
Notwithstanding all my troubles, within three weeks after the fire I was
already on the road with a strong concert company for the usual spring
tour; all my spare time being utilized in the creation of a new
wardrobe, music library, etc. Whilst at Manchester Mdlle. Titiens aided
me kindly in the purchase of various goods, stuffs, cottons, needles,
etc., etc.; all the prime donne of the Company volunteering their
services as dressmakers in order to have everything ready for my Opera
season, which was to commence early the following month in Glasgow.
Being under the belief that this fire had cancelled the contract I had
already made at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, I got entangled, in my
mistake and hurry, into an engagement at another theatre, the Prince of
Wales's; and as the time approached for my coming to Scotland both
managers threatened me with an attachment if I did not fulfil my
engagement. In fact, I found myself announced at both houses, with war
to the knife threatened by the two rival managers. At one time they
proposed to combine against me and leave me, with my expensive Company,
outside in the cold. But about ten days before the date fixed I paid a
visit to each, when, out of consideration for me personally, they both
agreed to have me alternately at their theatres. This caused great
excitement in the city, and as the adherents of each manager mustered in
force the receipts at both houses were very great, so that eventually
each manager had taken more money in the half number of representations
than he would have received had I given him the full number.
Prior to the opening of my London season of 1868 I received another
visit from my philanthropic friend, Mr. Wagstaff. He told me that he had
purchased Mr. Gye's interest, showing me the agreement, and he
considered that it would be more desirable that Covent Garden for the
future should be run by a Company, of which I should be the manager,
receiving some £20,000 cash as a consideration for my goodwill and for
any property I might have in music or other effects, with a salary of
£3,000 a year as long as I chose to retain my post, and a fair share in
the profits.
I became quite uncomfortable at having so much wealth suddenly thrust
upon me, and wished I were back in my old position of trouble and
anxiety. In due course all the necessary documents were signed, Mr. Gye
at the same time writing a letter to a high personage, in which he
stated that his long-sought desire to quit the cares of management had
at length been satisfied, and strongly urged that all patronage should
now be transferred to me, as the shattered state of his health would
preclude him for the future from taking part in operatic affairs. On
entering upon my duties I began to reorganize the establishment by, in
the first place, relieving myself of some sixty old choristers who had
been engaged from time immemorial, and introducing in their stead my
fresh, full-voiced young Italians whom I had imported the previous year.
One evening a card was brought to me from a young gentleman, the son of
an old musical friend of mine, requesting an interview. He told me that
he had been promised the secretaryship of the Grand Opera (meaning Her
Majesty's and Covent Garden, united under the new arrangement) for seven
years at a salary of £800 a year, provided he lent £200 for a month to
my philanthropic friend, who had organized the whole thing. It appeared
to me like a dream. I could not understand it; but still, as nothing
astonishes me in this world, I took it as a matter of course, and later
in the day went over to Wandsworth to call on Mr. Gye, in order to see
how matters stood.
On my entering, Mr. Gye said how pleased he was to leave operatic
management for ever, and that he wondered how he had found the nerve to
continue it so long. Before I could say a word to him, he desired me to
be seated and handed me a cigar, when he began to inform me of his plans
for the future. He told me he had secured by private treaty a vast
estate in Scotland of some 20,000 acres, with the right of shooting and
fishing. He was arranging, moreover, to purchase a large estate in
Oxfordshire. Various guns had been ordered, with fishing rods and other
appurtenances. Steps, too, had been taken for the sale of the house in
which he was then living.
I made two or three attempts to get a word in, but without success; and
at last I had scarcely the courage to hint that the projected
arrangements might, possibly, not be carried out.
I explained, however, that on the following Monday a small payment of
£10,000 would be due to me; also that a further deposit on Drury Lane
would become payable, and that I should make that deposit, as it was
probable, nay, very possible, that I should be called upon to resume my
position at Drury Lane, instead of Covent Garden. I at the same time
recommended Mr. Gye at all events to be prepared to open Covent Garden,
as it wanted but some three or four weeks to the beginning of the
season. This he replied he could not do, as the deposit he was to
receive would not be payable before some three or four weeks. He still,
moreover, doubted all I had been telling him.
On the Monday following I attended at the Egyptian Bank, which had been
specially hired for the occasion, and on entering with my order for the
payment of £10,000, found one small boy seated on a very high stool,
drawing figures on a sheet of blotting paper. On my demanding £10,000
the boy turned deadly pale and was at first inclined to run. I explained
to him that it was not his fault if the money was not forthcoming, but I
requested him, in the presence of a witness I had brought with me, to
present seven letters which I already had in my pocket, each one
containing notice to the Directors that, they having failed to pay me my
money at the appointed time, my contract as general manager was at an
end. I at once informed Gye of what had occurred, recommending him again
to get his Company together and re-engage Costa and the orchestra, as my
own prospectus was to come out the middle of that week.
From what I afterwards learned, the £200 my musical friend's son was to
have advanced prevented some thousands of circulars from being posted
for want of stamps, and the printer from delivering the remainder of the
circulars he had prepared for want of a deposit. I must add that Mr. Gye
repeatedly thanked me for my straightforward conduct in preventing him
from being practically ruined.
Considerable changes were necessary in adapting the Theatre Royal, Drury
Lane, for Italian Opera. I was obliged to have sundry discussions with
the Committee before I could be allowed to alter the floor of the pit
and boxes, and to take about twenty feet off the stage, its removal
enabling me to add some two or three rows of stalls. I had, moreover, to
decorate, clean, and carpet the house from top to bottom, the outlay for
which, irrespective of the rent, cost me from £3,000 to £4,000. A
further difficulty presented itself, as there were some six or seven
hundred renters who were at that time allowed free admission to any part
of the theatre, and it was only by temporizing with their
representatives that I ultimately made an equitable arrangement
satisfactory to all parties.
The season opened in due course, and a magnificent Company I was enabled
to introduce: Mdlle. Titiens in the zenith of her powers; Christine
Nilsson, who had made such a prodigious success the previous season at
Her Majesty's; also Miss Clara Louise Kellogg, Mongini, Fraschini,
Santley, etc. The performances were really of the first order, and
Mozart's masterpieces were given with such strong combined casts as to
attract the whole of London. In fact, the success was such as to
paralyze the efforts of the rival manager.
CHAPTER IX.
PROPOSAL FOR AN OPERATIC UNION--TITIENS IN DUBLIN--HER SERVICES AS
A PACIFICATOR--AUTUMN SEASON AT COVENT GARDEN--THE COMBINATION
SEASON--IMMENSE SUCCESS--COSTA'S DESPOTISM--AN OPERATIC
CONSPIRACY--LUCCA AND HER HUSBANDS.
DURING my successful Drury Lane season, in the month of June, 1868, a
letter addressed to me was left by an unknown person in the hall. The
superscription on the envelope was in a disguised hand, but the letter
enclosed was in the writing of Mr. Gye.
The manager of the Royal Italian Opera proposed a coalition with the
manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, and Mr. Gye suggested a personal
interview on the subject. Here, however, is his letter:--
[COPY.]
"Springfield House,
"Wandsworth Road,
"June 19th, 1868.
"DEAR MR. MAPLESON,
"The last time you were over here I believe we were pretty well agreed
that our interests lay rather in the combination of the two operas than
in fighting one another. As we shall both of us be making our
engagements for the next year, if anything is to be arranged between us
it is time it were thought about. I should be very glad to see you on
the subject if you still remain in the same mind as when I saw you last.
It would perhaps be well if we did not meet either at Drury Lane or at
Covent Garden. Would you mind coming over here, or would you prefer our
meeting somewhere in town? This matter, for obvious reasons, had better
remain strictly _between ourselves_ for the present.
"Yours very truly,
"(Signed) FREDERICK GYE.
"James Mapleson, Esq."
* * * * *
When I met Mr. Gye by appointment his first proposition was that we
should work together at either of the two theatres, the other one being
kept closed; and that I should take a quarter of the profits.
I suggested, as a more equitable adjustment, an equal division of
profits; and to that Mr. Gye at last agreed.
Articles of partnership were then drawn up binding us to remain together
for three years on the basis of half profits, and our agreement was to
be kept secret for the next six months.
At the close of my engagement at Dublin, in the beginning of October,
1868, a great demonstration took place in honour of Mdlle. Titiens, it
being the last night of the season. Weber's opera of _Oberon_ was
performed, and after Titiens had sung the exacting air of the third act,
"Ocean, thou Mighty Monster," a most animated scene took place, many
requiring the great air to be repeated, whilst others called out the
names of different Irish songs. The uproar lasted upwards of fifteen
minutes before silence could be restored, when it was decided that "The
Last Rose of Summer" should be given.
But the orchestra had no music and the conductor would not venture a
performance without it. Further delay and further uproar took place,
until at length Signor Bettini, who had undertaken the _rôle_ of
"Oberon," came from the wing, pulling on a cottage piano, whilst Titiens
helped the conductor to get out of the orchestra in order to accompany
her. As Bettini was turning the piano round, in consequence of the slope
of the stage it fell right over, causing an immense cheer from the gods,
when no less than five demons (who were to appear in the next scene of
_Oberon_) rushed from the wings to raise it up again on its legs. At
length order was restored, and such was the silence that when Mdlle.
Titiens was on the point of beginning the beautiful air I remember
taking a pin from my collar and dropping it on the stage in order to
give a practical and effective illustration of the old saying that you
"could hear a pin drop."
No sooner had the singer finished the last verse than a roar of
admiration was heard, so loud, so overpowering, that I can only compare
it to the belching forth of huge pieces of artillery. At the close of
the opera a great crowd, composed of the public and the medical students
who habitually occupy the gallery (always without their coats, sometimes
without their waistcoats, occasionally without their shirts), was
awaiting the Queen of Song's departure. They had actually cut the traces
of her carriage, and from a ship chandler's opposite had got two long
coils of rope which they fastened to the vehicle. Titiens shortly
afterwards appeared, amidst deafening cheers, and the procession
started. No less than a dozen of the singer's most enthusiastic admirers
were on the roof letting off fireworks. All went on in something like
order until with our two long strings of volunteer horses we arrived at
Dawson Street, when, in consequence of no previous arrangement having
been made, one half of the team went up Dawson Street and the other half
down Nassau Street, the result being a violent collision against
Morrison's Hotel. It was not without considerable difficulty and delay
that things could be readjusted.
On our arriving at Shelbourne Hotel the police found themselves
powerless to cope with the multitude. But we had been accompanied by a
young man, who, standing on the carriage step, had repeatedly addressed
Mdlle. Titiens both in German and in French, telling her that she had
"nothing to fear." On arriving at the door of the Shelbourne he gave a
shrill whistle as a call for volunteer special constables, when a
passage was at once cleared. It being a wet night the enthusiasts around
us made a carpet for Titiens to walk on by throwing their coats on to
the pavement. The crowd remained opposite the hotel for over an hour,
during which time repeated calls were made for a song. But the gas of
Mdlle. Titiens's sitting-room had been turned low, and the blinds being
drawn down she hoped it might appear that she had retired for the night.
Shortly afterwards, however, a deputation came up accompanied by one of
the chief constables, stating that if madame could not disperse the
crowd the consequences would be very serious, as it refused to move. She
at last felt compelled to go to the window of her hotel, when, after
entreating for silence, she addressed the crowd in these words: "I will
sing you 'The Last Rose of Summer' provided you promise to go home
immediately afterwards like mice."
And sure enough they did, for at the conclusion of the song the crowd
melted away in dead silence, not one person being left.
The inspector afterwards remarked to Mdlle. Titiens that if ever a
revolution broke out in Ireland they would send over for her to quell
it.
During the stay of my Opera Company at Dublin I allowed some of the
principal artists to sing in various churches for charitable purposes.
Mdlle. Titiens's services were sought for far and wide, and she was
always ready to devote her Sunday, which was the only day of rest she
had during the week, to the cause of charity. On one occasion I
recollect her singing in a poor neighbourhood near Thomas Street, when
many persons actually stooped to kiss the ground where she had trodden.
She was held in the highest esteem by the clergy.
One Saturday evening, after the termination of the opera, several of my
Italian choristers were wending their way home when they were accosted
by some rowdy, good-natured Irishmen, who insisted upon having a drink
with them. They, not comprehending the language, thought the men were
robbers, and placed themselves in a position of defence, whereupon they
were boldly attacked by the sons of Erin, and a free fight ensued, in
which some two or three Irishmen got stabbed. About noon the following
day it was notified to me that some four or five of my choristers were
in prison on account of this serious affair, and would be kept there
until the wounded men, who were then in hospital, were sufficiently
recovered to appear against them. I at once sought Mdlle. Titiens's aid,
who went with me to one of the priests, with whom we afterwards visited
the prison where our choristers were. They insisted that it was only a
small affair, and that they had defended themselves against their
aggressors.
They seemed also in great distress because the police authorities had
taken away their week's salary which they had in their pockets, together
with such pieces of jewellery or keys they had about them. By the advice
of the priest we afterwards visited the hospital, and I, accompanied by
the surgeon, inspected their wounds, which were triangular, as if caused
by an Italian stiletto.
My clerical friend was very kind, and after a deal of whispering with
the hospital surgeons, and afterwards with the wounded men themselves,
he stated that they might have done it in accidentally falling down, but
that it was not their intention to appear against the choristers, who
were afterwards bailed out by Mdlle. Titiens. They duly appeared the
next morning at the police-court and were dismissed, no one appearing
against them.
I omitted to inform the reader that on the conclusion of the partnership
agreement with Mr. Gye, which was to be kept a secret for the next six
months, I rented the Royal Italian Opera for the autumn of 1868 for this
double reason: first, that Her Majesty's Theatre was in ashes, and that
I had no place wherein to give my autumn performances; and secondly,
that my being seen about Covent Garden would in that case cause no
surprise, whilst it would enable me occasionally to meet Mr. Gye in
order to discuss our coming arrangements.
During my autumn season at Covent Garden I discovered Mdlle. Scalchi,
the eminent contralto--then singing at a building which had been a
circus. Struck with the lovely quality of her voice I engaged her for
five years, events fully confirming my judgment on that occasion. About
this time I first brought to this country Miss Minnie Hauk, a young
singer about 18 years of age. She made her _début_ at Covent Garden as
"Amina" in _La Sonnambula_, her next part being that of "Cherubino" in
Mozart's _Nozze di Figaro_.
After due discussion with Mr. Gye it was decided that our joint
enterprise should be carried on at the Royal Italian Opera pending the
rebuilding of my new theatre.
As the time for opening the season approached Mr. Gye suggested that we
should ourselves make all engagements with the orchestra, instead of
leaving that duty, as heretofore at the Royal Italian Opera, to Mr.
Costa. This famous conductor was a despot, not only in the musical
direction of his orchestra, but in other ways. He made his own
engagements, and, leaving, of course, the manager to pay the appointed
salaries, took care to be always present on pay day; when, in the case
of any short-coming on the part of a musician, he would stop a portion
of the salary payable to him, if not the whole amount. It was his custom
to arrive at the theatre half-an-hour before the time fixed for the
beginning of the evening's performance. He then took up a position as if
of inspection, and, as he sat on the stage, the players passed him one
by one as if in order of review. I remember on one occasion a young
violinist arriving with mud on his boots, and in a frock coat. Costa
pulled him up short, and asked him how he could venture to present
himself in such a condition. The musician replied that he had just
arrived from the Crystal Palace, and had not had time to make his
toilet.
"Go home instantly," said Costa, "and come back with clean boots and in
evening dress."
By the time the violinist (who lived in some distant suburb) got back
the second act of the opera was nearly over; and when on pay-day the
offender presented himself for his monthly salary he was informed that
by reason of his absence on the occasion in question one week's salary
was stopped. This sort of treatment the musicians had to put up with,
or, as the only alternative, to accept their dismissal, which really
meant the loss of the provincial festivals and of the Sacred Harmonic
Society.
It must be added in favour of Costa's despotic ways that he never
allowed any musician that he had engaged to be replaced by a substitute,
even at rehearsal; a practice which in orchestras less severely governed
has become only too frequent, to the great detriment of the
performances.
Costa, meanwhile, by mere force of will, had gained so much authority at
the Royal Italian Opera that the manager feared him, and was most
anxious to be rid alike of his services and of his tyranny.
When it was intimated to Costa that the joint managers proposed to
reserve to themselves the right of making direct engagements with the
musicians for the orchestra, he would not hear of such an arrangement,
and, much to Mr. Gye's satisfaction, resigned his post.
In view of the new works we proposed to give, and of the large number of
rehearsals that would be required, two conductors were now engaged,
Arditi and Vianesi.
Long before the theatre opened we had abundant signs of a prosperous
season, and as the event drew near money poured in from various sources.
We received in private subscriptions as much as £12,000. The
booksellers' subscriptions amounted to £29,000 more, and in the course
of the season the box-office sales alone brought in another £29,000.
Altogether, counting profits from the Floral Hall concerts and sums
received for the services of singers at public as well as private
concerts, we received during the season of 1869 a grand total of
£80,000.
On the other hand, we paid away in artists' salaries £22,000; for
working expenses (including chorus), £13,000; orchestra, £7,500; sundry
charges, £2,000.
Our whole expenditure came to £44,000, leaving us a clear profit of
about £36,000.
Out of my half-share of this profit I had to pay for insurance and poor
rates £3,000. Against this Mr. Gye put the use of the theatre, which was
his property.
By our articles of partnership Mr. Gye had stipulated that he should
"take no part in the management of the theatre unless he wished to do
so." This wish came upon him after about a fortnight.
Our success during this season proved that though two rival Italian
Operas can scarcely be carried on without loss on both sides, one
Italian Opera can be made the source of very considerable profit. Even,
however, with a monopoly there are two things essential to success. The
operatic manager who would prosper must appeal to the public with a very
strong Company, and with new works. Such casts as we secured for some of
the recognized masterpieces of dramatic music could not fail to fill the
theatre.
Among the new works or revivals produced at the Royal Italian Opera
during the season of 1869 may be mentioned: Fidelio, The Magic Flute,
Robert le Diable, Cherubini's Medea, Hamlet (first time in England),
with Nilsson as "Ophelia," and Don Bucefalo (also first time in
England). Medea had before been given at my own establishment with
Mdlle. Titiens in the tragic part of the heroine. In Le Prophète,
Titiens and Mongini appeared together, Titiens, of course, as "Fidès,"
Mongini as "John of Leyden." Don Giovanni was played with Titiens as
"Donna Anna," Nilsson as "Donna Elvira," and Patti as "Zerlina;" while
the part of the dissolute hero was taken by Faure, and that of "Don
Ottavio" by Mario.
About this time the secret oozed out that Mr. Jarrett, who had come with
me from Her Majesty's Theatre to the Royal Italian Opera, had made
engagements with Mongini, Ilma de Murska, Trebelli, Christine Nilsson,
Santley, Foli, Faure, and Arditi. Mr. Jarrett, who in after years became
known as the agent of Mdme. Nilsson, and especially of Mdlle. Sarah
Bernhardt, held at that time a post with vague duties attached to it at
the Royal Italian Opera, as previously at Her Majesty's Theatre, which
during the combination season of 1869 was being rebuilt. Jarrett also
acted as agent to Mongini, Ilma de Murska, Trebelli, and Bettini--Mdme.
Trebelli's husband. Many years before he had been in partnership with
Mr. George Wood, representing the firm of Cramer and Co., the well-known
music publishers, for the direction of an Opera Company, and had been
left by his associate in the lurch, Mr. Jarrett being called upon to
meet single-handed liabilities which would have been far too much even
for the partners combined.
Nor was Jarrett particularly well disposed towards the manager of the
Royal Italian Opera, in whose orchestra he had once played the horn, and
who in one of those orchestral strikes so common in the history of
Opera-houses had taken a leading part as against the manager. Mr. Gye
had thereupon dismissed him; and he now objected to have in his
employment an agent receiving percentage on the salaries of his
singers.
If, then, in the opposition he proposed to organize against the Royal
Italian Opera Jarrett injured Mr. Gye, he would not be sorry; while if
as a result of a failure at Drury Lane he injured Mr. Wood, he would be
very glad. Naturally, however, he worked chiefly with a view to his own
success.
Whether Wood mistrusted Jarrett, or whether after entering into
partnership with him he mistrusted the success of the project, can never
be decided; but it is certain that after securing Drury Lane Theatre for
an operatic campaign, Mr. Wood repented of what he had done, and,
unknown to Jarrett, entered into negotiations with Mr. Gye.
The advantages of an operatic monopoly were too obvious for Mr. Gye not
to be anxious once more to secure it. This he was prepared to do, even
at a considerable sacrifice; only it was I, his associate, not he
himself, who was to make it. He proposed to me that Mr. George Wood
should be taken into partnership, and that the profits for the season
should be thus divided: Half to Gye, one quarter to Mapleson, one
quarter to Wood. Mr. Gye was ready at that time to take in any number of
partners who seemed in a position to threaten his justly-cherished
monopoly, provided always that their share in the profits came to them
out of my half, not out of his. For me the smallest fraction was deemed
sufficient; he himself, however, could accept nothing less than a clear
moiety.
After some amusing negotiations between Mr. Gye and myself, it was
arranged that Mr. Wood should be taken into the concern on a basis of
equal shares. Each, that is to say, was to receive one-third of the
profits. The seceding artists, whose services we could not wish to
lose--apart from the effect they might have in creating against us a
formidable opposition--had all signed with Mr. Wood; and by the new
arrangement these vocalists (Christine Nilsson, Mongini, Ilma de Murska,
Trebelli, Faure, Santley, etc., with Arditi) were all to form part of
the Royal Italian Opera Company. Our profits would still be large,
though both Gye and myself would have to cede a portion of our gains to
the new-comer.
Mr. Gye, Mr. Wood, and myself were all seated round a table in Mr. Gye's
private room at Covent Garden Theatre, on the point of signing the
contract which was to bind us together for the season of 1870, when
suddenly a gentle tap at the door was heard, and, like "Edgardo" in the
contract scene of _Lucia_, Jarrett appeared. He had, as he afterwards
informed me, entirely lost sight of Mr. Wood, who was supposed to be out
of town, gone abroad, anywhere except in London; whence, however, he had
not stirred. Jarrett had not traced his slippery partner to the Royal
Italian Opera. He assured me that having no indications whatever to act
upon he had come there guided simply by instinct. He was a man whose
instinct seldom misled him.
While Mr. Gye and myself were a little surprised at the sudden
apparition, Mr. Wood was lost in confusion. Jarrett meanwhile was
absolutely calm. Standing at the door, he took a pinch of snuff, and for
a few moments remained silent. Then, addressing his partner, he simply
said: "Mr. Wood, can I have a minute's conversation with you outside?"
Mr. Wood rose, and left the room, but returned in less than a minute,
when Gye whispered to me: "It is all right; he is sure to sign." But
when he was asked to put his name to the document which only awaited his
signature to constitute a perfect contract between him, Gye, and myself,
he hesitated, spoke of the necessity in which he found himself of first
consulting his friends, and finally did not sign.
The conversation which had taken place outside the room, as it was
afterwards repeated to me by Jarrett, was short and simple.
"The singers you have engaged," said Jarrett, "are under contract to
sing at Drury Lane, and nowhere else. If, then, you join Mapleson and
Gye they will not come to you at Covent Garden, and you will have to pay
their salaries whether you open at Drury Lane or not."
Wood could only reply that he would not sign with Mapleson and Gye.
There was no money made that season at the Royal Italian Opera; whilst
Mr. Wood's season at Drury Lane was simply disastrous. The moneyed
partner soon proposed to shut up; but Jarrett, to whom Mr. Wood was
bound, would not hear of this.
"I have no more money," said Wood.
"But you have a number of pianofortes," replied Jarrett. "You have music
shops here and in Scotland whose contents and goodwill can be sold."
"You wish to ruin me?" asked Wood.
"You did not mind ruining me in 1854," answered Jarrett, "when we
carried on Opera together and you left me to bear the burden of your
losses."
It is bad enough for a manager to lose money, hoping night after night
that by some new and successful stroke, or some change of taste on the
part of the capricious public, the tide of luck may at last turn in his
favour. But Mr. Wood had no such sanguine delusions to maintain him in
his adversity; his losses were irretrievable. They increased as the
season went on without any chance of being even arrested; and in the end
anyone but a man of Mr. Wood's indomitable energy and courage would have
been ruined beyond hope of recovery.
During the Wood season at Drury Lane many interesting performances were
given, including Wagner's _Flying Dutchman_, with Ilma de Murska as the
heroine and Santley as the hero; _Mignon_, with Mdme. Christine Nilsson;
also Weber's _Abu Hassan_, each for the first time in England. But the
enterprise could not stand against the superior attractions of the Royal
Italian Opera, while the Royal Italian Opera, on its side, suffered in
its receipts from the counter attraction presented by Drury Lane.
Towards the end of the season, war having been declared between France
and Germany, Mdme. Pauline Lucca became anxious about her husband, who
was an officer in a Prussian cavalry regiment, and now under campaigning
orders. She was anxious, therefore, to see him before his departure with
the army moving towards the French frontier. Some weeks afterwards, at
the battle of Mars la Tour, a portion of the Prussian cavalry was
sacrificed in order to hold in check the French, who were seeking to
leave Metz in order to march towards Paris. Mdme. Lucca's husband, Baron
von Rhaden, was dangerously wounded in the charge; and the Baroness
received special permission to visit him in the field hospital, where he
was lying, outside Metz. Another officer of the same regiment, also
wounded, came in for a good share of her attentions; and afterwards,
being at that time in the United States, she applied in the New York
Courts for a divorce from Baron von Rhaden in order to marry Baron von
Wallhofen, the officer, who--as just mentioned--had, like Von Rhaden,
been severely wounded at Mars la Tour. The New York Tribunal granted the
divorce on Mdme. Lucca's simple affidavit; and before her husband (No.
1) had had time to reply by a counter affidavit from Berlin the second
marriage had been celebrated. Such being the case the decree of
divorce, so hastily pronounced, could not well be interfered with. So,
at least, said the judges to whom the matter was referred; and Mdme.
Pauline Lucca remained as she is now, Baroness von Wallhofen.
CHAPTER X.
GYE'S FRATERNAL EMBRACE--LAW-SUITS INTERMINABLE--DISSOLUTION OF
PARTNERSHIP--RETURN TO DRURY LANE--ARRIVAL OF ALBANI--DÉBUT OF
CAMPANINI--THE ANNUAL ONSLAUGHTS OF MR. GYE.
I SOON found that Mr. Gye, on the principle of embracing _pour mieux
étrangler_, had taken me into partnership in order to stifle me at his
ease.
In the early part of June, 1869, Mr. Gye suggested to me that it would
be very desirable to renew my lease of Her Majesty's Theatre in order to
get rid of a provision in the existing one, under which the Earl of
Dudley had the power to determine it in the month of February in any
year. Gye expressed his intention of seeing the Earl of Dudley on the
subject, and at this interview it was agreed that the Earl should grant
a new lease for seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years, Mr. Gye requesting
that it should be granted either to himself alone or to Gye and Mapleson
conjointly. The Earl decided the latter to be more desirable, requesting
that the new lease should be signed on or before the 1st September. In
due course we were informed that the lease was ready for signature.
As the duration of my partnership with Mr. Gye was only for three years
(one of which had already nearly expired), I naturally desired to know
what my position would be at the expiration of the partnership if we
were joint managers of Her Majesty's Theatre for twenty-one years; as it
appeared to me that it would leave him in command of a monopoly at the
Royal Italian Opera, whilst I on my side, unable to perform Opera at Her
Majesty's Theatre, would be called upon to pay half the rent of the
building, which meantime would remain closed. I, therefore, took the
precaution, when the day arrived for approving the draft lease, to
append the following words:--"I am willing to execute the enclosed lease
in conjunction with Mr. Gye upon the understanding as between him and me
that our acceptance of the lease is not to affect in any way our
relative rights under the articles of partnership. We shall respectively
have the same rights under the proposed new lease as we now have or are
subject to in respect of the subsisting lease under the articles of
partnership, and on determination of our partnership this lease shall be
exclusively vested in me for the residue of the term, I indemnifying Mr.
Gye and his estate against any future liability for rent and covenants,
or obtaining his release from the same."
This gave great umbrage to Mr. Gye, who thereupon refused to affix his
signature to the lease.
In the meantime, the 1st of September (the date stipulated by the Earl
for signature) having passed, Mr. Gye contended that by attaching a
condition to my signing of the lease I had not accepted the lease at
all. Besides, therefore, refusing to sign the joint lease, he insisted
upon having a lease of Her Majesty's Theatre for himself alone. A deal
of correspondence and trouble took place about this time, which I will
not weary the reader with, and hundreds of letters passed between us and
our solicitors. It was threatened, in short, that the lease would be
granted by the Earl of Dudley to Mr. Gye alone, to my exclusion. I was,
therefore, compelled in my own defence to file a bill in Chancery,
making Mr. Gye and the Earl of Dudley defendants, to restrain them from
carrying out their plan.
I ultimately, however, terminated our joint relations with more haste
than I perhaps should have shown in consequence of the abject
despondency, together with absolute physical prostration, into which Mr.
Gye had been thrown through the turn lately taken by operatic affairs.
As he lay exhausted on the sofa there seemed, indeed, but little chance
of his ever rising again to take part in the active business of life. He
could scarcely speak. He was pale, agitated, and such was his feverish
condition that it was necessary from time to time to apply wet bandages
to his forehead. In his state of exhaustion, combined with a certain
nervous irritability, it seemed cruel to delay the signature he so much
desired; and the effect of my putting pen to paper was, indeed, to cause
him instantaneous relief. Never before did I see such a change. His
despondency left him. He rose from the sofa, walked about with an
elastic step, a cheerful air, and had he been anything of a vocalist
would, I feel sure, have sung.
By the terms now agreed to between Mr. Gye and myself I was freed from
all outstanding claims upon the theatre, and received a payment in
money. I at the same time agreed to withdraw the Chancery proceedings
against Dudley and Gye.
Immediately afterwards I set about forming a Company for my provincial
operatic tour of 1870; also renting Covent Garden from Mr. Gye for the
autumn, as I found it impossible to obtain Her Majesty's, being informed
by Lord Dudley's solicitors that it had been let to Mr. Gye. The ensuing
spring I returned to my old quarters at Drury Lane, my first act being
to secure the services of Sir Michael Costa, who forthwith began forming
his orchestra, whilst I went to the Continent in quest of vocal talent.
I will not trouble the reader about my provincial opera tour, which, as
usual, was very successful indeed; nor with my spring concert tour of
1871, with Titiens, Trebelli, Santley, Foli, and other eminent artists.
I opened my London season of 1871 under brilliant auspices, the Prince
of Wales having taken a box as well as all the leading supporters from
the old house. About this time I secured the services of Mdlle. Marimon,
who drew enormous receipts, but unfortunately fell sick after the third
night. It was only on rare intervals that she appeared again during the
season. I, however, got safely through; producing several standard
works, under the able direction of Sir Michael Costa, in addition to a
revival of _Robert the Devil_, also _Semiramide_, with Titiens and
Trebelli, who in this work always drew crowded houses. I also produced
_Anna Bolena_. The season finished up satisfactorily, and I was glad to
get a fortnight's well-earned rest prior to my autumn tour of opera,
which was pre-eminently successful. I returned to London to take up my
autumn season afterwards at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden,
which terminated early in December, after which I gave a few concluding
operatic performances at Brighton.
Early the following year I again started on my spring concert tour;
during which I gave 48 concerts in 48 cities in 48 days, followed by a
spring opera season at Edinburgh.
I have omitted to state that prior to the opening of my successful Drury
Lane season of 1871, the Earl of Dudley became the plaintiff and Mr. Gye
the defendant with regard to Her Majesty's Theatre. Finding I was at
Drury Lane, and in open opposition to the Royal Italian Opera, Mr. Gye
did not seem to think it desirable that he should execute the lease;
whereupon Lord Dudley took proceedings against Gye for £7,500, as
arrears of rent for Her Majesty's Theatre.
About this time Jarrett, in reply to my constant applications, informed
me that Mdlle. Nilsson was about to be married, and, in fact, that her
future husband had already arrived in America, but that he, Jarrett, had
succeeded in inducing her to give four performances the next season
prior to the marriage, which was to be postponed until the following
year. He explained in his letter that as her performances were to be
limited to four I was not to complain of the only terms he could get the
lady to assent to; namely, £200 for each representation. He explained
that £800 would be the total sum; "and what," he asked, "is that where
thousands are concerned, in addition to the prestige it will give to
your house, as well as the influence on the subscription list?" I
thereupon authorized him to close the matter for the season of 1872.
About this time my attention was drawn by my friend Zimelli, the manager
of the theatre at Malta, to a most charming young soprano, who he
assured me was destined to take a very high rank; and about the same
time I received a letter from a regular subscriber to the house, a
distinguished officer, pointing out the excellence of this young lady. I
at once opened negotiations which ultimately led to favourable results.
Colonel McCray, I may add, had written to me from Florence on the same
subject. The name of the young singer was Emma Albani; and having, as I
thought, secured her services--positively promised in a letter written
to me by the lady--I found myself deprived of them by Mr. Gye; who I
find, now that I look back on the past, paid me an attention of this
kind--sometimes greater, sometimes less--regularly every year.
On her arrival Mdlle. Albani was to sign the contract; and as soon as
she got to London she, with perfect good faith, drove to what she
believed to be my theatre. She had told the cab-man to take her to the
manager's office at the Italian Opera. She was conveyed to the Royal
Italian Opera, and, sending in her card to Mr. Gye, who had doubtless
heard of her, was at once received. On Mdlle. Albani's saying that she
had come to sign the contract which I had offered her, Mr. Gye, knowing
that I never made engagements but with artists of merit, gave her at
once the agreement she desired.
To do Mr. Gye justice I must here mention that after the contract had
been signed he, in the frankest manner, avowed to Mdlle. Albani that he
was not Mr. Mapleson, for whom she had hitherto mistaken him. He
explained to her that there was a manager named Mapleson who rented an
establishment somewhere round the corner where operas and other things
were from time to time played; but _the_ opera, the permanent
institution known as such, was the one he had the honour of directing.
If, he concluded, Mdlle. Albani was sorry to have dealt with him she
might still consider herself free, and he would at once tear up the
contract.
Mdlle. Albani, however, was so impressed by the emphatic manner in which
Mr. Gye dwelt on the superiority of his theatre to mine that she
declared herself satisfied, and kept to the contract she had signed.
Colonel McCray called on me soon afterwards to beg that out of
consideration for the lady I would give up the letter in which she
declared herself ready to sign with me. I assured him that I had no
intention of making any legal use of it, but that I should like to keep
it as a souvenir of the charming vocalist who had at one time shown
herself willing to be introduced to the London public under my auspices.
Why, it may be asked, as a simple matter of business--indeed, as an act
of justice to myself--did I not take proceedings for an enforcement of
the agreement which Mdlle. Albani had virtually contracted? I, of
course, considered the advisability of doing so, and one reason for
which I took no steps in the matter was that Titiens, Nilsson, Murska,
and Marimon were members of my Company, and that even if Mdlle. Albani
had come to me I should have found it difficult to furnish her with
appropriate parts.
The young lady duly appeared at Covent Garden about the beginning of
April in _La Sonnambula_, and at once achieved a remarkable success,
which caused me very much to regret the loss of her. She afterwards
appeared as "Elsa" in _Lohengrin_ in an Italian version, which had been
made for me by Signor Marchesi, husband of the well-known teacher of
operatic singing, and himself an accomplished musician.
I had ordered from Signor Marchesi as long before as 1864 an Italian
version of _Tannhäuser_, which I duly announced in my prospectus for
that year, but which I was dissuaded by some critical friends, who did
not believe in Wagner, from presenting to the public. I had been
advised, and there was certainly reason in the advice, that if I had
quite decided to run such a risk as would be necessarily incurred
through the production of an opera by Wagner (whose _Tannhäuser_ had
three years previously been hissed and hooted from the stage of the
Paris Opera-house) I should at least begin with his most interesting and
most attractive work, the poetical _Lohengrin_. Accordingly, reserving
_Tannhäuser_ for a future occasion, I determined to begin my Wagnerian
operations with the beautiful legend of Elsa and the Knight of the Swan;
and I commissioned Signor Marchesi to execute such a version of
_Lohengrin_ as he had previously given me of _Tannhäuser_--a version,
that is to say, in which, without any departure from the meaning of the
words or from the forms of the original versification, the musical
accents should be uniformly observed.
But in England the laws relating to dramatic property seem to have been
made for the advantage only of pirates and smugglers. I had printed the
Italian translation of _Lohengrin_ which Signor Marchesi had executed
for me, and for which I had paid him the sum of £150. But I had not
secured rights of representation in the work by going through the
necessary farce of a mock performance before a sham public; and anyone,
therefore, was at liberty to perform a translation which in any country
but England would have been regarded as my property. How Signor
Marchesi's translation of _Lohengrin_ got into Mr. Gye's hands I do not
know. But the version prepared for me at my cost was the one which Mr.
Gye produced, and which somehow found its way to all the Italian
theatres.
It has amused me in glancing through the history of my operatic seasons
since 1861 to see how persistently Mr. Gye endeavoured by some
stroke--let us say of policy--to bring my career as operatic manager to
an abrupt end.
In 1861, when at Adelina Patti's own suggestion I was engaging a Company
and taking a theatre with a view to her first appearance in England, he
entangled her in an engagement by means of a fifty-pound loan.
In 1862, just when I was on the point of opening Her Majesty's Theatre,
the late Mr. Augustus Harris, Mr. Gye's stage manager and adviser on
many points, approached Mdlle. Titiens with an offer of a blank
engagement.
In 1863 Mr. Gye's insidious but unsuccessful advances towards Mdlle.
Titiens were repeated.
In 1864 Mr. Gye having, as he pretended, bought exclusive rights in
_Faust_ over my head, tried by means of an injunction, impossible under
the circumstances (since the right of representing Faust at my own
theatre had been duly purchased by me from the Paris publishers), to
prevent me from performing the most successful opera I had yet secured.
In 1865 Mr. Gye did not renew his annual attack until my season was
almost at an end. But on the last night, or nearly so, just when I had
been promising good things for the ensuing season, he attempted to
spring a mine upon me in my own house. I was sitting calmly in my box
watching a particularly good performance of _Faust_, with Titiens,
Trebelli, Gardoni, Junca, and Santley in the principal parts, when the
old Duke of Leinster came in and said--
"Look here, Mapleson; what is the meaning of this?"
He handed me a printed announcement which I found had been placed in
every seat in my theatre, and which I here reproduce with all possible
precision, not excepting the typographical peculiarities by which the
name of the "Right Hon. the Earl of Dudley" is made to appear in large
capitals, and that of Mr. Gye in larger capitals still. Here is the
astonishing document which if, on reflection, it filled me with mirth,
did also, I freely admit, cause me for a few moments considerable
surprise:--
=Mr. GYE= has the honour to announce that he has transferred the
proprietorship of THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, to a
Public Company.
=Mr. GYE= will occupy the position of General Manager.
The Company has now made arrangements for purchasing of THE RIGHT
HON. THE EARL OF DUDLEY his Lordship's interest in HER MAJESTY'S
THEATRE, HAYMARKET.
The Prospectus of the Company will be issued in a few days.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN,
JULY 29TH, 1865.
On inquiry I found that an emissary from Covent Garden had bribed one of
my box keepers, who, for the small sum of one sovereign, had betrayed
his trust, and deluged my theatre with daring and mendacious
announcements from the opposition house.
In 1866 Mr. Gye tried to carry out the arrangement with which he had
audaciously threatened me in my own theatre just as the season of 1865
was terminating. I happened to hold a twenty-one years' lease of Her
Majesty's Theatre; and to purchase Lord Dudley's interest in the
establishment was a very different thing from purchasing mine. But what
at once put a stop to Mr. Gye's action in the matter was an injunction
obtained by Colonel Brownlow Knox to restrain Mr. Gye from dealing with
the Royal Italian Opera as his property until the seemingly interminable
case of Knox _v._ Gye had been decided.
In 1867 Mr. Gye may have been nurturing I know not what deadly scheme
against my theatre. But this year a fatal accident came to his aid, and
he was spared the trouble of executing any hostile design. It was in
1867 that Her Majesty's Theatre was destroyed by fire.
In 1868 came the proposition for partnership. Mr. Gye wished to grapple
with me at closer quarters.
In 1869 Mr. Gye was intriguing with Lord Dudley to get Her Majesty's
Theatre into his hands.
In 1870 Mr. Gye made his droll proposal to the effect that I should go
equal shares with him in paying the rent of Her Majesty's Theatre, I
binding myself not to open it.
In 1872 Mr. Gye engaged Mdlle. Albani, already under contract to me, and
helped himself to my version of _Lohengrin_.
In 1873 he offered an engagement to one of my two leading stars, Mdlle.
Nilsson; and I had myself to write explaining to him very clearly that
she was engaged to me.
For two whole years Mr. Gye remained quiet as towards me. But in 1876,
when I was on the point of completing the capital necessary for carrying
out my grand National Opera project on the Thames Embankment, he wrote a
letter which somehow found its way into the _Times_, denouncing the
whole affair, and proving by an extraordinary manipulation of figures
that my rent would be something like £40,000 a year.
In 1877 Mr. Gye, knowing that I had engaged Gayarré, and well assured
that I should not have done so had not Gayarré been a good artist,
offered him double what I was to pay him. Gayarré, with all the
innocence of a tenor, explained to me that the temptation presented to
him was irresistible. I brought an action against him all the same, and
obtained in the Italian Courts a judgment for £8,000, which I have not
yet been able to enforce by reason of his having no property in Italy.
CHAPTER XI.
ADELINA'S SUCCESSOR--A PRIMA DONNA'S MARRIAGE NEGOTIATIONS--POUNDS
_V._ GUINEAS--NILSSON AND THE SHAH--PRODUCTION OF
"LOHENGRIN"--SALVINI'S PERFORMANCES AND PROFITS--MARGUERITE
CHAPUY--IRONY OF AN EARL.
HAVING relied upon Mdme. Nilsson's services for my Drury Lane season of
1871, I felt in a position of great difficulty. I thereupon set about
inquiring for a capable prima donna to supply her place. About two days
afterwards I received a letter from America informing me of a most
extraordinary singer, the writer further setting forth that his father
had, some twenty years previously, recommended me Adelina Patti, and
that he could equally endorse all that was now said of this coming star.
Without one moment's hesitation I accepted, feeling sure the "tip" must
be a good one, and in due course the lady arrived. She was of short
stature and remarkably stout, which I considered at once a drawback; but
so unbounded was my confidence in the recommendation that I persuaded
myself these defects would be of no consequence whatever in the general
result.
At the conclusion of the first rehearsal Sir Michael Costa came down in
a most mysterious way, asking me if I was sure as to the prima donna's
talents. I told him he need be under no apprehension whatever on the
subject.
At length the general rehearsal arrived, and a message came from Sir
Michael, begging me to ask the little lady to sing out, as up to the
present time nobody had heard her voice at any of the rehearsals. I came
on to the stage, but as our new _Diva_ was conducting herself with great
importance, and moreover seemed to be busy with the preparation of her
music, I told Sir Michael that he need labour under no misapprehension,
as she was guaranteed to take the town by storm.
Evening came, and a more dismal _fiasco_ I do not recollect. Such
unbounded faith had I placed in my American friend's recommendation,
together with the laudatory notices which had appeared in the numerous
journals he had sent, that I confess I was on this occasion taken in.
This is the only instance in the course of my lengthened career in which
an artist introduced by me has not been forthwith accepted by the
public, and I admit that the result in this particular case was entirely
due to my own neglect in not hearing her beforehand.
It was rather hard lines on the "Faust" of the evening, M. Capoul, who
made his first appearance in England on this occasion; likewise on
Moriami, the favourite baritone, and Rives, a young French artist, who
sustained the _rôle_ of "Mephistopheles" with great credit.
The following evening I produced _Robert le Diable_, in which Signor
Nicolini made his first appearance in England, enacting the _rôle_ of
"Roberto" to perfection. Belval, the first bass of the Paris opera, was
the "Bertramo," Mdme. Ilma de Murska the "Isabella," and Titiens the
"Alice." In the excellence of this performance my "Margherita" of the
previous evening was soon forgotten, and I booked her an early passage
back to America, where, strange to say, she still retained a first-class
position, and did so for many years afterwards.
As matters were still unsettled between Lord Dudley and his would-be
tenant, Gye, I again secured Drury Lane for my season of 1872. Prior to
concluding Mdlle. Nilsson's engagement, as she was still unmarried, her
Paris agent, who advised her, called upon me, stating that in the event
of my requiring her services I had better notify to him that the
marriage must be postponed until the close of my proposed opera season.
To this I consented, and I attended at a meeting where I met the future
husband and the agent, when it was explained to the former that Mdlle.
Nilsson was ready and willing to perform her agreement to marry him, but
that in that case she would lose her London engagement, and would be
very angry; whereupon it was agreed the marriage should be further
postponed. Papers were drawn up, and the proper stamps affixed, whereby
Mdlle. Nilsson was to return to me for my season of 1872.
On the 28th May she made her reappearance, after an absence of two
years, renewing her success as "La Traviata," followed by _Faust_,
_Trovatore_, etc.
During this season I produced Cherubini's Water-carrier, in which
Titiens sang; also _Lucia di Lammermoor_, with Nilsson for the first
time as the heroine, which drew enormous houses; followed by the
_Marriage of Figaro_, in which Titiens and Kellogg appeared, Nilsson
acting the "saucy page" to perfection. A most successful season was the
result, and in lieu of appearing only four times Mdlle. Nilsson sang
never less than twice a week until the close. The terms I was paying her
caused a deal of trouble between Patti and Gye; for _la Diva_ had heard
of Nilsson's enormous salary. Gye had ultimately to give in; but £200 a
night would not satisfy Mdme. Patti, although previously she had been
contented with £80; and it was ultimately arranged that she should have
more than Nilsson. Gye managed this by paying her 200 guineas nightly,
whilst Nilsson had only 200 pounds.
Some two or three weeks after the opening of the season I heard of a
desirable tenor in Italy, named Campanini, and at once endeavoured to
add him to my already strong Company. My agent reached Rome before Mr.
Gye, and secured the prize. I thereupon set to work to create all the
excitement I possibly could, knowing that unless this were done no
curiosity would be felt by the public as to his first appearance. I said
so much of him that general expectation was fully aroused. In the
meantime I was anxiously awaiting his arrival. One evening, about nine
o'clock, the hall-keeper brought me word that there was someone "from
Campini, or some such name." I immediately brightened up, and said,
"Send the messenger in," who accordingly entered. He had a coloured
flannel shirt on, no shirt collar, a beard of two or three days' growth,
and a little pot-hat. He, in fact, looked rather a rough customer. In
reply to my interrogation he informed me that Campanini had arrived, and
was in London. I replied, "Are you sure?" Thereupon he burst out
laughing, and said that he was Campanini. I felt as if I should go
through the floor.
However, the night arrived for his first performance, which took place
on May 4th, when he appeared as "Gennaro" in _Lucrezia Borgia_, with
Titiens and Trebelli, and with Agnesi as the "Duke." The house was
crowded from floor to ceiling, and I must say the tenor fulfilled every
anticipation, and, in fact, surpassed my expectations. The salary I paid
him was not a large one, and I had engaged him for five years. After ten
or twelve days an agent arrived from America who had heard of his
success, and offered him £1,000 a month, which was five times what I was
to pay him. I need hardly say that this offer, coupled with his great
success, completely turned his head, and he became partially
unmanageable. Marie Roze, I may add, made her first appearance in
England during this season.
At its close Mdlle. Christine Nilsson was married to M. Rouzaud at
Westminster Abbey, surrounded by a numerous circle of friends, the
ceremony being performed by Dean Stanley. The wedding party were
afterwards entertained by the Cavendish Bentincks at their splendid
mansion in Grafton Street, where a sumptuous _déjeuner_ was served.
After two or three weeks' holiday at Aix-les-Bains, I started my autumn
tour, as usual, at Dublin, for which I engaged Titiens, Marimon, de
Murska, Trebelli, Scalchi, Agnesi, Campanini, Fancelli, Foli, etc. This
season of fourteen weeks, which carried us up to Christmas, was an
unbroken series of triumphs, the receipts being simply enormous; whilst
on the spare days when certain of my singers were not required I filled
in sometimes as much as £1,000 a week from concerts, without the regular
service of the tour being disturbed. We visited Dublin, Cork, Belfast,
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, and
Brighton. This was followed by the usual spring concert tour of 1873,
when we did, as usual, our 60 or 70 towns, concluding with a spring
opera tour in the north.
For my season of 1873, which again took place at Drury Lane--Her
Majesty's Theatre, although built, being still without furniture or
scenery--I re-engaged Mdme. Nilsson, paying her £200 per night, in
addition to my regular company, which, of course, included Titiens; also
Ilma de Murska, Marie Roze, Trebelli, etc., etc. I, moreover, introduced
Mdlle. Valleria, Mdlle. Macvitz, an excellent contralto; Aramburo, a
tenor possessing a marvellous voice, who has since achieved European
fame; Signor Del Puente, the eminent baritone, and many others.
I likewise engaged Mdme. Ristori, who appeared in several of her
favourite characters alternately with the operatic performances. Her
success was striking, notably in the parts of "Medea," "Mary Stuart,"
"Elizabeth," and "Marie Antoinette." In the latter impersonation she
moved the audience to tears nightly by her pathetic acting.
During this season, early in the month of July, it was intimated to me
that His Majesty the Shah of Persia would honour the theatre with his
presence. I thereupon set about organizing a performance that would give
satisfaction both to my principal artists and to the Lord Chamberlain,
who had charge of the arrangements, and decided that the performance
should consist of the third act of La Favorita, Mdlle. Titiens enacting
the _rôle_ of "Leonora," the first act of _La Traviata_, and, after a
short ballet, the first act of _Mignon_, Mdme. Nilsson taking the title
_rôle_ in the two latter operas. Mdlle. Titiens, who rarely created
difficulties, took rather an exception to commencing the evening, and
said that it would be better to divide the two appearances of Nilsson by
placing the act of _La Favorita_ between them; Mdme. Nilsson, on the
other hand, objected to this arrangement. Two days before the
performance Mdme. Nilsson suddenly expressed her willingness to commence
the evening with the act of _La Traviata_, she having ascertained from
the Lord Chamberlain, or some other high personage (as I afterwards
discovered), that His Majesty the Shah could only be present from
half-past eight until half-past nine, being due at the grand ball given
by the Goldsmiths in the City at about ten o'clock.
Mdme. Nilsson had ordered, at considerable expense, one of the most
sumptuous dresses I have ever seen, from Worth, in Paris, in order to
portray "Violetta" in the most appropriate style. On the evening of the
performance His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived punctually at
half-past eight to assist in receiving the Shah, who did not put in an
appearance; and it was ten minutes to nine when Sir Michael Costa led
off the opera. I shall never forget the look the fair Swede cast upon
the empty royal box, and it was not until half-past nine, when the act
of _La Favorita_ had commenced, that His Majesty arrived. He was
particularly pleased with the ballet I had introduced in the _Favorita_.
The Prince of Wales, with his usual consideration and foresight,
suggested to me that it might smooth over the difficulty in which he saw
clearly I should be placed on the morrow in connection with Mdme.
Nilsson, if she were presented to the Shah prior to his departure.
I thereupon crossed the stage and went to Mdme. Nilsson's room,
informing her of this. She at once objected, having already removed her
magnificent _Traviata_ toilette and attired herself for the character of
"Mignon," which consists of a torn old dress almost in rags, with hair
hanging dishevelled down the back, and naked feet. After explaining that
it was a command with which she must comply, I persuaded her to put a
bold face on the matter and follow me. I accompanied her to the
ante-room of the royal box, and before I could notify her arrival to His
Royal Highness, to the astonishment of all she had walked straight to
the farther end of the room, where His Majesty was then busily employed
eating peaches out of the palms of his hands.
The look of astonishment on every Eastern face was worthy of the now
well-known picture on the Nabob pickles. Without a moment's delay Mdme.
Nilsson made straight for His Majesty, saying--
"Vous êtes un très mauvais Shah," gesticulating with her right hand.
"Tout à l'heure j'étais très riche, avec des costumes superbes, exprès
pour votre Majesté; à present je me trouve très pauvre et sans
souliers," at the same time raising her right foot within half an inch
of His Majesty's nose; who, with his spectacles, was looking to see what
she was pointing to. He was so struck with the originality of the fair
prima donna that he at once notified his attendants that he would not go
to the Goldsmiths' Ball for the present, but would remain to see this
extraordinary woman.
His Majesty did not consequently reach the Goldsmiths' Hall until past
midnight. The Lord Mayor, the Prime Warden, the authorities, and guards
of honour had all been waiting since half-past nine.
On the close of my London season of 1873 I had considerable difficulty
in obtaining a renewal of Mdme. Nilsson's contract for the ensuing year;
in fact, she declined altogether to discuss the matter with me. I was
fully aware that she was very jealous of the firm position which Mdlle.
Titiens enjoyed in the good opinion of the British public. This had
manifested itself on the occasion of Titiens's benefit, when _Nozze di
Figaro_ had been selected for the closing night of the season. Much
correspondence took place, in the course of which it was asserted that
M. Rouzand would not allow his wife to put on "Cherubino's" trunks, he
having decided that her legs should never again be seen by the public.
I, therefore, had to substitute Mdme. Trebelli, who, as an experienced
contralto, could make no objection on such points.
Mdme. Nilsson's agent, Mr. Jarrett, succeeded at last in inducing her to
sign a contract, and he then explained to me that Mr. Gye had been
repeatedly making offers to her during the previous week, which, in
spite of his notorious friendship for Mr. Gye, he had the greatest
difficulty in making her refuse.
Ultimately an engagement had been prepared, and Jarrett asked me to sign
it at the station just as Mdme. Nilsson was about to start for Paris.
Before doing so I requested permission at all events to glance it over,
when Mdme. Nilsson replied--
"The train is going. Either sign or leave it alone. I can make no
possible alteration."
I mechanically appended my signature; the train started.
On perusing the engagement I discovered that she had reserved for
herself the exclusive right of playing "Norma," "Lucrezia," "Fidelio,"
"Donna Anna," "Semiramide," and "Valentine" in _Les Huguenots_. But
having omitted the words "during the season," and inasmuch as her
engagement for 1874 did not commence until the 29th day of May, I had a
clear period of eleven weeks during which another prima donna could play
the parts Mdme. Nilsson claimed without overstepping her stringent
condition.
I, moreover, felt placed in great difficulty with regard to Mdlle.
Titiens, who was then at the Worcester Festival, and to whom it was, of
course, necessary to mention the matter. I decided to go to Worcester at
once and unbosom myself.
The great prima donna, on hearing what I had to tell her, smiled and
said--
"By all means let her play the parts she wants; and, if the public
prefers her rendering of them to mine, by all means let her keep them.
But during the first eleven weeks they are open to other singers, and I
will repeat them one by one so that the public may have a fair
opportunity of judging between us."
The great artist was, therefore, on her mettle during the early
performances of 1874, prior to Nilsson's arrival.
The season opened with _Semiramide_, followed immediately by _Fidelio_,
_Norma_, _Huguenots_, _Lucrezia_, etc., which were played one after the
other until the arrival of Nilsson, who sang first in _Faust_, and
immediately afterwards in Balfe's _Talismano_, after which I called on
her to appear as "Lucrezia."
The next morning I had a visit from her agent requesting me not to press
the matter, as she was not quite prepared. I thereupon said "Semiramide"
would do as well; to this he offered some objection; but at length, on
my urging "Fidelio," he explained to me that if I insisted upon her
playing any of those characters which she had expressly stipulated for
I should mortally offend her. I could not even induce her to appear as
"Donna Anna." Not one of those parts which she had reserved for her
exclusive use was she able to undertake. We, therefore, had to fall back
on _Faust_, alternated with _La Traviata_.
Finally a compromise was made whereby Mdme. Nilsson undertook the _rôle_
of "Donna Elvira" in _Don Giovanni_, Mdlle. Titiens retaining her great
impersonation of "Donna Anna," in which she was acknowledged throughout
the world of music to be unrivalled. This happy combination having been
brought about, the season concluded with my benefit, when _Don Giovanni_
was given to some £1,200 receipts.
During the autumn of 1873 I made my usual operatic tour, commencing in
Dublin about the middle of September, where we remained three weeks,
afterwards visiting Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool,
Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, and Brighton, where we concluded
on the 20th December.
Early in January, 1874, I again gave my usual forty-eight concerts in
the various cities, opening the Edinburgh opera season about the middle
of February. We afterwards visited other places, which brought us on to
the London season, when I again occupied Drury Lane Theatre.
During this year I produced Auber's _Crown Diamonds_, and afterwards
Balfe's _Talismano_, in which Mdlle. Nilsson undertook the principal
_rôle_, Marie Roze appearing as the "Queen." Balfe's opera was very
successful, and this, coupled with the alternate appearances of Titiens
and Nilsson in other characters, followed by the revival of the _Magic
Flute_, in which the whole Company took part, brought the season to a
successful conclusion.
In the autumn of 1874 I opened, as usual, at Dublin, with a very
powerful company, and continued out in the provinces until the latter
part of December. I then went on the Continent in search of talent for
the ensuing year, and returned in time to be present at my first
concert, which took place in Liverpool early in January, 1875. We
afterwards went through Ireland and the English provinces, commencing in
the beginning of March the regular Italian Opera season in the northern
capital, followed by Glasgow, Liverpool, &c.
Ilma de Murska was punctual with a punctuality which put one out quite
as much as utter inability to keep an appointment would have done. She
was sure to turn up on the very evening, and at the very hour when she
was wanted for a representation. But she had a horror of rehearsals, and
never thought it worth while, when she was travelling from some distant
place on the Continent, to announce that she had started, or to give any
idea as to when she might really be expected. Her geographical
knowledge, too, was often at fault, and some of the routes--"short cuts"
she called them--by which she reached London from Vienna, were of the
most extraordinary kind. She had taken a dislike to the Railway Station
at Cologne, where she declared that a German officer had once spoken to
her without being introduced; and on one occasion, partly to avoid the
station of which she preserved so painful a recollection, partly in
order to get to London by a new and expeditious route, she travelled
from Vienna to St. Petersburg, and from St. Petersburg took boat to
Hull, where she arrived just in time to join my Opera Company at the
representations that I was then giving in Edinburgh. We had not heard of
her for weeks, and she came into the dressing-room to find Madame Van
Zandt already attired for the part Mdlle. de Murska was to have played,
that of "Lucia." She argued, with some truth, that she was in time for
the performance, and declared, moreover, that in entrusting the part of
"Lucia" to another singer she could see a desire on my part to get rid
of her.
The prima donna has generally a parrot, a pet dog, or an ape, which she
loves to distraction, and carries with her wherever she goes. Ilma de
Murska, however, travelled with an entire menagerie. Her immense
Newfoundland, Pluto, dined with her every day. A cover was laid for him
as for her, and he had learned to eat a fowl from a plate without
dropping any of the meat or bones on the floor or even on the table
cloth.
Pluto was a good-natured dog, or he would have made short work of the
monkey, the two parrots, and the Angora cat, who were his constant
associates. The intelligent animal hated travelling in the dog-truck,
and he would resort to any sort of device in order to join his mistress
in her first-class carriage, where he would, in spite of his immense
bulk, squeeze himself beneath the seat. Once I remember he sprang
through the closed window, cutting himself severely about the nose in
his daring leap.
The other animals were simple nuisances. But I must do the monkey the
justice to say that he did his best to kill the cat, and a bare place on
Minette's back showed how badly she had once been clawed by her
mischievous tormentor.
The most expensive of Mdlle. de Murska's pets were probably the parrots.
They flew about the room, perching everywhere and pecking at everything.
Once at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham, they tore with their beaks the
kid off a valuable set of chairs, for which the hotel-keeper charged
£30. The hotel bill of this reckless prima donna was always of the most
alarming kind. She had the most extraordinary whims, and when Signor
Sinico, Mdme. Sinico's first husband, in order to show the effect of
parsley upon parrots, gave to one of Mdme. de Murska's birds enough
parsley to kill it, nothing would satisfy the disconsolate lady but to
have a post-mortem examination of the bird's remains. This was at
Glasgow, and the post-mortem was made by two very grave, and I have no
doubt very learned, Scotch practitioners. Finding in the parrot's maw
some green matter for which they could not satisfactorily account, they
came, after long deliberation, to the conclusion that the bird had been
eating the green wall-paper of the sitting room, and that the arsenic
contained in the colouring matter had caused its death. The cost of this
opinion was three guineas, which Mdlle. de Murska paid without a murmur.
I again returned to Drury Lane for my London season of 1875. After
lengthy negotiations with a great Italian tragedian, engagements were
signed, and he duly arrived in London, and appeared the second night of
my season in the character of "Otello." I need scarcely say that this
tragedian was Salvini, who at once struck the public by his magnificent
delineation of Shakespeare's hero. I was now compelled to open my
theatre seven times every week (four for opera, three for tragedy), from
the early part of March until the latter end of July. I produced various
works, notably Wagner's _Lohengrin_, in which Mdlle. Titiens, who very
kindly undertook the _rôle_ of "Ortruda," really excelled herself. This,
with Mdlle. Christine Nilsson as "Elsa," Campanini as the "Knight of the
Swan," and Galassi as "Telramund," with an increased orchestra under Sir
Michael Costa's able direction, caused me to increase the prices of
admission; and even then it was impossible to get a seat during the
remainder of the season.
About this time the usual annual proposals were made for Mdlle.
Titiens's services at a series of concerts to be given in the United
States of America, by which she was to receive £160 a night guaranteed,
and half the receipts beyond a certain amount. After some time I
consented to this arrangement.
At the close of Salvini's engagement I handed him £8,000 for his
half-share of the profits, retaining a like amount for myself.
In July, 1875, one of the most charming vocalists that it has been my
pleasure to know, a lady who as regards voice, talent, grace, and style
was alike perfect, and who was as estimable by her womanly qualities as
by her purely artistic ones, made her first appearance at my temporary
Operatic home, Drury Lane, as "Rosina," in _Il Barbiere_. This was
Mdlle. Marguerite Chapuy, and no sooner had the news of her success been
proclaimed than Adelina Patti came, not once, but twice running to hear
her.
At the first performance Mdlle. Chapuy made such an impression on the
public that in the scene of the music lesson she was encored no less
than four times; particularly successful among the various pieces she
introduced being the "Aragonese" from Auber's _Domino Noir_, and the
waltz from Gounod's _Romeo and Juliet_. Sir Michael Costa hated
encores, but on this occasion he departed willingly from his usual rule.
Marguerite Chapuy charmed everyone she came near; among others a young
French sergeant, a gentleman, that is to say, who had enlisted in the
French army, and was now a non-commissioned officer. Her parents,
however, did not look upon the young man as a fit husband for such a
prima donna as their daughter, and it was true that no vocalist on the
stage seemed to have a brighter future before her. Mdlle. Chapuy
remained meanwhile at Drury Lane, and the success of her first season
was fully renewed when in the second she appeared as "Violetta" in _La
Traviata_. A more refined impersonation of a character which requires
very delicate treatment, had never been seen.
It struck me after a time that my new "Violetta" was not wasting away in
the fourth act of _La Traviata_ alone. She seemed to be really perishing
of some malady hard to understand; and when the most eminent physicians
in London were called in they all regarded the case as a difficult one
to deal with since there was nothing definite the matter with the
patient. Gradually, however, she was fading away.
There could be no thought of her appearing now on the stage; and at her
own desire, as well as that of her father and mother, who were naturally
most anxious about her, she was removed to France. No signs of
improvement, however, manifested themselves. She got weaker and weaker,
and when she was seemingly on the point of death her hard-hearted
parents consented to her marriage with the young sergeant. My consent
had also to be given, and I naturally did not withhold it.
Mdlle. Chapuy had signed an engagement with me for several years. But
everyone said that the unhappy vocalist was doomed; and such was beyond
doubt the belief of her parents, or they never would have consented to
her throwing herself away on an honourable young man who was serving his
country for something less than a franc a day, when she might so easily
have captured an aged banker or a ruined Count.
Shortly afterwards I met her in Paris looking remarkably well. She told
me that her husband had received his commission soon after their
marriage, and that he now held some local command at Angoulême. As I had
not released her from her engagement, I suggested to her, and even
entreated, that she should fulfil it. Her husband, however, would not
hear of such a thing. He preferred that they should live quietly on the
£120 a year which he was now receiving from the Government. I offered as
much as £200 a night, but without effect.
All I could get was a promise from Mdlle. Chapuy that in the event of
her returning to the stage she would give me her services in accordance
with the terms of the contract she had previously signed. Later on she
told me that she still sang once a year for charitable purposes; and I
still hope for her return to the lyric stage.
I here append the letter she addressed to me just after her marriage:--
"Angoulême, 8 Decembre, 1876.
"CHER MONSIEUR MAPLESON,
"Je vous remercie de votre bonne lettre et je m'empresse d'y répondre
pour vous assurer que je m'engage aussi formellement que vous pouvez le
désirer à ce que l'engagement que nous avions ensemble soit remis en
vigueur si jamais je reprends la carrière théâtrale: je vous promets
aussi que vous pourriez compter sur moi pour la grande saison de Londres
qui suivrait ma rentrée sur la scène. Vous avez été trop bon et trop
aimable pour moi, pour que j'hésite un instant à vous faire cette
promesse. Du reste, il me serait bien agréable, si je reprenais le
théâtre, de reparâitre sur la scène de Londres, car je n'ai pas oublié
combien le public Anglais a été bienveillant pour moi.
"En attendant votre réponse veuillez agréer cher Monsieur Mapleson
l'assurance de mes sentiments dévoués.
"MARGUERITE ANDRÉ-CHAPUY,
"Rue St. Gelais, 34.
"Mon mari, ma grande-mère, et ma mère sont bien sensibles à votre
aimable souvenir et vous font tous leurs compliments."
* * * * *
There are two ways of judging a singer--by the vocalist's artistic
merits, and by the effect of his or her singing on the receipts. In the
first place I judge for myself by the former process. But when an
appearance has once been made I fall back, as every manager is bound to
do, on the commercial method of judgment, and calculate whether the
amount of money drawn by the singer is enough to justify the outlay I am
making for that singer's services. The latter was the favourite system
of the illustrious Barbaja, who, when he was asked his private opinion
as to this or that member of his Company, would say--
"I have not yet consulted my books. I must see what the receipts were,
and I will answer your question to-morrow."
Referring to my books, I find with great satisfaction that the charming
artist, whom I admired quite as much before she had sung a note at my
theatre as I did afterwards, when she had fairly captivated the public,
drew at her first performance £488, and at her second £538; this in
addition to an average nightly subscription of £600.
Thus Mdlle. Chapuy made her mark from the first.
Other vocalists, even of the highest merit, have been less fortunate.
Thus Mdlle. Marimon, when she appeared at my theatre in 1871, drew at
her first performance (that of "Amina," in _La Sonnambula_) £73, at her
second £280, at her third £358, at her fourth £428. To these sums, as in
the case of Mdlle. Chapuy, the nightly proportion of the subscription
has, of course, to be added.
As with singers, so with operas. I choose a work which, according to my
judgment, ought to succeed, and cast it as well as I possibly can. It
will not in any case please the public the first night; and I have
afterwards to decide whether I shall make sacrifices, as with _Faust_,
and run it at a loss in the hope of an ultimate success, or whether I
shall cut the matter short by dropping it, even after a vast outlay in
scenery, dresses, and properties, and after much time and energy
expended at rehearsals.
When I brought out Cherubini's admirable _Deux Journées_ (otherwise _The
Water Carrier_) I was complimented by the very best judges on the beauty
of the work, and also (how little they knew!) on its success. I received
congratulations from Jenny Lind, from Benedict, from Hallé, from
Millais, from the Baroness Burdett-Coutts. But there was not more than
£97 that night in the treasury. Thereupon I made my calculation. It
would have cost me £1,200 to make the work go, and I could not at that
moment afford it. I was obliged, then, to drop it, and that after five
weeks' rehearsals!
Some time afterwards I produced Rossini's _Otello_ with a magnificent
cast. Tamberlik was the "Otello," Faure the "Iago," Nilsson the
"Desdemona." The other parts were played by Foli, Carrion (an excellent
tenor from Spain), and others. All my friends were delighted to find
that I had made another great success. I listened to their flattering
words. But the treasury contained only £167 3s., for which reason
_Otello_ was not repeated.
In rebuilding Her Majesty's Theatre Lord Dudley did not think it worth
while to consult me or any other operatic manager. He had the
opportunity of erecting the only isolated theatre in London, and the
most magnificent Opera-house in the world, for the shops in the Opera
Colonnade and the adjoining hotel in Charles Street might at that time
have been purchased for comparatively small sums. The Earl, however, as
he himself told me, cared only to comply with the terms of his lease,
which bound him to replace the theatre which had been destroyed by
another of no matter what description, provided only that it had four
long scenes and four short ones.
Messrs. Lee and Paine, the architects entrusted with the duty of
covering the vacant site, acted after their own lights, and they
succeeded in replacing two good theatres by a single bad one. The old
Opera-house, despite its narrow stage, had a magnificent auditorium, and
the Bijou theatre, enclosed within its walls, possessed a value of its
own. It was let to Charles Mathews, when theatrical property possessed
less value than now, for £100 a week; and Jenny Lind sang in it to
houses of £1,400.
When the new theatre had been quite finished Lord Dudley was shown over
it by the delighted architects. His lordship was a tall man, and his hat
suffered, I remember, by coming into collision with the ceiling of one
of the corridors. Turning to the senior partner, who was dying to catch
from his aristocratic patron some word of satisfaction, if not of
downright praise, the Earl thus addressed him--
"If narrow corridors and low ceilings constitute a fine theatre you have
erected one which is indeed magnificent."
The architect, lost in confusion at being addressed in terms which he
thought from his lordship's finely ironical demeanour must be in the
highest degree complimentary, did nothing but bow his acknowledgments,
and it was not until a little later that some good-natured friends took
the trouble to explain to him what the Earl had really said.
CHAPTER XII.
THE NATIONAL OPERA-HOUSE--FOUNDATION DIFFICULTIES--PRIMÆVAL
REMAINS--TITIENS LAYS THE FIRST BRICK--THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH THE
FIRST STONE--THE OPERA AND PARLIAMENT--OUR RECREATION ROOMS.
DURING all this time I was busily engaged selecting plans for the
construction of my new National Opera-house, which I then considered a
most desirable investment, inasmuch as Her Majesty's Theatre, which had
been hastily built, was ill-adapted for the requirements of Italian
Opera, whilst Covent Garden was heavily encumbered with liabilities.
Indeed, more than one negotiation had already taken place with the Duke
of Bedford with a view to its purchase and demolition. I, therefore, saw
that sooner or later London would be without a suitable Opera-house. In
order to expedite the works it was considered desirable that the
foundations should be proceeded with pending the final settlement of the
drawings, taking out the quantities, etc., and deciding who the
contractors should be.
Mr. Webster, who constructed the best part of the Thames Embankment, was
deemed to be the fitting man, and I therefore had an interview with him
on the subject. In this interview he told me he would execute the whole
of the foundations up to the datum level for the sum of £5,000.
On consulting with my architect he advised that it would be more
economical that this preliminary work should be paid for by measurement,
which Mr. Webster ultimately agreed to. No sooner had they dug to a
certain depth than it was discovered that no foundation could be
obtained. Afterwards screw piles were attempted and all other kinds of
contrivances to obviate the expense with which we were threatened in the
prosecution of the works. The digging proceeded to a depth of some 40 or
50 feet without discovering anything but running springs and quicksands,
covered by a large overlying mass of rubbish, being the accumulation of
several ages in the history of Westminster. Many relics of olden times
came to light, including the skulls and bones of wild elks and other
primitive animals that once roamed about the Thames Valley and were
hunted by ancient Britons in the days of the Druids. Various swords,
gold and inlaid, often richly-fashioned, told of the feuds of York and
Lancaster; while many other objects, concealed for centuries, now came
forth to throw a light on the faded scroll of the past.
As the builders had got considerably below the depth of the Thames and
consequently that of the District Railway, the water began to pour in,
which necessitated some fifteen or twenty steam-pumping machines being
kept at work for several months. At length the London Clay was reached,
which necessitated various cuttings, some 16ft. wide, down which had to
be placed some 40ft. of concrete.
At length the foundations were completed, and the sum I had to pay,
according to measurement, was not £5,000, but £33,000. This was really
one of the first blows to my enterprise.
Early in September the first brick of my new National Opera-house, prior
to the commencement of the substructure, was laid. A number of friends
were on the ground at one o'clock, and in a short time a great throng of
spectators had assembled around the spot. Punctually at 1.30 Mdlle.
Titiens arrived, under the escort of Lord Alfred Paget, Mr. Fowler, the
Architect, and myself. The party passed along the wooden platform, and
descended a handsomely-carpeted staircase, which led to the foundation
of concrete upon which the "brick" was to rest. On reaching the bottom,
Mdlle. Titiens, as she leaned on the arm of Mr. Fowler, was presented
with an elaborately-engraved silver trowel by Mr. Webster, the
Contractor. The fair singer was then conducted to the spot, where a
thin, smooth layer of white mortar had been spread on the concrete. The
foreman of the masons placed a brick in the midst of this, and Mdlle.
Titiens then in a formal manner laid the first brick, using the
plumb-line to ascertain that the work had been properly done. Second,
third, and fourth bricks were afterwards laid by Mr. Fowler, Lord
Alfred Paget, and myself. Hearty cheers were then given for Mdlle.
Titiens by the 600 workmen congregated around, who wished the Queen of
Song success and happiness on her approaching Atlantic voyage.
Prior to her departure, Mdlle. Titiens gave four farewell concerts in
Ireland; and it was with great difficulty after the last one, at Cork,
that she escaped from the concert room at all, so numerous were the
encores. The steamer having been signalled, she had to rush straight
from the concert room, in her concert dress, with all her jewellery on,
to catch the train leaving for Queenstown.
In the autumn of 1875 Mdlle. Titiens was replaced on the provincial tour
by Madame Christine Nilsson; and the business again was highly
successful. The tour continued until Christmas. I came up to London on
the 16th December, to be present at the laying of the first stone of the
new Opera-house by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.
The following was the programme of the ceremonial, which was duly
carried out:--
CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FIRST STONE
OF THE
GRAND NATIONAL OPERA-HOUSE,
_VICTORIA EMBANKMENT_.
_Holders of Cards of Invitation will not be admitted after 1.15_.
"The bands of the Coldstream Guards and Honourable Artillery
Company will be in attendance, and a Guard of Honour will line the
entrance.
"His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and suite will arrive at
the entrance on the Victoria Embankment at half-past one o'clock.
"His Royal Highness will be received by Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., Sir
James Hogg, Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Mr. F. H.
Fowler, the Architect, and Mr. J. H. Mapleson, the Director of the
National Opera.
"On arrival at the platform an address will be read to the Duke of
Edinburgh in the name of the founders of the Grand National
Opera-house.
"His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will then proceed to lay
the first stone.
"The trowel will be handed to His Royal Highness by Mr. Mapleson,
the Director; the plumb-rule and level by Mr. F. H. Fowler, the
Architect; and the mallet by Mr. W. Webster, the Builder.
"On the completion of the ceremony His Royal Highness will make a
brief reply to the address.
"The Duke of Edinburgh will then be conducted to his carriage at
the entrance by which His Royal Highness arrived, and will drive to
the St. Stephen's Club.
"16th December, 1875."
The following address was then read by Sir James McGarel Hogg:--
"YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS,--
"On behalf of the founders of the Grand National Opera-house, I have the
honour to present to your Royal Highness the following address in which
the objects of the undertaking are set forth:--
"The establishment of a National Opera-house in London has long been
contemplated, the obstacle to which, however, was the impossibility of
finding a suitable site, and it was not until that vast undertaking was
carried out by the Metropolitan Board of Works, which has resulted in
reclaiming from the Thames large tracts of land, and in throwing open
the great thoroughfare of the Victoria Embankment, that a site
sufficient to meet the requirements of a National Opera-house could be
obtained; and it is this building that your Royal Highness is graciously
pleased to inaugurate to-day.
"The National Opera-house is to be devoted firstly to the representation
of Italian Opera, which will be confined as heretofore to the spring and
summer months; and, secondly, to the production of the works of English
composers, represented by English performers, both vocal and
instrumental.
"It is intended, as far as possible, to connect the Grand National
Opera-house with the Royal Academy of Music, the National Training
School for Music, and other kindred institutions in the United Kingdom,
by affording to duly qualified students a field for the exercise of
their profession in all its branches.
"The privilege, which it is the intention of the Director to grant to
the most promising of these students, of being allowed to hear the works
of the greatest masters performed by the most celebrated artists, will,
in itself, form an invaluable accessory to their general training.
"Instead of being compelled to seek abroad further instruction when
their prescribed course at the various establishments is finished, they
will thus be able to obtain this at home, and more quickly and
efficiently profit by example.
"In Paris, when sufficiently advanced, the students can make a short
step from the Conservatoire to the Grand Opera; so it is hoped that
English students will use the legitimate means now offered and afforded
for the first time in this country of perfecting their general training,
whether as singers, instrumentalists, or composers, according to their
just claims.
"In conclusion I beg leave to invite your Royal Highness to proceed with
the ceremony of laying the first stone of the new Grand National
Opera-house.
"Grand National Opera house,
Victoria Embankment,
16th December, 1875."
In designing this, I intended it to be the leading Opera-house of the
world; every provision had been made. The building was entirely
isolated; and a station had been built beneath the house in connection
with the District Railway, so that the audience on leaving had merely to
descend the stairs and enter the train. In the sub-basement
dressing-rooms, containing lockers, were provided for suburban visitors
who might wish to attend the opera. A subterranean passage, moreover,
led into the Houses of Parliament; and I had made arrangements by which
silent members, after listening to beautiful music instead of dull
debates, might return to the House on hearing the division-bell. The
Parliamentary support thus secured would alone have given an ample
source of revenue.
Having plenty of surplus land, I had arranged with the Lyric Club to
lease one corner, whilst the Royal Academy of Music had agreed to take
another. The buildings, moreover, were to include a new concert room,
together with a large gallery for pictures not accepted by the Hanging
Committee of the Royal Academy, to be called the "Rejected Gallery."
There were recreation rooms, too, for the principal artists, including
billiard tables, etc., besides two very large Turkish baths, which, it
was hoped, would be of service to the manager in cases of sore throat
and sudden indisposition generally.
The throat doctors appointed to the establishment were Dr. Morell
Mackenzie and Mr. Lennox Brown.
Sir John Humphreys had arranged for the purchase of a small steamer to
act as tug to a large house-boat which would, from time to time, take
the members of the Company down the river for rehearsals or recreation.
The steamer was being built by the Thorneycofts. The house-boat was of
unusually large dimensions, and contained a magnificent concert-room.
The nautical arrangements had been confided to Admiral Sir George
Middleton, a member of my acting committee; or, in his absence, to Lord
Alfred Paget.
When about £103,000 had been laid out on the building another £10,000
was wanted for the roofing; after which a sum of £50,000, as already
arranged, could have been obtained on mortgage. For want of £10,000,
however, the building had to remain roofless. For backing or laying
against a horse, for starting a new sporting club or a new music-hall,
the money could have been found in a few hours. But for such an
enterprise as the National Opera-house it was impossible to obtain it;
and, after a time, in the interest of my stockholders (for there was a
ground rent to pay of £3,000), I consented to a sale.
The purchasers were Messrs. Quilter, Morris, and Tod-Heatly, to whom the
building was made over, as it stood, for £29,000.
Later on it was resold for £500; and the new buyers had to pay no less
than £3,000 in order to get the walls pulled down and broken up into
building materials.
The site of what, with a little public spirit usefully applied, would
have been the finest theatre in the world, is now to serve for a new
police-station. With such solid foundations, the cells, if not
comfortable, will at least be dry.
CHAPTER XIII.
FIRST VISIT TO AMERICA--MAKING MONEY OUT OF
SHAKESPEARE--CHATTERTON'S SECRET AGENTS--BIDDING FOR HER MAJESTY'S
THEATRE--ILLNESS OF TITIENS--GERSTER'S SUCCESS--PRODUCTION OF
"CARMEN."
AT the close of the year 1875 I was invited to spend the evening with
some friends to see the old year out and the new year in. Amongst the
visitors at the house I met an American gentleman who had seen many of
my performances; and he assured me that if I would but go to America I
should do a very fine business, but that prior to making arrangements I
either ought to send over a trusted agent or go myself. So fully did he
impress me by his conversation, that, although I had never contemplated
such a thing, I went home late that night, or rather early the next
morning, put a lot of traps together, and started the same afternoon for
America, reaching Queenstown early on the morning of the 2nd January in
time to catch the steamer.
I shall never forget my first voyage. I knew no one on board: we were
six or seven passengers in all. Few care to leave for a long voyage on
New Year's Day. The vessel was not only small, although a Cunarder, but
very unsteady. She was known amongst nautical men as the "Jumping Java."
Our passage occupied 14 days, and we had to weather several very severe
gales. One day we only made 16 knots.
However, I arrived on the other side in due course, and was forcibly
struck with the grand country I had entered. As I could remain there
only nine or ten days I hastened to visit Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston,
Cincinnati, and other places, in addition to New York. I, however,
"prospected" by carefully noting all I saw; and afterwards returned to
England to join my touring concert party during the latter part of the
month. It was then in the provinces. I felt myself fully master of what
I intended the following year to undertake; namely, a tour of Her
Majesty's Opera Company in America, which later on in these memoirs I
shall have occasion to describe. I also organized another tour in the
English provinces, with Salvini, who appeared afterwards in all the
principal provincial towns with immense success.
In the middle of October, 1875, I had the honour of being invited by the
Duke of Edinburgh to Eastwell Park. Thinking the invitation was only for
the day, I took nothing with me but a small bag containing an evening
suit and a single shirt. When I arrived at Ashford station I was met by
two six-foot men in scarlet liveries, who had arrived with a fourgon,
drawn by two splendid horses, into which they proposed to put my
luggage. I noticed their efforts to restrain a smile when I handed to
them my little hand-bag. Another magnificent equipage had been sent for
me personally.
I was received with the greatest possible kindness; and it will interest
many of my readers to know that just before dinner the Duchess took me
to a buffet on which was laid out caviare, smoked salmon, salt herring
(cut into small pieces), dried mushrooms, pickled cucumbers, and the
various appetizing delicacies which, with spirits or liqueurs, form the
preliminary repast known to the Russians as _zakuska_.
I had the honour of taking the Duchess in to dinner, where we formed a
party of four: the Duke, the Duchess, the equerry in attendance, and
myself. After dinner we adjourned to the music-room, where I noticed
piles upon piles of music-books. I soon saw that the Duchess was an
excellent musician. The Duke, too, received evidence of this; for in
difficult passages he was pulled up and corrected again and again.
Smoking being permitted and even enjoined, I lighted a cigar and smoked
in silence on the sofa, listening with interest to the musical
performances, which were in the form of duets for violin and piano, or
violin solos with pianoforte accompaniment.
The next morning we were up early, and I was taken over the estate. The
Duchess pointed out to me her own particular fish-pond, in which she
sometimes angles with a view to the table.
Then I went out shooting with the Duke; a rather trying business, for I
had neither shooting-clothes nor, far worse, shooting-boots. Of course
it began to rain, and I was soon wet through to the skin, my ordinary
walking boots being soaked in such a manner that when I got back to the
house, by which time the leather had partially dried and contracted, I
had considerable difficulty in getting them off. The Duke was kind
enough to lend me an overcoat.
At luncheon the Duchess asked for the key of the wine cellar, at which
the Duke expressed surprise and curiosity. He was reproached for his
inquisitiveness, but was not at the time enlightened as to the object
for which the keys were wanted.
It appeared later on at dinner that the Duchess had been visiting a
curate at some eight miles distance, who was ill, and had been
recommended port wine. This, out of his meagre income, he would be
unable, she said, to afford.
"With eighty pounds a year and five children, how," she asked, "can he
drink port wine and eat new-laid eggs?"--which the doctor had also
recommended. She had herself, therefore, driven over in the afternoon
through the pouring rain to take them to him.
After lunch we had more shooting, the weather being now a trifle
better. We got home in good time for dinner, and in the evening played
at billiards. The Duke is an infinitely better player than I am; but by
a series of flukes I got ahead of him, and at last found myself within
two points of the game, and with the balls so left that it was most
difficult for me to avoid making a final cannon. I saw, however, from
the expression of the Duchess's countenance, that she had set her heart
upon her husband's defeating me; and I must now confess that if I
succeeded in not making that cannon, so difficult to miss, I did so
simply out of regard for Her Royal Highness's feelings. The Duchess
during the game acted as marker.
It was the Duchess's birthday, and in the course of the evening a
courier from Russia, who had been anxiously expected all day, arrived
with innumerable presents of jewellery. To these offerings the Duchess
paid little or no attention. All she cared for was a letter she was
awaiting from her father, and, on receiving it, she was soon absorbed in
the perusal of its contents.
A few months afterwards, when the Duchess was present at a performance
of _Fidelio_ given at Her Majesty's Opera, I had a new proof of Her
Royal Highness's musical knowledge and of her delicate ear. She arrived
before the beginning of the overture, and brought with her two huge
orchestral scores. The Duchess sat on the floor of the box reading one
of them, and turning of course very rapidly over the leaves during the
stretto of the "Leonora" overture. Suddenly she noticed an uncertain
note from the second horn, and exclaimed, as if to set the musician
right, "B flat!" After the act I asked Sir Michael Costa whether
something did not go wrong with one of the horns. "Yes," he said, "but
only a person with a very fine ear could have perceived it." I repeated
to Her Royal Highness Costa's remark precisely as he had made it.
I opened my season again at Drury Lane early in 1876; but the lessee,
Mr. Chatterton, who had been secretly treating with Salvini, did not
think it right that in the great national theatre under his control I
should be making so much money out of Shakespeare. The only contract I
could now get from him had practically the effect of excluding Salvini,
and this was really the beginning of Chatterton's ruin. Although I was
to pay him the same amount of rental he insisted on retaining the
Wednesday and Friday evenings and Saturday mornings for himself. I had
therefore to rent another theatre wherein to place Salvini. Mr.
Chatterton brought over another Italian tragedian, Signor Rossi, and put
him to perform at Drury Lane in opposition to Salvini, whom I had to
present at the Queen's Theatre in Long Acre. The consequence was that
both of us dropped money, and Mr. Chatterton's losses during that time
were, I believe, considerable.
To my Opera Company I had added M. Faure, while retaining all the
favourites of the previous year, including Titiens, Trebelli, Nilsson,
&c.; Sir Michael Costa remaining as conductor.
At the close of 1876 I again visited the provinces, beginning my usual
Italian Opera season at Dublin, with Mdlle. Titiens, who had returned
fresh from her American triumphs, supported by Marie Roze, Valleria,
Ilma de Murska, Emma Abbot, Trebelli, etc., etc. The tour was indeed a
most prosperous one, and it terminated towards the latter part of the
December of that year.
Early in 1877, when I applied for the renewal of my lease of the Theatre
Royal, Drury Lane, Mr. Chatterton showed much ill-will, which I
attributed to his jealousy at my previous success with Salvini, and to
my having declined to allow him to engage the Italian tragedian on his
own account. He insisted that I should have the theatre but three days a
week, and then only from ten in the morning till twelve at night. Not
only was I precluded from using the theatre on the other days, but I was
to finish my performance always by midnight and then hand him the key.
As my rehearsals invariably have to take place on the "off days," when
there is no opera, I should have been prevented by this arrangement from
rehearsing at all. In fact, I found nothing but impossible clauses and
conditions in the contract now offered.
At this time Mr. Chatterton was very anxious to find out whether or not
the Earl of Dudley was prepared to let me Her Majesty's Theatre; and to
ascertain this the good offices of some highly attractive young ladies
performing in the pantomime were employed. Lord Dudley gave Mr.
Chatterton to understand that though he was willing to sell the theatre,
of which he saw no probability, he would not under any circumstances let
it to Mapleson or any other man. Hence Chatterton continued to insist on
his stringent conditions, although I had been his tenant for some eight
or nine years, paying a very large amount of rent in addition to
cleaning and carpeting his theatre every year, which was very much
required after the pantomime.
On learning, in a direct manner, Lord Dudley's decision, I saw that it
was hopeless to approach him in the character of a tenant. A purchaser I
did not wish to be, as my new Opera-house, it was anticipated, would be
ready for opening the following spring. All I, for the present, desired
was a theatre where I could, unmolested, continue my season. I therefore
made offers to Lord Dudley with a view to purchase, at the same time
explaining to him my inability to pay the whole of the amount he then
demanded, namely, £30,000. All I could do was to give him a deposit of
£6,000 on account, and a further £6,000 in the following November,
leaving £18,000 still due, with a clause, in case of any default being
made in regard to the second instalment, by which the first was to be
forfeited. To this his lordship assented. I had been ready to pay him
£7,000 as rent for a single year, but this he would have refused. By
paying an instalment of £6,000 I saved £1,000, and equally obtained the
use of the theatre. In due course the matter was completed.
During the month of February I entered into possession. There was not a
single seat in the house, not a particle of paper on the walls; neither
a bit of carpet, nor a chair, nor a table anywhere. I therefore had to
go and see Blundell Maple, the well-known upholsterer, who, out of
regard for me and the advertisement I promised him, consented to give me
a few things I required for the sum of £6,000. It involved the
furnishing of the whole of the dressing-rooms, the auditorium, and
corridors.
About four miles of carpeting were required, there being so many
staircases and passages, all of which were luxuriously covered. New
amber satin curtains, the traditional colour of the house, had to be
manufactured specially. Stall chairs, appointments, fittings, and
looking-glasses were also, of course, required. A room had to be built
through solid masonry for the Prince of Wales, as a retiring-room. In
fact, it was a very heavy affair; and on my inviting a few friends and
members of the Press to a dinner I gave at my club some two days before
the opening, they confessed to having believed that the theatre could
not be opened for two months. Maple, in order to show what he could do
in a short space of time, had purposely left all to the last day, when
he sent in some 200 workmen and upholsterers, together with about 300
girls and carpet-sewers, so that the effect was really like the magic of
Aladdin's Palace. The theatre, I need scarcely say, was finished in
time, and gave great satisfaction.
The new theatre opened on 28th April, Titiens appearing as "Norma;" and
a grand performance it was. Sir Michael Costa directed the orchestra,
which went _à merveille_.
The day following it became evident that the great prima donna was
suffering from a complaint which caused her the most serious
inconvenience. The next evening Mdlle. Salla appeared with some success
in _Il Trovatore_. On the succeeding Saturday, Mdme. Christine Nilsson
made her _rentrée_ in _La Traviata_; but immediately afterwards she too
fell ill.
It seemed as if the new theatre was to bring nothing but bad luck, as it
since has done to all connected with it. Mdlle. Titiens, however, had to
make an effort, and she appeared again the next night as "Norma," and
the Saturday afterwards in the _Trovatore_. Meantime Mdme. Nilsson
recovered and reappeared on the following Thursday. Mdlle. Titiens was
sufficiently well to appear at St. James's Hall, for Mr. Austin's
benefit, at which she sang superbly, Mr. Austin, after the performance,
assuring me that he had never before heard such magnificent singing.
Mdlle. Titiens now informed me that she felt considerably better, and
would appear on the following Saturday, 19th May, as "Lucrezia Borgia,"
which she in fact did. But, as the evening progressed she felt she could
hardly get through the opera. Her voice was in its fullest perfection;
but her bodily ailments caused her acute agony, and it was not until
some time after the conclusion of the opera that she was able to leave
the theatre.
The best advice was sought for, and it was decided by the lady herself
that the operation, which ultimately caused her death, should be
performed. At the end of three weeks, having recovered from the effects
of the operation, as she thought, she expressed a wish to return to her
duties at the theatre. But, alas! that wish was never to be fulfilled,
and I had to go through the season with a loss, as it were, of my right
hand.
She lived on in hopes of being able to recover, and she was even
announced to appear at the usual period in the following September. But
as time drew on it was clear that she was not long for this world. I
last saw her on the 29th day of September. Early on the morning of the
following Wednesday, October 3rd, she passed away.
I continued the London season of 1877 as best I could without the
invaluable services of Mdlle. Titiens, although from time to time we had
formed hopes of her reappearing. I again brought Mdme. Nilsson to the
front, but found it incumbent on me to discover a new planet, as Mdme.
Nilsson, finding she was alone in the field, became somewhat exacting.
At last I found one; but, unfortunately, she was just on the point of
being married, and nothing could induce her future husband to defer the
ceremony. However, by dint of perseverance I succeeded in persuading
him, for a consideration, to postpone the honeymoon; and in addition to
this I was to pay a very large extra sum per night, while his wife's
appearances were strictly limited to two each week.
About this time a great deal of intrigue was going on in order to
prevent the success of the new star. I, however, discovered the authors
of it, and worked accordingly. Thus I induced several members of the
Press to attend after they had been positively assured that she was not
worth listening to. Mdme. Gerster's success was really instantaneous,
and before her three or four nights were over I had succeeded in again
postponing the honeymoon--still for a consideration. Her success went on
increasing until the very close of the season, by which time her
receipts fairly balanced those of Mdme. Nilsson.
The charges for postponing the honeymoon were put down under a separate
heading lest they should by any mistake be regarded as a portion of the
prima donna's salary and be used as a precedent in connection with
future engagements. At last, when several large payments had been made,
the season came to a close, and the young couple, after several months'
marriage, were at liberty to begin their honeymoon.
After a journey through Italy and Germany in search of talent I returned
to England, when I found the great prima donna's case was hopeless.
Although it had been fully anticipated that she would make her
reappearance in Dublin, she being in fact announced to sing there, it
was, unhappily, decreed otherwise; and on the third night of our opening
I had to substitute Mdlle. Salla in _Il Trovatore_, in which Titiens had
been originally announced. I received early that day (October 3, 1887) a
telegram stating that she was no more. The Irish public on hearing the
sad news at once left the theatre. It cast a gloom over the entire city,
as it did throughout the musical world generally. A grand and gifted
artist, an estimable woman, had disappeared never to be replaced.
After visiting several of the principal towns I returned to London and
reopened Her Majesty's Theatre, reviving various operas of repute, and
producing for the first time in this country _Ruy Blas_, which met with
considerable success. My season terminated on the 22nd of December.
At Christmas time I reopened the theatre with an admirable ballet,
composed expressly by Mdme. Katti Lanner, in which none but the children
of my National Training School for Dancing took part. I afterwards
performed a series of English operas, which were successful, Sir Julius
Benedict conducting. Concurrently with this I continued my regular
spring concert tour, which did not terminate until the middle of March.
The London season of 1878 opened inauspiciously, the loss of the great
prima donna causing a cloud to hang over the theatre. However, Mdme.
Nilsson duly arrived, likewise Mdme. Gerster, and each sang so as to
enhance her reputation.
Prior to the commencement of the season I had heard Bizet's _Carmen_ in
Paris, which I contemplated giving; and my decision was at once taken on
hearing from Miss Minnie Hauk of the success she was then making in that
opera at Brussels.
I therefore resolved upon engaging her to appear as "Carmen." In
distributing the parts I well recollect the difficulties I had to
encounter. On sending Campanini the _rôle_ of "Don José" (in which he
afterwards became so celebrated), he returned it to me stating he would
do anything to oblige, but could not think of undertaking a part in an
opera of that description where he had no romance and no love duet
except with the _seconda donna_. Shortly afterwards Del Puente, the
baritone, entered, informing me that the part of "Escamillo," which I
had sent him, must have been intended for one of the chorus, and that he
begged to decline it.
In vain did Sir Michael Costa order the rehearsals. There was always
some trouble with the singers on account of the small parts I had given
them. Mdlle. Valleria suggested that I should entrust the part of
"Michaela" either to Bauermeister or to one of the chorus; as on no
account would she undertake it.
This went on for some time, and I saw but little prospect of launching
my projected opera. At length, by force of persuasion, coupled with
threats, I induced the various singers, whether they accepted their
parts or not, to attend a general rehearsal, when they all began to take
a great fancy to the _rôles_ I had given them; and in due course the
opera was announced for the first representation, which took place on
the 22nd June.
The receipts for the first two or three performances were most
miserable. It was, in fact, a repetition of what I had experienced on
the production of _Faust_ in 1863, and I frankly confess that I was
forced to resort to the same sort of expedients for securing an
enthusiastic reception and thus getting the music into the heads of the
British public, knowing that after a few nights the opera would be sure
to please. In this I was not mistaken, and I closed my season with
flying colours.
CHAPTER XIV.
FIRST AMERICAN CAMPAIGN--DIFFICULTIES OF EMBARKATION--CONCERT ON
BOARD--DANGEROUS ILLNESS OF GERSTER--OPERA ON WHEELS--"THE
DRESSING-ROOM ROW"--A LEARNED THROAT DOCTOR--GERSTER SINGS BEFORE
HER JUDGE--THE PIANOFORTE WAR--OUR HURRIED DEPARTURE.
AT the end of the season I went abroad to complete my Company for the
first American tour, which was to begin about the middle of October. I
started my Opera Company from London on the 31st August on its way to
America, numbering some 140 persons, including Gerster, Minnie Hauk,
Trebelli, Valleria, Campanini, Frapolli, Galassi, Del Puente, Foli,
etc., with Arditi as conductor. This also comprised a magnificent chorus
of some 60 selected voices, together with the whole of the _corps de
ballet_ and principal dancers; and I had decided to give some three or
four weeks' performances in Ireland prior to sailing, in order to get
things in working order, as well as to recruit the exchequer for my
costly enterprise. Although immense success attended the appearance of
my new singers in the Irish capital, they were not sufficiently known to
draw the great houses more famous artists would have done. Etelka
Gerster almost drove the gods crazy with her magnificent singing; but as
she was totally unknown, never having been in Ireland before, the
receipts were not commensurate with her artistic success. Minnie Hauk,
again, had never appeared in that country; nor had the opera of _Carmen_
been heard, its very name seeming to be unknown. However, the artistic
success was beyond measure, and the representations, moreover, served as
a kind of general rehearsal for my coming performances in America. On
reaching Cork I found the receipts were again below what they ought to
have been, and I began to realize that in lieu of increasing my
exchequer prior to starting for America I ran the chance of totally
exhausting it.
I therefore telegraphed to my representative in New York for £2,000, in
order that I might straighten up my position, and pay the balance of our
passage money, the boat being then off Queenstown.
I was really anxious on this occasion, and it was not until late in the
day that my cable arrived, notifying to me that the money was at my
credit in the Bank of Cork. With some difficulty, it being after banking
hours, I obtained admittance, when lo! the money was all payable in
Irish notes. These the singers pronounced to be useless for their
purpose in America. They absolutely refused to embark, and it was not
until towards evening that I was enabled with great difficulty to find
gold at the various hotels and shops in exchange for my Irish notes.
At length we departed from Queenstown; though it was late in the evening
before I succeeded in getting the last squad on board. Some of the
Italian choristers had been assured by Irish humorists that the streets
of New York were infested by crocodiles and wild Indians; and these they
were most unwilling to encounter. We had a splendid passage across. The
day before our arrival in New York it was suggested to give a grand
concert in aid of the sufferers by the yellow fever then raging in New
Orleans. I recollect on the occasion of the concert the collection made
amongst the passengers amounted to some £3 or £4. One Western gentleman
asked me particularly, in the presence of the purser, if the money would
really be devoted to the relief of the sufferers. He, moreover, demanded
that Captain Brooks, the officer in command, should guarantee that the
money would reach them. The collection was made by those two charming
young pianists, Mdlles. Louise and Jeanne Douste, and by the equally
charming young dancer, Mdlle. Marie Muller; and at the conclusion of the
concert, in which he had encored every one of the pieces, the careful
amateur from the West gave the sum of sixpence. Gerster, Minnie Hauk,
Campanini, and the others were irate, at the result of their united
labours; and as they thought it might injure them on their arrival in
New York, were the public to know of it, they privately subscribed £20
apiece all round to make the return look a little decent.
On our arrival in New York we were met by thousands of people,
accompanied by military bands, etc., and although I had left, as it
were, a winter behind me, we landed in the midst of a glorious Indian
summer.
I set about making my preparations for the opening of my season, which
was to commence on the 16th October, and to prepare the way for the
_début_ of Madame Etelka Gerster, who since our arrival had scarcely
been her usual self. This I attributed to the sea voyage. Two days
before the opening I gave a dinner, to which I invited several
influential friends including members of the New York Press. As I was
just about responding to the toast of the evening, wishing health to
Madame Gerster and success to the Opera, the waiter beckoned me to the
door, whispering that a gentleman wanted to speak to me for one moment.
I went out, when Dr. Jacobi, the New York physician, called me into an
adjoining room, where the eminent specialist, Dr. Lincoln, was waiting.
They had just visited Madame Gerster, and regretted to inform me that a
very bad attack of typhoid fever had developed itself, and that
consequently there would be no probability of her appearing the
following Wednesday, while it was even doubtful in their minds if she
would survive. She was in a very bad state.
This was indeed a great blow to me; but I returned to the room,
continued my speech, and then went on with my dinner as if nothing had
happened.
Making it a point never to think of business when I am not in my office,
I decided to turn matters over the following morning, which was the day
preceding the opening of the house. Being so far away, it would be
impossible to replace Mdme. Gerster. I thereupon persuaded Miss Minnie
Hauk to undertake her part in _La Traviata_, which she did with success.
Del Puente, our principal baritone, refused, however, to sing the part
of the father, in consequence, I presume, of this change.
This was a most fortunate thing for the other baritone, Galassi, who
replaced Del Puente. It virtually made his fortune. He possessed the
ringing quality of voice the Americans are so fond of. He literally
brought down the house that evening. I cannot recall a greater success
at any time, and henceforth Galassi became one, as it were, of the idols
of the American public.
I opened my theatre in London the following night with a very powerful
Company, Mdme. Pappenheim making her _début_ as "Fidelio"; for I was now
working concurrently the London and the New York Operas. This I did for
the whole of that season, closing Her Majesty's Theatre on the 21st
December, though the American "Academy" was kept open beyond.
Costumes, properties, and even singers, were moved to and fro across the
ocean in accordance with my New York and London requirements. Franceso,
who was ballet-master on both sides of the Atlantic, made again and
again the voyage from New York to Liverpool, and from Liverpool to New
York. On one occasion the telegraph played me false. I had wired to my
acting-manager at Her Majesty's Theatre, with whom I was in daily
telegraphic communication, desiring him to send me over at once a "2nd
tenor." The message was inaccurately deciphered, and out came "2
tenors;" one of whom was kneeling on the quay at New York returning
thanks for his safe arrival, when I requested him to re-embark at once,
as otherwise he would not be back at Her Majesty's Theatre by Monday
week in time to sing the part of "Arturo" in the _Lucia_, for which he
was already announced.
I afterwards produced Carmen at the Academy of Music, which met with
very great success, as likewise did _Faust_, _Don Giovanni_, etc. It was
not till the 8th November that Mdme. Gerster was declared out of danger,
and I was in constant attendance upon her until the 18th November, when
she appeared as "Amina" in La _Sonnambula_. Her success was really
electric, the public going quite wild about her.
I afterwards produced all the great operas I had been giving in London,
including the _Magic Flute_, _Talismano_, _Robert le Diable,_ etc.,
etc., my season continuing without intermission some six months, during
which time I visited Boston, where public breakfasts and other
entertainments were given to my singers. A special train was fitted up
expressly for my large Company, and all the carriages elegantly
decorated. I had also placed at my disposal by the Railroad Company a
carriage containing writing-room, drawing-room, bedrooms, and kitchen
stocked with wines and provisions, under the direction of a _chef_.
Whilst at Boston I had the honour of making the acquaintance of
Longfellow, who, being anxious to hear Mdme. Gerster, occupied my box
one evening, the attention of the audience being very much divided
between its occupant and Mdme. Gerster, who on that occasion was singing
"Elvira" in _I Puritani_. He likewise attended the final morning
performance, which took place on the last Saturday of our engagement,
when Gerster's receipts for "Lucia" reached no less than £1,400. We left
that evening for Chicago, a distance of some 1,100 miles, arriving in
that city just in time to commence the opera the following Monday, when
Gerster appeared and created an excitement only equalled by that of
Jenny Lind. I recollect, by-the-bye, an amusing incident that occurred
the second night, on the occasion of the performance of _Le Nozze di
Figaro_.
On the right and left-hand sides of the proscenium were two
dressing-rooms alike in every respect. Madame Gerster, however, selected
the one on the right-hand side, which at once gave the room the
appellation of the prima donna's room. On the following evening _Le
Nozze di Figaro_ was to be performed, in which Marie Roze was to take
the part of "Susanna," and Minnie Hauk that of "Cherubino." In order to
secure the prima donna's room Minnie Hauk went to the theatre with her
maid as early as three o'clock in the afternoon and placed her dresses
in it, also her theatrical trunk.
At four o'clock Marie Roze's maid, thinking to be the first in the
field, arrived for the purpose of placing Marie Roze's dresses and
theatre trunks in the coveted apartment. Finding the room already
occupied, she mentioned it to Marie's husband, who with a couple of
stage men speedily removed the trunks and dresses, put them in the room
opposite, and replaced them by Marie's. He then went back to his hotel,
desiring Marie to be at the theatre as early as six o'clock.
At about 5.30 Minnie Hauk's agent passed by to see if all was in order
and found Marie Roze's theatrical box and costumes where Minnie Hauk's
were supposed to be. He consequently ordered the removal of Marie Roze's
dresses and trunk, replaced those of Minnie Hauk, and affixed to the
door a padlock which he had brought with him.
Punctually at six o'clock Marie Roze arrived, and found the door locked.
By the aid of a locksmith the door was again opened, and Minnie Hauk's
things again removed to the opposite room, whilst Marie Roze proceeded
to dress herself in the "prima donna's room."
At 6.30 Minnie Hauk, wishing to steal a march on her rival, came to
dress, and found the room occupied. She immediately returned to Palmer
House, where she resided, declaring she would not sing that evening.
All persuasion was useless. I therefore had to commence the opera minus
"Cherubino;" and it was not until the middle of the second act, after
considerable persuasion by my lawyers, that Minnie Hauk appeared on the
stage. This incident was taken up throughout the whole of America, and
correspondence about it extended over several weeks. Pictures were
published, also diagrams, setting forth fully the position of the trunks
and the dressing-rooms. The affair is known to this day as "The great
dressing-room disturbance."
During all this visit to Chicago there was one unbroken line of
intending buyers waiting to secure tickets at the box office; and
frequently I had to pay as much as twenty dollars for wood consumed
during the night to keep the purchasers warm.
About the middle of the second week I produced Bellini's _Puritani_,
with Gerster as "Elvira," Campanini as "Arturo," Galassi as "Riccardo,"
and Foli as "Giorgio." On this occasion the house was so crowded that
the outer walls began to crack, and in the managerial room, in which I
was working, I could put my hand through one of the corners where the
two walls met. I communicated with Carter Harrison, who was then Mayor.
He at once proceeded to the theatre, and, without creating any alarm,
and under the pretext that the house was too full, caused upwards of a
thousand people to leave the building. So pleased were they with the
performance that they all refused to have their money returned.
We terminated one of the most successful Chicago seasons on record, and
the Company started the following morning for St. Louis. As I was
suffering from a sharp attack of gout I had to be left behind, and but
for the kindness of Lord Algernon Lennox (who had acted as my
aide-de-camp at one of our Easter sham-fights) and Colonel Vivian I do
not know what I should have done. Both these gentlemen remained in the
hotel with me, interrupting their journey to do me this act of kindness,
for which I felt very grateful.
On the Company's arriving at St. Louis, Mdme. Gerster declared her
inability to sing the opera of _Lucia_ that evening. My son Henry, who
had charge of the Company until I could rejoin it, explained to madame
that it would be necessary to have a medical certificate to place before
the public. Mdme. Gerster replied she was too honourable an artist to
require such a thing, and that when she said she was ill, she was ill.
My son, however, brought in a doctor, who insisted upon seeing her
tongue. She merely, in derision, said, "There!"--rapidly putting it out
as she left the room. The doctor immediately put on his spectacles, and
proceeded to write his certificate, saying that there was a little
irritation in the epiglottis, that the uvula was contracted, together
with the muscles of the throat, and that the tonsils were inflamed. On
Mdme. Gerster's husband showing the certificate to his wife she got so
angry that she insisted upon singing--just to show what an "ass" the
doctor was. Of course, this answered my purpose very well, and my large
receipts were saved.
On leaving the hotel at the end of that week the eminent physician
presented Mdme. Gerster with a bill of $60 for medical attendance. This,
of course, she resisted; and she gave bonds for her appearance when
called upon, in order to save her trunks from seizure, which the M.D.
had threatened.
Whilst I am on this subject, I may as well inform the reader that two
years afterwards when we visited St. Louis the matter was brought before
the Court. Feeling sure that this attempt at extortion would not be
allowed, and that the Court proceedings would be of very short duration,
I attended at nine o'clock, the hour set down for trial, leaving word
that I should be home at about half-past ten to breakfast. It was not
until eleven that I was called up to the witness-stand. On my
mentioning to my counsel that I felt very faint, as I had not yet eaten
anything, he repeated it to the judge, who at once adjourned the Court
in order that I might have my breakfast. He enjoined me not to lose too
much time in "mastication," and ordered the reassembly of the Court at
half-past eleven. On my return my evidence was duly given; but when the
defendant, Etelka Gerster, was summoned, the call-boy from the theatre
appeared, stating to the judge that as she had to sing "Lucia" that
night, and was not very well, it would jeopardize the whole performance
if she left the hotel.
His honour, thereupon, considerately ordered the Court to adjourn to
Mdme. Gerster's rooms at the Lindell House, where the trial could be
resumed. On our arrival there counsel and others amused themselves by
looking at various pictures until the prima donna appeared, accompanied
by her two dogs, her birds, etc., when the judge entered into
conversation with her on musical matters. Later on his honour solicited
Mdme. Gerster to kindly sing him a song, especially the "Last Rose of
Summer," which he was very partial to, being from the Emerald Isle. At
the close of the performance he thought it was useless troubling Mdme.
Gerster to go further into the case, which was at once decided in her
favour.
Talking of law, I may mention another lawsuit in which I was concerned.
Whilst in Boston in January, 1879, Mdme. Parodi, who lived in an hotel
close by the theatre, had need of medical attendance, and the theatrical
doctor, who had the _entrée_ to the house, was naturally selected to see
what the matter was. He prescribed a gargle for Mdme. Parodi; and Mdlle.
Lido, who had been attending on the patient, having shown the doctor her
tongue as he went out, he merely said "You want a little
Friedrichshall," and left the room.
Nothing more was heard of the matter until January, 1880, when, as I was
seated at the breakfast table in the hotel with my wife and family, two
Deputy-Sheriffs forced their way unannounced into the room to arrest me
for the sum of 30 dollars, which the doctor claimed as his fee. This was
the first intimation I had had of any kind, and it was afterwards shown
in evidence that the doctor had debited Parodi and Lido in his day-book
separately with the amount which he also charged to them collectively.
Finding that both ladies had left the city he thought it better to
charge the attendance to me. Rather than be arrested, I of course paid
the money, but under protest.
The next day I commenced proceedings against the doctor, as well as the
Sheriff, for the return of my money, which I contended had been handed
over under duress, and was not a voluntary payment on my part. The
doctor's counsel contended on the other hand--first, that I had derived
benefit from the treatment he had given these ladies; secondly, that I
was liable. In due course the matter went to trial, and was heard by
Judge Parmenter in the Municipal Civil Court at Boston. It was proved
that the doctor was the regular physician to the Boston Theatre, and
that in consideration of free entrance he attended without fee members
of the Company who played there. The Judge, after commenting on the
testimony, decided the matter in my favour. I was, however, baulked of
both money and costs; for the same afternoon the doctor went home and
died.
On my return to New York for the spring opera season I produced
_Dinorah_, in which Mdme. Gerster again achieved a triumph. The business
went on increasing. About this time a meeting of the stockholders of the
Academy of Music was convened, and I ultimately signed a new lease for
three more years, commencing October 20th following.
During my first sojourn in America I gave 164 performances of opera,
likewise 47 concerts. Concurrently with this I gave 135 operatic
performances and 48 concerts in England. The season in New York extended
from October 16th to December 28th, 1878, also from February 29th to
April 5th, 1879. At Boston the season lasted from December 30th, 1878,
to January 11th, 1879; at Chicago from January 13th to 25th; at St.
Louis from January 27th to February 1st; at Cincinnati from February 3rd
to 8th; at Philadelphia 10th to 18th, at Baltimore and Washington 19th
to 25th. During this period _Lucia_ was performed twenty times,
_Sonnambula_ nineteen times, _Carmen_ twenty-six times, _Faust_ sixteen
times, _Trovatore_ nine times, _Flauto Magico_ eight times, _Puritani_
eight times, _Nozze di Figaro_ seven times, _Rigoletto_ five times, _Don
Giovanni_ five times, _Traviata_ four times, _Lohengrin_ ten times,
_Barbiere_ twice, _Ruy Blas_ twice, _Dinorah_ twice, _Talismano_ ten
times, _Robert le Diable_ twice, _Huguenots_ six times, _Freischutz_
three times; making altogether twenty-four morning performances and one
hundred and forty evening performances.
About this time the disastrous floods took place at Szegedin, in
Hungary. This being Mdme. Gerster's birth-place I proposed a grand
benefit concert for the sufferers, in which my prima donna at once
joined. By our united efforts we raised about £800, which was remitted
by cable to the place of disaster within five days of its occurrence,
much (I need scarcely add) to the relief of many of the sufferers.
My benefit, which was fixed for the last night of the season, took place
on Friday, April 4th. At quite an early hour crowds collected right down
Fourteenth Street and Irving Place, and within a very short time every
square inch of available room in the house was occupied. The enthusiasm
of the auditors was immeasurable, and they began to show it as soon as
the performance opened. The representation consisted of the third act of
the _Talisman_, with Mdme. Gerster as "Edith Plantaganet," and
Campanini as "Sir Kenneth;" followed by the fourth act of _Favorita_, in
which Mdme. Marie Roze undertook the _rôle_ of "Leonora;" and concluding
with an act of _La Traviata_, with Mdme. Gerster as "Violetta." Mdme.
Gerster's performance was listened to with the deepest attention, and
rewarded at the end with enthusiastic cheers. Mdme. Gerster afterwards
came out three times, but her courtesies were of no avail in quieting
the multitude. It was necessary, at the demand of the public, to raise
the curtain and repeat the entire act. Then nothing would satisfy the
audience but my appearance on the stage; when I thanked the ladies and
gentlemen present for their support, notifying, moreover, that,
encouraged by my success, I should return to them the next autumn. This
little speech was vehemently applauded, especially the references I made
to the singers and to the conductor, who, I promised, would come back
with me.
During our stay in New York we were supplied with pianos both for the
artists individually as well as for use at the theatre by Messrs.
Steinway and Sons; and before we left the following flattering but just
letter of compliment and of thanks was addressed to the firm:--
"Academy of Music, New York,
"December 28, 1878.
"GENTLEMEN,
"Having used your pianos in public and private during the present Opera
season we desire to express our unqualified admiration of their
sonority, evenness, richness, and astonishing duration of tone, most
beautifully blending with and supporting the voice. These matchless
qualities, together with the precision of action, in our opinion, render
the Steinway pianos, above all others, the most desirable instruments
for the public generally.
"(Signed) ETELKA GERSTER, MARIE ROZE,
MINNIE HAUK, C. SINICO,
CAMPANINI, FRAPOLLI, GALASSI, FOLI,
DEL PUENTE, ARDITI."
Messrs. Steinway now offered and undertook to supply each leading member
of the Company with pianos in whatever town we might visit throughout
the United States.
On our arrival in Philadelphia I was surprised to find that every artist
in the Company had had a magnificent Steinway placed in his or her
bedroom; this in addition to the pianos required at the theatre. But
while the Company were dining, a rival pianoforte maker, who had shown
himself keenly desirous of the honour of supplying us with instruments,
invaded the different bedrooms and placed the Steinway pianos outside
the doors, substituting for them pianos made by his own firm--that of
Weber and Co. The Webers, however, were ultimately put outside and the
Steinways replaced.
Shortly afterwards a pitched battle took place in the corridors between
the men employed by the rival firms, when the Weber men, being a more
sturdy lot, entirely defeated the Steinway men and ejected them bodily
from the hotel. The weapons used on this occasion were piano legs,
unscrewed from the bodies of the instruments.
Not only did physical force triumph, but the superior strength exhibited
by the Weber side was afterwards supplemented by cunning. That very
night Weber gave a grand supper to the whole of my Company, and I was at
once astonished and amused the next day to find that a new certificate
had been signed by them all stating that Weber's pianos were the best
they had ever known. A paper to that effect had been passed round after
sundry bottles of "Extra Dry," and signatures appended as a matter of
course.
Such was the impartiality of my singers that they afterwards signed on
behalf of yet a third pianoforte maker, named Haines.
In accordance with numerous solicitations, I agreed to give a Farewell
_matinée_ the next day. But the steamer had to sail for Europe at two
o'clock in the afternoon; and this rendered it necessary that my morning
performance should commence at half-past eleven, the box-office opening
at eight. In the course of a couple of hours every seat was sold.
Towards the close of the performance, Arditi, the conductor, got very
anxious, and kept looking up at my box. It was now half-past one, Madame
Gerster's _rondo finale_ in _La Sonnambula_ had absolutely to be
repeated, or there would have been a riot; and we were some three miles
distant from the steamer which was to convey us all to Europe.
At length, to my relief, the curtain fell; but the noise increased, and
I had again to show myself, while Arditi and the principal singers and
chorus took their departure, Signor Foli, with his long strides,
arriving first. I afterwards hastened down in a carriage I had expressly
retained. As the chorus had scarcely time to change their dresses, many
of them rushed down as best they could in their theatrical attire,
followed by a good portion of the audience, who were anxious to get a
last glimpse of us all.
Arriving on board the Inman steamer _City of Chester_, I found it
crowded with personal friends, many of whom had been there at least an
hour. Hearty embraces were exchanged by the men as well as the women,
and numerous bottles of champagne were emptied to fill the parting cups.
The cabins of the steamer were literally piled up with flowers. Trunks
and boxes containing the wardrobe of the morning performance were lugged
on board.
"All ashore!" shouted the captain. Prior to my arrival, the bell had
rung for the seventh and positively last time. The steamer's officers
now urged all but passengers to get on shore, and hinted at the
probability of some of them being inadvertently carried over to Europe.
The women hurried back to escape that dreadful fate.
Ole Bull, whom I had invited to go to Europe with me, darted across the
gang-plank carrying his fiddle in a box. The whistle then blew, and the
bell rang for the eighth and now absolutely last time. At length the
steamer took her departure. A band of music on the wharf had been
playing lively airs, to which my chorus responded by singing the grand
prayer from _I Lombardi_.
To my dismay, I discovered that the prima donna had been left behind;
also the property-master, the ladies' costumier, one of the ballet, and
five of the chorus. The latter had nothing with them but the theatrical
costumes they carried on their bodies. They had previously sent all
their worldly belongings on board the ship, and we now saw them
gesticulating wildly on the quay as we passed down the bay. They were
treated very kindly after our departure; ordinary day clothes were
provided for them, and they were sent over by the next steamer.
On entering my cabin I found a silver épergne, a diamond collar-stud,
any quantity of literature, several boxes of cigars, bottles of brandy,
etc., which had been left anonymously; also an immense basket of fruit.
There were, moreover, two large set-pieces of flowers in the form of
horse-shoes that had been sent me from Boston, likewise a basket of
rose-buds, lilies, and violets, and an embroidered table-cover.
A few minutes later, a tug carrying a large American flag at the side of
an English one steamed up to the pier and took on board a number of
ladies and gentlemen who, accompanied by an orchestra, followed the
steamer down the bay, giving the Company a farewell ovation of cheering
as the vessel passed the Narrows and got out to sea.
CHAPTER XV.
RECEPTION OF A TENOR--BELOCCA AND LADY SPENCER--MARIMON'S
SUPERSTITIONS--HER LOVESICK MAID--AN ENCOURAGING TELEGRAM--MARIMON
IN THE CATHEDRAL--DISAPPEARANCE OF A TENOR
FOR my London season of 1879, in addition to Gerster, who was already a
prime favourite, Marie van Zandt, Clara Louise Kellogg, Minnie Hauk,
Ambré, Marie Roze, Caroline Salla, Hélène Crosmond, Trebelli, Nilsson,
etc., I engaged Fancelli, Brignoli, Frapolli, and Campanini. I moreover
concluded an engagement with Signor Masini, the renowned tenor, who
shortly afterwards arrived in London. I was informed the following
morning by his agent that he felt very much hurt that I myself, Sir
Michael Costa, and some of the leading artists of the theatre had not
met him at the station; the agent kindly adding that "If I would come
round to his hotel with Costa he might put the thing straight."
I told him we were too busy to do anything of the kind, but that I
should expect Signor Masini to call on me, when I would present him to
Sir Michael Costa.
We were within two days of his announced appearance, and I had not yet
seen him. That afternoon the agent, who was very anxious to keep things
pleasant, rushed in to tell me that Masini was passing along the
colonnade outside the theatre smoking a cigar, and that if I went out
quickly with Costa we might meet him, and so put an end to all
difficulties. I told him I was too busy, and that he had better bring
Masini into my office. The signor at length appeared, and in very few
words asked me in what opera he was to make his _début_. I told him he
had already been announced to appear as "Faust," in accordance with his
engagement; to which he replied that he should like to know who the
other singers were to be. I told him that Christine Nilsson would be
"Margherita," Trebelli "Siebel," and Faure "Mephistopheles," and that I
trusted this distribution of parts would suit him. He was good enough to
say that he would have no objection to sing with the artists I had
named. He then left.
A few minutes afterwards Sir Michael Costa entered the room, and I told
him what had happened. He ordered a rehearsal for the following morning
at twelve o'clock for all the artists. Nilsson, Faure, and Trebelli were
punctually at the theatre, but not Masini; and just as the rehearsal was
being dismissed in consequence of the tenor's non-attendance his agent
appeared with the suggestion that a rehearsal was not necessary. If Sir
Michael Costa would step round to the hotel Masini, said the envoy,
would show him the _tempi_ he wished to be observed in his performance
of the part of "Faust." Sir Michael Costa left the room, and never
afterwards made the least reference to this audacious proposition.
On going round to Masini's hotel the next morning to see how he was
getting on--for he was to perform that evening--I was informed that the
previous night he had taken flight, and that he was now on his way back
to Italy.
I afterwards heard that an influential friend of Masini's at the Italian
Embassy had frightened him by saying that Sir Michael Costa was a man of
considerable importance, who was not to be trifled with, and who would
probably resent such liberties as Masini had attempted to take with him.
Masini's flight put me to considerable inconvenience. I followed him up
on the Continent, harassing him in every city where he attempted to
play; though I ultimately let him off on his paying my costs, which came
to some £200.
The fact of Signor Masini's asking Sir Michael Costa to come round to
his hotel in order to hear the _tempi_ at which the arrogant tenor liked
his airs to be accompanied, must have taken my readers by surprise. But
in Italy, I regret to say, the practice is only too common for singers
to treat conductors as though they were not their directors, but their
subordinates. A popular tenor or prima donna receives a much larger
salary than an ordinary conductor--or for that matter a first-rate one;
and a favourite vocalist at the end of the season often makes a present
to the _maestro_ to reward him for not having objected to some effective
note or cadenza which is out of place, but which the "artist" is in the
habit of introducing with a view to some special effect. In his own
country it would have been nothing extraordinary for a tenor so eminent
as Signor Masini to ask the conductor to step in and learn from him how
the different _tempi_ should be taken.
On one occasion a renowned prima donna about to make her first
appearance in England took the liberty of enclosing to Sir Michael Costa
with her compliments a hundred-pound note. The meaning of this was that
she wished to be on good terms with the conductor in order that he might
not cut her short in any little embellishments, any slackening or
hastening of the time, in which she might think fit to indulge. On
receiving the note Sir Michael Costa requested the manager to return it
to the singer, and at the same time declared that he or the offending
vocalist must leave the Company. Needless to say that it was not the
conductor who left.
Another remark as to Signor Masini's having expected that Sir Michael
Costa, myself, and all the leading members of the Company would meet him
at the railway station on his arrival in London. This sort of thing is
not uncommon with artists of rank, and when Mdme. Patti comes to London
a regular "call" is sent to the various members of the Company directing
them, as a matter of duty, to be at the station at such an hour.
A good many artists, on the other hand, have a strong preference for not
being met at the station. They travel third-class and in costumes by no
means fair to see.
Costa would have been horrified at the way in which operatic enterprises
are now too frequently conducted--especially, I mean, in a musical point
of view; works hurriedly produced, and in some cases without a single
complete rehearsal. Often, no doubt, the prima donna (if sufficiently
distinguished to be allowed to give herself airs) is in fault for the
insufficient rehearsals or for rehearsals being altogether dispensed
with. When such singers as Mdme. Patti and Mdme. Nilsson stipulate that
"the utility of rehearsing" shall be left to their judgment--which means
that they shall never be called to any sort of rehearsal--all idea of a
perfect _ensemble_ must, in their case, be abandoned. Sir Michael would,
I am sure, have protested against the acceptance of such conditions.
Nothing would satisfy him but to go on rehearsing a work until
everything, and especially until the _ensemble_ pieces, were perfect.
Then he would have one final rehearsal in order to assure himself that
this perfection was maintained; and the opera could be played the night
afterwards. Costa was born with the spirit of discipline strong within
him. As a singer he would never have made his mark. In his original
occupation, that of second tenor, his remarkable qualities were lost. As
a conductor, on the other hand, his love of order, punctuality,
regularity in everything, stood him in excellent part.
At many operatic theatres the performance begins some five or ten
minutes after the time announced; at no theatre where Sir Michael Costa
conducted did it ever begin a minute late. The model orchestral chief
arrived with a chronometer in each of his waistcoat pockets; and when,
after consulting his timepieces, he saw that the moment for beginning
had arrived, he raised his _bâton_, and the performance began. He did
not even take the trouble to see that the musicians were all in their
places. He knew that, with the discipline he maintained, they must be
there.
Among other difficulties which an operatic manager has often to deal
with is one arising from questions of precedence between the singers.
Who is to have the best dressing-room at the theatre? Who the best suite
of apartments at the hotel? Naturally the prima donna. But suppose there
is more than one prima donna in the Company, or that the contralto
claims to be an artist of greater eminence than the principal soprano?
I remember once arriving at Dublin with a Company which included among
its members Mdlle. Salla, who played leading soprano parts, and Mdlle.
Anna de Belocca, a Russian lady, who played and sang with distinction
the most important parts written for the contralto voice. Mdlle. Belocca
and Mdlle. Salla entered at the same time the best suite of apartments
in the hotel; upon which each of them exclaimed: "These rooms will do
for me."
"For you?" said Mdlle. Salla. "The prima donna has, surely, the right of
choice, and I have said that I wish to have them."
"Prima donna!" exclaimed Belocca, with a laugh. "There are but two prime
donne: _moi et_ Patti."
"You will not have these rooms all the same," continued the soprano.
"We will see about that," returned the contralto. I was in despair, for
it was now a matter of personal dignity. Neither lady would give way to
the other. Leaving them for a time together I went downstairs to the
hotel-keeper, Mr. Maple, and said to him--
"Have you not another suite of rooms as good, or nearly so, as the one
for which these ladies are disputing?"
"I have a very good suite of rooms on the second floor," said Maple;
"quite as good, I think, as those on the first floor." These rooms had
already been pointed out to Mdlle. de Belocca through the window. But
nothing, she said, would induce her to go upstairs, were it only a step.
"Come with me, then," I said to Maple. "Mind you don't contradict me;
and to begin with, it must be understood that these rooms on the second
floor have been specially retained by Lady Spencer"--Lord Spencer was at
that time Viceroy of Ireland--"and cannot on any account, or under any
circumstances, be assigned even for a brief time to anyone else."
Maple seized my idea, and followed me upstairs.
"What is the meaning of this?" I said to him, when we were together, in
the presence of the two excited vocalists. "Are these the only rooms you
have to offer us? They will do for one of these ladies; but whichever
accepts them the other must be provided with a set of apartments at
least as good."
"I simply have not got them," replied Maple. "There is a charming set of
apartments on the floor above, but they are specially retained for the
Countess Spencer, and it would be more than my business is worth to let
anyone else take possession of them."
At these words Belocca opened her beautiful eyes, and seemed to be
struck with an idea.
"At least we could see them?" I suggested.
"You could see them," returned Maple, "but that is all."
"Let us go and have a look at them," I said.
Maple and myself walked upstairs. Belocca silently followed us. We
pretended not to see her, but as soon as the door of the apartments
reserved for the Countess Spencer was thrown open the passionate young
Muscovite rushed into them, shut the door, and locked it, declaring that
Lady Spencer must be provided for elsewhere.
On the conclusion of my London season of 1879 I immediately started for
the Continent in search of talent for my next New York and London
seasons, which both commenced on the 18th October.
On the issue of my New York prospectus, every box, together with
three-fourths of the _parquet_, likewise the first two rows of balcony,
were sold out for the season; so good an impression had my performances
left the previous spring.
I must here mention a circumstance which greatly inconvenienced me. On
the day of sailing from Liverpool I received notice that Mdme. Gerster
was in a delicate condition, which was confirmed afterwards by a cable
which reached me on my arrival in New York. I replied, entreating the
lady to come over, if only for a couple of months, when she could
afterwards return. All my proposals failed, though it was not until I
received five doctors' certificates from Italy sealed by the Prefetto
and viséd by the Consuls that I gave up begging her to appear.
I was really at my wits' ends, for there was no possibility of replacing
the favourite artist. I, however, engaged Mdlle. Valleria, also Mdlle.
Ambré, a Moorish prima donna of some ability and possessing great
personal charms.
Despite all I could do, the Press and the public became excited about
the absence of Gerster; and either she or Lucca or Nilsson, or someone
of equal calibre, was urgently wanted. It was too late for either of
these distinguished ladies to entertain my proposals. I, therefore,
addressed Mdlle. Marimon, who was then in Paris.
About this time the members of my orchestra, who all belonged to the
Musical Union, struck for a ten per cent. increase of pay in consequence
of the success I had met with the previous year. I flatly refused to
comply with their demand, whereupon the main body of the players
informed me that they would not enter the orchestra on my opening night,
unless their terms were conceded. I explained that the previous year I
had paid them no less than 50,000 dollars, being more than double the
price of my London orchestra, but it was all to no avail. However, I
induced them to play at my opening performance, leaving the matter to be
decided at a conference to be held in the course of a few days.
To return to Mdlle. Marimon; time being of importance, all our
correspondence had to be carried on by cable, I having to pay the
answers. As at the time I speak of the price was some fifty cents or two
shillings a word, and as the correspondence went on for over a
fortnight, I found at last that I had spent over £160 in cables alone.
The lady insisting that the money should be deposited beforehand at
Rothschild's, in Paris, this, too, had to be transmitted by cable.
At length a day was fixed for her departure, and I awaited with
impatience her arrival. Some four days later I received a cable from my
agent, Jarrett, who had gone over at my request to Paris, informing me
that Marimon had not started and that a new element of trouble had
arisen.
Mdlle. Marimon having lost her mother some time before in the foundering
of the _Pacific_ steamship was nervous about going to sea, and would not
start unless accompanied by her maid. The maid, however, objected to go
with her mistress to America on a visit which might last some months.
She was attached at the time to an actor at the Gymnase, and preferred
remaining in Paris. She knew her mistress to be very superstitious, and,
in order to avoid starting, resolved to play on her weak point.
Pretending, therefore, to be ignorant of Marimon's intentions, she
imparted to that lady the secret of a terrible dream with which she had
been visited three nights in succession, to the effect that she and her
mistress had embarked in a big ship for a long voyage, and that upon the
third day at sea the vessel had collided with another and both had gone
to the bottom. This fable had the desired effect. With blanched cheeks
the frightened Marimon, who was still in Paris, informed Jarrett that
it was impossible for her to go, and that she wished to have her
engagement cancelled. To this I refused to accede, the engagement being
complete and the money having been paid.
Volumes of cable messages were now again commenced. Here is a copy of
one of my replies:--
"Tranquil sea. Charming public. Elegant city. Luxurious living. For
Heaven's sake come, and duplicate your Drury Lane triumphs.--MAPLESON."
At length tact and diplomacy overcame her terrors, and she started in
the _City of Richmond_ the following day.
I was expecting her with the greatest anxiety, for several days had now
passed beyond the ordinary time, when on the morning of November 24th I
read in the morning papers the following telegram from Halifax:--
"The steamer _Circassia_ of the Anchor Line, with the American mail,
came into port this morning, having picked up the disabled ship the
_City of Richmond_, encountering heavy weather, with a broken shaft, off
Sable Island, 180 miles from Halifax, the second officer having been
washed overboard and lost. Amongst the saloon passengers were Mdlle.
Marimon and her maid."
I thereupon despatched messengers to Halifax, and in due course Mdlle.
Marimon reached New York.
On her arrival she immediately insisted on going to the Catholic
Cathedral, in Fiftieth Street, to offer up thanks and a candle for her
narrow escape. Despite all my entreaty to cease praying, in consequence
of the extreme cold in the vast Cathedral--it was now near the close of
November--madame remained prostrate for another half-hour, during which
time my rehearsal was waiting. I had hoped to get her to attend by
inviting her to have a look at the interior of the theatre where she was
to perform.
The result, meanwhile, of her devotions was that she caught a violent
cold and was obliged to lie in bed for a week afterwards.
I was next much troubled by a renewed outbreak in the orchestra, the
occasion being the first performance of _Linda di Chamouni_, when to my
astonishment more than half the musicians were absent. I was too
perplexed with other matters to worry beyond appealing to the public,
who sympathized with me.
A kind of operatic duel was now going on betwixt my two tenors,
Campanini and Aramburo. The latter, with his magnificent voice, had
quite conquered New York. Being a Spaniard, his own countrymen supported
him nightly by their presence in large numbers. But the tenor was
displeased at sundry hisses which came from unknown quarters of the
gallery, whilst two or three newspapers attacked him without any reason.
It was the eve of his performance in _Rigoletto_ when I was informed
that Senor Aramburo and the Gilda, Mdme. Adini (at that time his wife),
had suddenly sailed for Europe. The last I could trace of them was that
that very day they had both been seen in the city at five o'clock. Early
that morning Aramburo had come to me wanting to borrow 300 dollars. At
first I refused, but he pressed me, saying that he had property "in
Spain," and that he really needed money to close up certain business
transactions. I gave him the sum, and this was the last I saw of him. At
5.30, however, in the afternoon, I received a note from him, in which he
said that he would like five nice seats for that evening's performance,
as he wished to oblige some friends. I sent him the tickets, but by the
time they reached his address he must have packed up and gone.
At length the day for Mdlle. Marimon's appearance arrived. It was not
until Wednesday, 3rd December, that she made her _début_ in _La
Sonnambula_, when she was supported by Campanini as "Elvino," Del Puente
as "Conte Rodolfo," and Mdme. Lablache as the mother. Mdlle. Marimon
scored a positive success, and the ovations she received were something
unprecedented. I at once forgot all my troubles, for I now plainly
foresaw that she would replace Mdme. Gerster until the following year.
Anything like her success had not been witnessed since Gerster's. At one
bound, as it were, she leaped into the highest favour and esteem of the
music lovers of New York. I announced her reappearance for the following
Monday.
But the reaction consequent on the agitation caused to her by the perils
of the sea voyage now began to manifest itself. The nervousness from
which she had suffered at sea, in the belief that her maid's dream was
about to be verified, had caused such a disturbance to her nervous
system that this, coupled with the subsequent excitement due to her
brilliant success, caused the fingers of both her hands to be drawn up
as if with cramp. She found it impossible to reappear for several days;
and it was not until the 15th, some twelve days later, that she was able
to give her second performance. She afterwards sang the part of the
"Queen of Night," in _Flauto Magico_, which terminated the New York
season.
We afterwards left for Boston, where on the opening night Mdlle.
Marimon's success was again most marked; and from the beginning until
the end of the engagement there her receipts equalled those of Mdme.
Gerster. During the tour we visited Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis,
Detroit, and Cleveland. We afterwards made a second visit to
Philadelphia, the season concluding about the middle of March, 1880,
when we returned to Europe.
During our stay in Philadelphia Mdlle. Marimon, who had met with such
great success two evenings previously, was announced to appear as
"Dinorah." About six o'clock in the afternoon she sent word that she
would be unable to sing. All persuasion on my part was useless. However,
as I was descending the staircase of the hotel I met Brignoli, who on
hearing of my trouble declared that he had a remedy and that he felt
sure he could induce Mdlle. Marimon to sing. He made it a condition,
however, that in case of success I should re-engage him for the
approaching London season. To this I readily consented, and I was
greatly surprised at hearing within half an hour that Mdlle. Marimon and
her maid had gone on to the theatre. This was indeed a relief to me, as
nearly every seat in the theatre had been sold, Meyerbeer's romantic
opera not having been performed in Philadelphia for some twenty years.
On the rising of the curtain Mdlle. Marimon's voice was inaudible. She
was very warmly greeted, and went through all the gestures of the part;
played it, in short, pantomimically. At the close of the act I went
before the curtain, and announced that Mdlle. Marimon's voice, instead
of recovering itself, was going gradually from bad to worse; and that
the shadow scene in the second act would have to be omitted; but that,
to compensate the public for the disappointment, Signor Campanini, who
was then present in one of the boxes, had kindly consented, together
with Miss Cary, to give the concluding acts of _Il Trovatore_. This at
once restored the depressed spirits of the audience.
Miss Cary surprised everyone by the dramatic force of her "Azucena."
Galassi was equally effective in the _rôle_ of the "Count di Luna." But
Campanini, in _Di quella pira_, met with more than a success: it was a
triumph. The house broke into rapturous applause, and cheered the singer
to the echo. At the conclusion he was loaded with flowers. Thus I
avoided the misfortune of having to close the theatre.
On returning home to supper I discovered the "remedy" Brignoli had
employed, which was this: He presented himself on leaving me to Mdlle.
Marimon, and informed her that he understood Mapleson meant to close up
the Opera-house that evening, and charge her the value of the receipts,
then estimated at nearly £1,000. He, therefore, advised her to go to the
theatre, even if she walked through the part.
One or two newspapers the following morning insisted on regarding my
speech of the previous evening as a melancholy joke. I had announced
that Mdlle. Marimon was physically unable to fulfil the demands of her
_rôle_, and that she would omit the shadow song. But, said the papers,
her efforts throughout the evening had all been shadow songs, the little
lady having been absolutely voiceless.
Mdlle. Marimon, however, in settling up the account some weeks
afterwards, charged me £120 for this performance, arguing that she had
appeared and done her best under the circumstances.
CHAPTER XVI.
SIR MICHAEL AND HIS CHEQUE--SIX MINUTES' BANKRUPTCY--SUCCESS OF
"LOHENGRIN"--PRODUCTION OF "MEFISTOFELE"--RETURN TO NEW
YORK--"LOHENGRIN" UNDER DIFFICULTIES--ELSA'S TAILS--CINCINNATI
OPERA FESTIVAL.
I BEGAN my London season of 1880 a few days after my return from the
United States, Mdme. Christine Nilsson appearing as "Margherita" in
_Faust_ on the opening night, followed by _La Sonnambula_, _Carmen_,
_Aida_, etc., also _Lohengrin_, for which I had specially entered into
an engagement with Richter, who after some fifteen rehearsals declared
the work ready for presentation. He at the same time informed me that on
looking through the orchestral parts he had discovered no less than 430
mistakes which had been passed over by his predecessor, Sir Michael
Costa, and which he had corrected.
About this time law proceedings were pretty hot between myself and Sir
Michael Costa, and as they led to my becoming a bankrupt for about six
minutes, I may as well explain to the reader how this occurred.
My engagement with Sir Michael Costa was for a season of three months in
each year, for which I was to give him £1,500--£500 each month, payable
in advance. My season of 1875 was fixed to open on the 24th April, and
to terminate on the 24th July, which it actually did; but having at that
time secured the services of the great tragedian Salvini, I thought it
desirable to open the theatre about a fortnight earlier, giving opera
only twice or three times a week, and utilizing the other nights for the
appearances of Salvini. I mentioned my idea to Costa, who said I had
better pay him his regular cheque as from the commencement of the
season, and that the few extra nights could be settled for apart.
On the 10th July Sir Michael Costa asked for his usual monthly cheque in
advance. I reminded him of our conversation on the subject, and pointed
out to him that I had already made him the three payments as agreed. He
told me that he wanted particularly to have the cheque, as he desired to
show it to H.R.H.; adding with a mysterious air: "You will be pleased!"
From his manner he led me to believe that he would return me the cheque
after it had been shown. I, therefore, gave it to him; and, hearing no
more of it for five years, thought he had destroyed it. However, prior
to my announcing my season of 1880, application was made for the
payment of this cheque. Sir Michael declined, in fact, to wield the
_bâton_ unless the old cheque were paid. He seemed quite determined on
the subject; and I, on my part, was equally determined to resist the
demand. I made various propositions for an equitable adjustment, as also
did several influential friends; but all to no purpose. Sir Michael
Costa, like Shylock, insisted on his bond; and the law was allowed to
take its course. In the end the "blue paper" was signed by Mr. Registrar
Hazlitt constituting me a bankrupt, and I left the Court in a state of
depression quite unusual to me.
We had scarcely got outside when a happy thought struck my solicitor,
who, hurrying back with me to the Registrar, addressed him as follows:--
"Pending the appointment of a trustee, which may take some eight or nine
days, your honour is, in fact, the manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, and
my client thinks it only right to take your honour's orders as to the
production of _Lohengrin_ on Saturday. Some new skirts, moreover, which
might be of calico, but which your honour would, perhaps, prefer of
silk, are wanted for the ballet in _Il Trovatore_ next Monday. But the
_Lohengrin_ matter is the more pressing of the two, and we should be
glad if you would meet Herr Richter, who, though unwilling to tamper
with the score of so great a composer as Wagner, thinks some cuts,
already on another occasion authorized by the master, might be ventured
upon in the long duet between "Elsa" and "Ortrud." There is an obstinate
tenor, moreover, whom your honour, by adopting a decided tone towards
him, might perhaps bring to reason."
Mr. Registrar Hazlitt was amazed, and in tones of something like dismay
declared that he had trouble enough where he was, and could not
undertake the management of an Opera-house. He had not considered that,
he continued, when he signed the paper. He rang for a messenger, caused
the paper to be brought to him, and at once tore it up; thus putting an
end to my six minutes of bankruptcy.
_Lohengrin_ met with very great success, and we ran it alternately with
_Carmen_, _Don Giovanni_, _Faust_, and several other operas, in which
Mdlle. Gerster maintained her pre-eminence. During all this time we were
busily rehearsing Boito's _Mefistofele_, which I was unable to produce
until the early part of July. The following was the cast:--
"Margherita" and "Helen of Troy" ... Mdme. Christine Nilsson.
"Martha" and "Pantalis" ... Mdme. Trebelli.
"Mefistofele" ... Signor Nannetti.
"Faust" ... Signor Campanini.
The rehearsals were under the immediate personal superintendence of the
composer Boito, and the scenic department under that of the celebrated
scene-painter Magnani. The greatest pains were taken to give such a
representation of this opera as would be worthy of the composer's high
reputation.
At last the day arrived, the 6th July; but not the properties, which
were expected in large cases from Italy, but could not be heard of and
were nowhere to be found. I went to all the likely places in London,
telegraphed to Boulogne and to Calais, but in vain. Finally, however, at
half-past six in the evening, they were brought to the stage door.
The reader cannot, of course, understand the enormous difficulty which
arose in unpacking these hundreds of various properties, each one done
up in separate paper. At last shields, armour, spears, serpents,
goblets, torches, demon's wigs, etc., etc., were all piled up on the
stage. The supernumeraries and chorus were ready dressed, and were left
to help themselves, the supers, who were all guardsmen, picking out the
prettiest properties they could find; and it was with immense difficulty
that, with Boito's aid, we could distribute the most necessary for the
performance. The success of this opera is doubtless fresh in the minds
of most lovers of music. I look upon it as one of the most memorable on
record. It went without a hitch. Madame Nilsson as "Margherita"
impressed me by her singing and acting in the prison scene as she had
never done before. The opera was repeated every other night until the
close of the season, the receipts continually increasing.
At the close of my London season I again went to the Continent in quest
of talent, and paid a visit to Mdme. Gerster at her elegant villa near
Bologna. She received me with every expression of delight, and we
concluded forthwith our arrangements for her return to America, she
making it a condition that the baby should accompany her. I now made
great preparations to ensure a brilliant season. Great improvements were
made by the Directors in the auditorium of the Academy of Music in New
York, and new carpet was everywhere laid down. At my suggestion, too, a
few feet were cut from the front of the stage, which improved the
proscenium boxes, and gave me two extra rows of stalls or _parquet_
seats, numbering sixty in all. These were immediately let at high
premiums for the whole of my season. Preparations were afterwards made
for the production of Boito's _Mefistofele_, which had been such a great
success during my past London season.
As I found it desirable not to leave myself entirely in the hands of one
principal tenor, I concluded arrangements whereby Signor Ravelli was to
form part of my Company. Ravelli made his _début_ as "Edgardo" in _Lucia
di Lammermoor_ on the opening night, when Mdme. Gerster made her
_rentrée_, after an absence of a year, as "Lucia." The house was crowded
from floor to ceiling, Mdme. Gerster receiving more than her usual
ovations.
The following night Campanini made his re-appearance as "Fernando" in
_La Favorita_, Miss Annie Louise Cary undertaking her unrivalled
impersonation of "Leonora."
Wishing to do all in my power to make the production of _Mefistofele_ a
representation of the first class in every respect, I caused to be
removed from each end of the orchestra some five-and-twenty parquet
seats in order that it might be enlarged, and I engaged some twenty-five
extra musicians of ability so that the _ensemble_ of my orchestra might
be equal to that of London. Arditi was indefatigable with his
rehearsals, of which he had several, in order to obtain every possible
perfection in the execution of the music, to secure even the minutest
_nuances_ in the necessary light and shade. The cast included Signor
Campanini as "Faust," Annie Louise Gary as "Martha" and "Pantalis," a
new-comer, Signor Novara, as "Mefistofele," whilst Alwina Valleria
undertook the _rôle_ of "Margherita"--and right well did the little lady
fulfil the task she had undertaken. She had moments at which she showed
herself quite equal to Mdme. Nilsson, especially in the prison scene.
In the newspapers the following morning no mention whatever was made
either of the increase in my orchestra or of its performance; the
critics at that time being less discerning than they are now. This
greatly mortified Arditi, who had been working like a slave for so long
a time before the production.
We shortly afterwards produced _Mignon_, when Arditi said one rehearsal
would do, as sure enough it did; and this time we met with great praise.
On my returning for the following spring season I dispensed with the
services of my twenty-five extra musicians; and the excellence of the
orchestra was now fully commented upon.
About this time I remounted _Aida_ in grand style, with new properties,
scenery, and dresses, Mdme. Gerster shortly afterwards appearing as
"Elsa" in _Lohengrin_. This reminds me of an interesting occurrence.
The fatigues incident to the continued rehearsals of Lohengrin had
rather unnerved Mdme. Gerster, who, however, made her appearance in the
_rôle_ of "Elsa" on the night for which the opera had been originally
announced. Her success, though great, was not what she desired, and the
next day she complained of indisposition, though she at the same time
insisted upon further rehearsals. I therefore closed the theatre at
great loss, in order that her desires might be complied with.
At length the time for the second performance arrived. I had spent a
fatiguing day, and had finished up with directing the difficult
machinery of the scene in which the swan disappears to be replaced by
the missing child, while the dove comes down from heaven to draw the
boat which, as "Elsa" embraces her long-lost brother, bears "Lohengrin"
away.
Feeling sure that all was in order, I went home for a short time, not
having tasted anything since early morn. I sat down to my dinner, and
ordered my servant to bring me a pint of champagne. I had hardly taken
the knife and fork into my hand when Dr. Gardini, Mdme. Gerster's
husband, put his head through the door, beckoning to me, and saying that
he wanted me for one "second" only. On my getting into the vestibule he
entreated me to come over a moment to the Everett House, where his wife
was residing, it being then about a quarter to seven (my opera was to
commence at eight). On my reaching the Everett House her maid, her
brother, and her sister-in-law desired me to step a moment into her
bedroom. On entering I smelt a powerful odour of chloroform, and on
inquiry found that her brother, who was a medical man of some standing
in New York, had been prescribing chloroform to allay a tooth-ache, or
some other ailment she was suffering from; but in the nervous condition
she was in it had acted rather too violently upon her general system,
and there she lay speechless.
I was beside myself, and I am afraid rather rude at the moment to those
in attendance. However, I insisted upon taking the matter entirely into
my own hands. I commenced by opening the tops of the windows so as to
let the odour out, and dispatched the sister to get me a bottle of
soda-water, together with some sal-volatile, also a bottle of strong
smelling salts. By raising Mdme. Gerster's head I got her to take the
soda-water and sal-volatile, and at each respiration I took good care to
place the smelling-bottle to her nose, but all to no effect. She was in
a state of semi-unconsciousness.
I, however, insisted upon raising her (it being then a quarter past
seven), and by the aid of the maid I put a large shawl over her, and
carried her off in my arms to the carriage, which I had ordered to be at
the door, and took her over to the Academy, where I seated her on a
chair. She now swooned on to the dressing-table.
Whilst I continued to apply the smelling-bottle I gave directions to the
theatrical hair-dresser to be careful to come gently in and comb out her
back hair and plait in the little tails which are sometimes added by
prime donne. It was about twenty minutes to eight when Arditi came into
the room, accompanied by the call-boy, and both looked upon the matter
as hopeless. I, however, begged the maestro to go into the orchestra,
and to leave the rest to me.
I got her to stand upright; but when I suggested the idea of singing
"Elsa" she sighed, and said--
"It is utterly useless. It is just eight o'clock, and the tails are not
in my hair."
I thereupon informed her that during her unconscious state I had
carefully had the tails combed in. This brought a faint smile to her
face, and I at once saw that there was still a chance of my opera going.
I led her to the entrance, when she went on accompanied by her
attendant maidens. I then drew a long breath and went back to finish my
dinner, knowing now that the opera would continue.
Long before the first act was completed Mdme. Gerster's energies had
returned. She was in full possession of her marvellous vocal powers, and
a triumphant evening was the result of my labours.
About this time I commenced autumn Sunday evening concerts, in which the
whole of my singers took part, the first portion of the evening
beginning, as a rule, with a fine performance of Rossini's _Stabat
Mater_, Valleria, Cary, Campanini, Galassi, and Novara singing the music
very effectively. The houses were invariably crowded to the roof.
About this time, I settled a grand opera festival for Cincinnati the
ensuing spring, in conjunction with the College of Music, and for that
purpose organized a chorus of some 400 extra voices, and an orchestra of
some 150 musicians; after which I left for Chicago to confer with
Colonel George Nichols as to the arrangements.
We afterwards visited Boston, where our performances met with the
greatest possible success, each week's receipts averaging no less than
35,000 dollars, the reappearance of Mdme. Etelka Gerster creating
immense excitement. At the _matinée_ given on January 1st, at which she
appeared, upwards of 100 ladies' odd india-rubber overshoes were picked
up on the family circle staircase lost in the rush after the opening of
the doors, there being a heavy snowstorm raging at the time. The
receipts were over £1,200 notwithstanding. _Aida, Mefistofele, Carmen,
Don Giovanni_, and _Puritani_ completed the week's _répertoire_. We
afterwards left for Philadelphia, followed by Baltimore, Washington,
Pittsburg, Indianapolis, Chicago, and St. Louis, the Opera being a
signal success all along the line. We closed up on the Saturday night at
St. Louis, leaving by special train at 1 a.m., shortly after the
conclusion of the night's representation, for Cincinnati. The soloists,
choristers, and orchestra arrived at about three o'clock on the Sunday
afternoon, rather tired; and they spent this afternoon in hunting up
hotels and boarding-houses. In the evening we had a stage rehearsal of
_Lohengrin_, with chorus and part of the orchestra. My own chorus was on
hand, together with the Cincinnati contingent some 350 strong--all
present without a single absentee. But large as the stage was there was
plenty of room for all and to spare. The beautiful _Lohengrin_ choruses
were finely rendered, and the volume of tone resounding through the vast
building was truly grand. The rehearsal was afterwards dismissed, and
everyone retired to rest.
Early the following morning the final rehearsal was called, which
terminated at twelve o'clock; and that same evening the first great
Opera Festival was inaugurated--undoubtedly the most daring musical
enterprise ever attempted in America or any other country. The sight of
the audience from the private boxes was worth a journey to see. It was
one sea of faces. Everything looked auspicious for the success of the
festival. The weather was pleasant, the crowds were large and
enthusiastic, and the singers were _en rapport_ with the audience,
whilst the chorus did its very best.
The orchestra, also, was the finest ever heard in Cincinnati, composed
of 150 first-class musicians, who did their work splendidly. In fact,
the _ensemble_ was complete.
The scene outside the hall was one of bewildering confusion. Myriads of
elegant carriages darting round corners, pedestrians jostling against
each other to arrive before the doors were closed, an immense rabble
outside, who had gone to catch only a glimpse of the handsomely-dressed
ladies as they went in; such was the scene, which, I must add, was
illuminated by the newly-invented electric light. In spite of the most
stringent police regulations the streets were blocked, and it is not
surprising that there were several horrible accidents. Notwithstanding
four wide exits it was an hour and a half after the performance was over
before the last carriage could get off.
The toilettes of the ladies, for which Cincinnati is so famous, were
most elegant. Our grand performance of _Lohengrin_ was followed by
Mozart's _Magic Flute_, Mdme. Gerster singing the _rôle_ of the "Queen
of Night." The third opera was Boito's _Mefistofele_, for which 8,000
reserved seats were sold. The fourth night we had _Lucia di Lammermoor_,
followed by an act from _Moses in Egypt_; the extreme back of the stage
representing a burning sun, and the whole 400 choristers joining
together with the principals in the grand prayer, "Dal tuo stellato
soglio," which terminates the opera. On the fifth night Verdi's _Aida_
was given with entirely new scenery, painted for the occasion, together
with new dresses and properties.
A morning performance, _La Sonnambula_, was given next day, with
Gerster. The audience, like all the previous ones, was immense. Every
seat was occupied, whilst 2,000 people who had paid two dollars apiece
were standing up. The toilettes of the ladies were simply magnificent,
baffling all description. The audience went wild over Gerster, encores
were demanded and re-demanded, people hurrahed and waved their
handkerchiefs, whilst the most expensive bouquets and flowers were
pelted on the prima donna, who at last was embowered in roses.
On the last evening Gounod's _Faust_ was performed. The end was as
glorious as the beginning. By seven o'clock the big hall was again
filled, and at half-past seven, when Arditi took up the _bâton_, the
house was packed and jammed from the top-most part of the gallery.
The audiences throughout the week were most brilliant. Before separating
a Committee meeting was held; and it was resolved that the festival
should be renewed the following year, when Mdme. Patti and Mdme. Albani
should, if possible, be added to the list of vocalists.
This was followed by a grand banquet at the club, where amongst others I
had the honour of making the acquaintance of Mr. Reuben Springer, the
donor of the magnificent hall in which the festival had been held.
The profits of the week reached 50,000 dollars. We afterwards visited
Detroit, Syracuse, and Albany, returning to New York in the early part
of March.
On the 25th March a morning performance was given of _Lucia di
Lammermoor_, when the Academy was fairly packed from _parquet_ to
gallery by a most fashionable audience, not so much to hear _Lucia_ as
to hear Mdme. Gerster. At the rush at the opening of the doors the
ticket-taker discovered a forged free pass purporting to bear my name.
On his own responsibility he handed over to the police the two men who
had come in with the ticket, and they were taken off to the
police-station, where I was immediately sent for.
The forgery being proved they were both committed for trial, the
magistrate at the same time notifying that if we took them up at once in
an elevated train to Ninety-second Street the assizes would be on, and
their case could be at once decided.
They were duly taken on, and the matter gone into. One of the men was
committed to prison for a year, and the other one was placed under the
care of the Commissioners of Charities and Corrections for two years on
Randall's Island.
I got back to the Academy in time to hear the mad scene.
On returning the following year I made inquiry as to the man who had
been sent to the Reformatory, and was informed that he had died only the
day before. So also had the judge of the Assize Court: a remarkable
coincidence.
We remained in New York until the 9th April, when we were again called
to Boston to give six performances, each of which averaged $5,000. After
a _matinée_ on the Saturday we returned to New York by special train, in
order to give a Sunday concert, when over 4,000 dollars were taken at
the doors. We then gave six more extra farewell performances in New
York, sailing for Europe immediately on the conclusion of the last one,
and arriving in London about six days prior to the opening of my season.
Early in the spring of 1881 I received a communication from Messrs.
Ricordi, of Milan, the publishers and proprietors of Boito's
_Mefistofele_, in which they solicited me to allow Signor Nannetti, the
basso, who was then performing the title _rôle_ at the Scala, to delay
his engagement with me for the period of a fortnight, in order that the
successful run of the work might not be interrupted; in exchange for
which they offered me the services of the musical director, Signor
Faccio. To this I consented, and the eminent conductor was duly
announced in my prospectus. But instead of keeping Nannetti two weeks in
Milan they kept him five, during which time my season had opened and
Mdme. Nilsson had arrived in London in order that I might take up the
successful run of _Mefistofele_ which had been interrupted only by the
close of the previous season. Mdme. Nilsson, however, refused to appear
until Nannetti came; and it was not until the 23rd June that I could
reproduce Boito's _Mefistofele_. Faccio never turned up at all.
CHAPTER XVII.
PRODUCTION OF "IL RINNEGATO"--RAVELLI'S OPERATIC
THEORY--NEGOTIATIONS WITH COVENT GARDEN "LIMITED"--A SEARCH FOR A
PRIMA DONNA--FAILURE OF PATTI'S CONCERTS--CINCINNATI OPERA FESTIVAL
OF '82--PATTI'S INDISPOSITION.
MY London season of 1881 commenced at Her Majesty's Theatre, on the 7th
May. Nothing of note took place prior to the arrival of Mdme. Christine
Nilsson, who appeared on the 28th as "Margherita" in _Faust_, which
character she repeated, together with "Mignon," until the 23rd June,
when, after two postponements, we were enabled to reproduce Boito's
_Mefistofele_. The attraction of this opera had, however, considerably
diminished, possibly on account of its having been produced so late in
the previous season, when a few performances were given, and afterwards
interrupted for a period of nearly ten months. During this time
negotiations were entered into between Baron Bodog Orczy and myself for
the production of an opera composed by the Baron on a Hungarian
subject, and entitled _The Renegade_; in Italian _Il Rinnegato_.
Baron Orczy, friend and pupil of Liszt, and a fervent admirer of
Wagner's works, had been the Intendant of the Royal Theatre at Pesth,
where he at once gave a proof of keen musical discernment by engaging
Richter as his orchestral conductor. Report said that he had given up
his important post by reason of representations made to him on the
subject of his excessive devotion to Wagnerian music. However that may
be, the Baron had shown himself by several excerpts from his opera,
performed at St. James's Hall and at the Crystal Palace, to be a
composer of no mean ability. He handled the orchestra with skill and
power, and if his opera did not prove so successful with the general
public as his friends must have desired, that result may partly be
accounted for by the over-elaboration of the score, and the importance
attached by the composer to the instrumental portions of his work.
Composed to a Hungarian libretto, _The Renegade_, of which the subject
was derived from an historical romance by a popular Hungarian novelist,
had, with a view to production at my theatre, been translated into
Italian; and two of the leading parts had been assigned to Ravelli the
tenor, and Galassi the baritone.
Ravelli had not long been a member of my Company; he was one of my
chance discoveries. One evening, as so often happened, I was at the
last moment in want of a tenor. The hall porter, finding that I was
sending about London in quest of a possibly suitable vocalist, told me
that a dark little man with a tenor voice had been hanging about the
stage-door, and the Colonnade in front of the theatre, for some ten days
past, and that he was sure to be somewhere in the neighbourhood. The
artist in question was found. I asked him whether he could really sing.
His answer may be guessed; and when I further questioned him as to
whether he knew the part of "Edgardo" he replied that he did, and in
some measure verified his assertion by singing portions of it. He showed
himself the possessor of a fine, clear, resonant voice; and if he
sometimes sang without true dramatic expression, and without the grace
which springs from perfect art, he at least knew how to thrill the
public with a high note effectively thrown in.
It is not my purpose, however, for good or ill, to criticize the singing
of Signor Ravelli. I am now dealing with him only in so far as he was
connected with the opera of _Il Rinnegato_. In the second act of that
work the tenor and baritone fight a duel. In this there was no novelty.
But instead of the tenor killing the baritone, the baritone puts the
tenor to death, and this struck Signor Ravelli as far too new. He
appealed to operatic traditions and asked in an excited manner whether
such a thing was heard of before. "No!" he exclaimed, answering with
vigour his own question; and he added that though he was quite ready to
take part in the duel, he would do so on condition that not he but his
antagonist should be slain. It was useless to explain to him that in the
story upon which the opera was based the character represented by the
tenor perished, while the baritone lived on. This, he said, was just
what he complained of. "Why," he indignantly demanded, "should the
tenor's part in the opera be thus cut short? But why, above all, should
the habitual impersonator of heroes fall beneath the sword of one who
was accustomed only to play a villain's part?"
It was impossible to get the infatuated man to hear reason on the
subject. He cried, screamed, uttered oaths, and at one time threatened
to kill with his dagger, not only his natural enemy, the baritone, but
everyone around him. "I will kill them all!" he shrieked.
After a time, by humouring him and agreeing with him that in a
well-ordered operatic duel the tenor ought, of course, to kill the
baritone, I got him to listen to me; and I at last contrived to make him
understand that there were exceptions to all rules, and that it would be
generous on his part to overlook the species of indignity to which he
was asked to submit, the affront offered to him not having been intended
as such, either by the librettist or, above all, by the amiable
composer. It was settled then that Ravelli was to be killed. But what,
he wished to know, was to be done with his body after death? The proper
thing would be, he said, for six attendants to enter, raise the corpse,
and carry it solemnly away to a place of repose.
It mattered little to me whether the body of Ravelli was borne from off
the stage by six, eight, or a dozen attendants. But according to the
plan of the opera he had to lie where he had fallen while the soprano,
whom in his character of tenor he had passionately loved, sang a lament
over his much-loved form. I told Ravelli that it was a great compliment
thus to be treated by a despondent prima donna. But he could not see it,
and he calculated that the soprano's air, with the orchestral strains
introducing it, would keep him in what he considered an ignominious
position for something like ten minutes. It was absolutely necessary to
promise Ravelli that his mortal remains should be removed from the stage
to some quieter resting-place by six corpse bearers, the number on which
he had set his heart; and he was honoured, if I remember rightly, with
the funeral he had stipulated for at the last rehearsal. Baron Orczy had
protested against this arrangement; but I assured him that there was
nothing else to be done, and that everything should take place according
to book at the public representation.
On the night of performance Ravelli was, of course, left recumbent on
the stage. He must have thought more than once, as he lay writhing with
shame and anger on the boards, of rising and rushing off. But he feared
too much the laughter and derision of the public, and he had to remain
passive while the orchestral introduction was being played, and while
the prima donna's soliloquy was being sung. Many of us thought the
strain would be too much for him, and that he would go raving mad. But
when he found himself once more a free agent behind the scenes he
stabbed no one, struck no one, and, strange to say, seemed perfectly
quiet. The humiliation to which he had been subjected had somehow calmed
him down.
If Ravelli was wild and passionate, Galassi, his associate, was a
reasonable man whose presence of mind had possibly the effect of saving
my theatre from being burned a second time. There was a good deal of
fire in _Il Rinnegato_, and in one scene the green lights surrounding an
apparition starting from a well caught some gauze, so that the well
itself burst into flames, the result being such a blaze that but for
Galassi's promptitude in dealing with it the conflagration might have
proved fatal to the building.
While the baritone was smothering the fire with his cloak and with some
canvas on which the grass was painted--at the same time trampling the
burning embers under foot--a portion of the audience had taken alarm and
was already hurrying to the doors. At this critical moment I could not
but admire the calm air of dignity with which Baron Orczy, who was
conducting his work, continued to mark the time and to direct the
performance generally as though nothing at all extraordinary were taking
place. I feel sure that this determined attitude of the composer in the
presence of what, for a few seconds, seemed likely to lead to a terrible
calamity, had a considerable effect in allaying the general excitement.
"How can there be danger," many must have asked themselves, "when that
gentleman who is conducting the orchestra, and who is so much nearer the
supposed fire than we are, does not evince the least alarm?"
Towards the close of this season, negotiations were again opened by the
Messrs. Gye towards purchasing my lease, goodwill, and interest,
together with a certain portion of my costumes and scenery, with a view
to an operatic monopoly. Ultimately terms were arranged, and an
agreement concluded, which was not to come into force until the shares
of the projected Company had been taken up; and it was only in August,
1882, that I was notified that sufficient shares had been placed to
justify the Company starting, and my agreement coming into force. In the
meantime I had been left to sustain the burden of the current expenses,
rates, taxes, etc., of my own theatre, until the transfer could be made.
The arrangement entered into was that I should have so much cash, and so
many shares, together with an engagement for a period of three years, at
a salary of £1,000 per annum, besides 50 per cent. of the profits made
in America, where I was to have sole control of the business.
In the early part of October, 1881, I started with my party for New
York. The season opened on October 17th, with a performance of
_Lohengrin_ by Campanini, Galassi, Novara, Anna de Belocca, and Minnie
Hauk, which gave great satisfaction. This was followed by a performance
of _Carmen_, in which Minnie Hauk, Campanini, Del Puente, and Valleria
resumed their original parts.
A few days prior to the sailing of the Company for America I visited
Paris, where I heard a young vocalist, Mdlle. Vachot, sing; and at once
negotiated with her for an engagement. She did not like the idea of
crossing the ocean; but she was overruled by her father, a small farmer
at Varreds.
Being in a hurry to conclude the engagement I called upon her the next
day, with a contract in my pocket, when the servant informed me that she
and her father had gone to Varreds to consult some relatives. On
learning the name of the place I went to the station, and there heard
the manager of the Grand Opera asking the ticket-seller how to get to
Varreds. Luckily, he decided not to take that train. Thereupon I entered
it; though being desperately hungry I was sorely tempted to lunch before
doing so.
The nearest place on the railroad was Meaux. I got there in a pelting
rain-storm to find that I had to travel nine miles across country to
Varreds. I managed to get a trap, but we had not gone more than half way
before one of the traces broke, which, after some delay, I got repaired.
Finally I reached a clump of mud hovels; and this, I was told, was
Varreds. I asked a cowboy whom I met if he had seen Mdlle. Vachot. He
replied that he did not know her. He had seen two strangers, a lady and
a gentleman, walking towards the "hotel," which I found to be a mud hut,
with accommodation for men, women, and chickens, more especially the
latter, which were walking all over the parlour floor. Nothing was known
at this hotel, except that two strangers who had recently arrived, after
leaving a bundle of shawls, had been seen going towards the cemetery.
On arriving at the cemetery I found the gate locked. I then went to the
curé, who said he knew nothing of Mdlle. Vachot. Finally I met a
blacksmith who knew her, and he pointed out where she was. I found her
at table with six or seven country cousins. As I was hungry, I was glad
to take pot-luck with them.
With some difficulty I afterwards got my contract signed, and started
back for Paris. On my way to Meaux Station I met the manager of the
Grand Opera driving over towards Varreds.
I afterwards secured a tenor of the name of Prévost, who had a
phenomenal voice, and was then singing with success at the Théâtre du
Château d'Eau. He seemed especially adapted to the _rôle_ of "Arnold"
in _William Tell_. After signing with him I left for Italy, where I
ordered new and magnificent costumes, including enough for an extra
chorus of 90 male voices which I afterwards employed for the Gathering
of the Cantons in Rossini's masterpiece.
From there I went to Parma, where the eminent _scenografo_ of the
theatre, with some persuasion, undertook to paint the scenery, which on
its arrival in New York was pronounced by all connoisseurs simply
superb.
About this time the director of the Leipsic State Theatre proposed the
production of Wagner's _Ring des Nibelungen_ at Her Majesty's Theatre,
with a very powerful cast of characters and a magnificent orchestra
under the direction of Richter, the great master himself to superintend
personally its production. But of this "more anon."
Mdlle. Vachot duly appeared in the early part of November as "Rosina" in
_Il Barbiere di Siviglia_. The house was crowded in every part, and
Vachot was found to have a charming personality, a beautiful voice with
a good method, together with no little dramatic talent. She was warmly
received for her pretty appearance, and heartily applauded at frequent
intervals for her delightful singing. From a good beginning she went on
to a gratifying success, fairly establishing herself before the evening
was over in the favour of her new public.
Things were progressing favourably when about this time Mdme. Adelina
Patti arrived in New York on a speculation of her own, after an absence
of some 22 years. A great deal of excitement was thereby created, and as
Mdme. Patti's concerts were to take place within three doors of the
Academy of Music, I began to fear as to the results of my season then
progressing. Mdme. Patti's visit, however, turned out to be a most
ill-advised one. Her concerts had not been properly announced, and she
came with a very weak Company, believing that the magical name of Patti
would alone crowd the hall. Her first concert realized scarcely 3,000
dollars, whilst the second dropped down to 1,000 only. Few people went
to see her, and she at once understood what a mistake had been made. The
charge, moreover, she demanded was ten dollars per seat! The public,
therefore, universally agreed to stay away. The paltry receipts of the
second concert proved conclusively to Patti's manager, and to herself as
well, that something had to be done to lift the sinking enterprise.
I may mention that I gave a gentle hint to Patti that her removal to the
Academy would be most desirable by sending her a bouquet which cost some
£30, with these words on it: "To Adelina Patti, Queen of the Lyric
Stage." Two days afterwards I called to see _la Diva_ at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and after some negotiation was on the point of concluding
arrangements which would have been a fortune to me as well as to Mdme.
Patti herself, when at this critical moment Mr. Abbey came between us,
offering her a concert tour in which, beyond receiving a fixed salary,
she was to participate in his profits.
Abbey's admirable handling of Bernhardt being fresh in everyone's
recollection, Patti had no reason to suppose that he would fail in her
case to obtain similar results.
During my season at the Academy the production of Rossini's _chef
d'oeuvre_, _Guillaume Tell_, made a prodigious success, and crowded
the theatre nightly. The tenor Prévost possessed the voice of
exceptional quality necessary for the difficult _rôle_ of "Arnoldo."
Signor Galassi's "Tell" was a noble impersonation, marked by great
dignity of action, and sung in the broad and grand style of which he is
so complete a master; whilst the part of "Mathilde" was undertaken with
success by Mdlle. Dotti, who displayed remarkable ability.
Shortly afterwards I reproduced Verdi's _Aida_, for which I discovered a
most capable soprano in the person of Mdlle. Paolina Rossini, whose
success went on increasing nightly; and who later on appeared in the
difficult _rôle_ of "Valentina" in _Les Huguenots_, at once taking a
firm hold on the public.
We were now approaching the second great Cincinnati Opera Festival. I
will, therefore, take the reader once more with me to that city.
The Opera Festival of 1882 opened on February 13th with immense success
by a grand performance of Meyerbeer's _Huguenots_, the audience, an
immense and distinguished gathering, numbering over 5,000 persons, the
representatives of the wealth, the beauty, and the culture of the city.
As early as six o'clock people began to assemble outside the Music Hall,
the scene of so many previous triumphs, and long before the commencement
of the opera every seat was occupied, and every available inch of
standing room likewise.
At a quarter to eight the opera began, a band composed of 150 selected
professors occupying the orchestra under the veteran Arditi. The opera
was a signal success, and went smoothly throughout; the grand
"Bénédiction des Poignards" being executed marvellously by a chorus
composed of 400 trained voices. The acoustic properties of the hall were
simply perfect. Even in the extreme rear of the gallery, from where the
artists on the stage appeared the size of Liliputians, the softest tones
could be distinctly heard.
At the close of the performance, however, an unfortunate accident
occurred, which deprived me of my prima donna for the remainder of my
tour.
Just as the curtain fell, when "Marcel," "Raoul," and "Valentine" were
shot by the Catholic Guards, the guns were pointed too near Mdlle.
Rossini, who got touched in the face, and was further hurt whilst
falling. She had, therefore, to be carried home.
I omitted to tell the reader that some weeks before I had succeeded in
engaging Mdme. Patti to take part in this Festival, for which I paid her
£1,600 a night, being the largest amount this invaluable lady has ever
received in the shape of salary.
She was announced to appear on the second evening of the festival in a
concert, followed by the fourth act of _Il Trovatore._ On arriving home,
flushed with the success of the opening night, but deeply concerned
about Mdlle. Rossini, whom I had just left, I received a letter from
Mdme. Patti's agent, informing me that she was suffering from a severe
cold, so that it was feared she would be unable to appear the following
evening.
I at once sought Colonel Nichols, and informed him of this, desiring him
kindly to accompany me to Mdme. Patti's with the leading physician of
the city, who found the unwelcome tidings to be perfectly true. No
alternative was left but to issue an explicit announcement to the
public, postponing Mdme. Patti's appearance until the following Thursday
afternoon at two o'clock. I therefore substituted the opera _Faust_ the
following evening, refunding their money to purchasers, or exchanging
their tickets for the night on which Mdme. Patti was to appear. This, of
course, needed a great deal of care and attention, and occupied me the
greater portion of the night on account of the vast number of tickets to
be provided for in the exchanges. I am happy to say that there was no
confusion; and the public eventually became satisfied with the
arrangement made.
On the Wednesday afternoon the opera of _Carmen_ was given, with
Campanini, Del Puente, Dotti, and Minnie Hauk in the principal
characters. In the evening _Fidelio_ was produced with a powerful cast,
and with 300 extra voices added for the celebrated Chorus of Prisoners,
the receipts reaching their maximum on that occasion.
Mdme. Patti, unfortunately, made but slow progress towards recovery, and
it was consequently decided to further postpone her appearance until the
following Saturday night, it being again necessary to inform the public
as to the cause.
Various conflicting rumours at once got into circulation as to the Patti
trouble. After it had been announced that the capricious Diva could not
sing many refused flatly to believe in the reason assigned, namely, that
she had a sore throat. Others declared that Patti was a little stubborn,
self-willed person, and had done this expressly "to spite Mapleson."
Inquiries were set about in all directions.
Newspapers sent their reporters hundreds of miles to discover the state
of Patti's health before she had quitted Detroit to come on to the
Festival. Malicious people even went so far as to say that Patti, like
Rip Van Winkle, was fond of "schnapps," on the insufficient ground that,
prior to starting, she had purchased a bottle of Mumm's "extra dry."
Even this turned out to be a mistake, for, in reply to an inquiry made,
a special despatch was received from Detroit by the _Cincinnati
Gazette_, stating that "the bills of Patti at the Detroit Hotel show
that during her entire stay in that city only two quarts of wine were
consumed, and the hotel waiters state they think Nicolini drank the most
of it. Further, the landlord stated that none of the party were
noticeably intoxicated during their stay in his hotel, showing there
could be no truth whatever in the statement that Patti was under the
influence of liquor."
An evening paper published the following:--"The explanation that Patti
caught cold whilst driving in this city is strengthened by the fact that
she at least had a good opportunity for doing so, as she was driving
most of the time during the previous day. On our reporter inquiring at
the stables, he ascertained that her carriage bill for her drive
amounted to 55 dollars." Dr. J. D. Buck, who attended her, informed the
newspaper reporter that "Mdme. Patti was undoubtedly ill of a cold, but
she was rapidly improving."
Meanwhile Dr. F. Forchheimer, physician to the College of Music, was
also sent to inspect the larynx of the prima donna, and he confirmed
what the previous doctor had said.
The ticket speculators, however, lost nothing by the affair, the city
being very famous for _matinée_ performances, and as the ladies came
forward in great numbers at five dollars apiece for the purpose of
showing their new toilettes, very few returned after once entering the
doors. Each of the audiences for _Carmen_ and _Fidelio_ numbered 8,000
people.
On Friday evening I produced Mozart's _Magic Flute_; and on Saturday a
magnificent representation with complete scenic effects was given of
_William Tell_, where again my increased chorus of 400 did very
effective work, the voices coming out with full freshness and vigour. So
good a chorus had never been heard on the operatic stage before. The
orchestra, too, particularly distinguished itself. The overture, which
musically embodies the whole opera, was given with such precision,
correctness of tempo, and delicacy of colour that it called forth at
once an encore.
On the Saturday morning a grand performance of _Lohengrin_ was given,
and in the evening Mdme. Patti was enabled to appear, the first part
being devoted to a concert, while the second was composed of the fourth
act of _Trovatore_.
As the success of the Festival kept on increasing we resolved to give an
extra performance, for which purpose an engagement was entered into with
Mdme. Patti for the following Monday, when she appeared as "Margherita"
in _Faust_.
I afterwards visited Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Syracuse, and Albany,
returning to New York for the usual spring season, and there performing
_Fidelio_, _Huguenots_, _Lohengrin_, _Carmen_, _William Tell_, and
_Faust_.
In the meanwhile I had put in rehearsal Meyerbeer's _Africaine_, which
was placed on the stage at considerable expense, all the costumes,
scenery, dresses, and armour being entirely new, and the stage being
occupied by some 400 persons. The gorgeous revival of _l'Africaine_
proved an extraordinary success. The audience fairly packed the large
house nightly, the fine spectacle presented in the third and fourth acts
causing great enthusiasm. Miss Hauk undertook the part of "Selika," and
was particularly successful from a dramatic point of view, whilst Signor
Galassi and Campanini found great opportunities for the display of their
vocal abilities. The great ship scene of the third act created a perfect
furore. So anxious was I that the acting of the Indians on boarding the
ship should create a sensation, that I went to Union Square and from the
various agencies engaged some 12 or 15 actors, who were then out of
employment, and whose make-up with the tattoo marks and their realistic
fighting made such an impression that on the conclusion of the scene the
curtain had to be raised.
The grand march, too, in the fourth act created a sensation, equally
with the magnificent spectacle and the gorgeous palanquin in which
"Selika" enters accompanied by "Nelusko." I had requested Bradwell to
design for me a full-sized elephant with a palanquin on its back, in
which people were seated, the interior of the elephant being occupied
and kept firm by two stalwart policemen.
The scenery was of the most gorgeous description, specially painted for
me by Magnani, who surpassed even his previous efforts. _L'Africaine_
was repeated for five or six consecutive nights to crowded houses.
On one occasion we had to perform _L'Africaine_ on consecutive nights in
New York and Philadelphia, which entailed the removal of the whole of
the scenery and dresses, likewise the transport of the whole of the
supernumeraries, ballet, etc., numbering altogether 400 persons; and we
had, moreover, to return the same evening after the performance to New
York, in which city the work was to be repeated the following night.
The supernumeraries, with their blackened faces, and the Indians with
their tattoo marks, caused a great sensation at the railway station on
the return journey, as there was no time to think of washing them. We
only reached New York the next morning at six o'clock, when again the
early morning public were startled by the arrival of these sable gentry
under a blazing sun.
We remained in New York for further representations, when I revived
Verdi's _Ernani_, _Don Giovanni_, _Huguenots_, etc.
CHAPTER XVIII.
I ENGAGE PATTI--MY MILITARY EXPERIENCE--INFLUENCING
ELECTORS--OPERATIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY--OBJECTIONS TO ENGLISH
MONOPOLY--PATTI IN NEW YORK.
ABOUT this time I set to work for the purpose of engaging Adelina Patti
for my ensuing season, and sent a letter to all the 200 stockholders of
the Academy (who occupied free seats) to know what amount they would
contribute towards the accomplishment of my object. Mr. Pierre Lorillard
wrote to me that in case I should be short he would donate 1,000 dollars
beyond the amount he then contributed should Patti sing at the Academy
the next winter. I replied that I simply required each stockholder to
contribute three dollars a seat for the Patti nights in order to aid me
in carrying out this much-desired engagement.
I regret to say that many of the stockholders sent me no response
whatever. Others destroyed the value of their consent by adding that it
was only to be given if all the other shareholders agreed to do the
same.
Another great difficulty presented itself. I was called upon to deposit
no less than £11,000 at Belmont's bank as caution money on the signing
of the contract. This difficulty I ultimately got over through the
kindness of August Belmont, who guaranteed Mdme. Patti's deposit, I at
the same time assigning to Mr. Belmont the whole of my subscriptions.
The agreement with Mdme. Patti was, therefore, duly signed.
The conclusion of this contract made a great sensation. When it became
known that Mdme. Patti was to return the following season, numbers of
applications were made for subscriptions, although it was six months
before the opening.
About this time the building of the new Metropolitan Opera-house had
been resumed in earnest, in order that it might be completed by the
following spring.
The season shortly afterwards closed with the benefits of the various
singers, I taking the last night, when I gave acts of four different
operas, namely, _Faust_, _Daughter of the Regiment_, _Ruy Blas_, and
_Africaine_, with a new ballet.
Having secured Mdme. Patti for the ensuing season, I endeavoured to
effect an engagement also with Mdme. Gerster, who was then in New York,
having returned from New Orleans, and being now on her way to England. I
only succeeded, however, in securing her services for the following
morning, when an early _matinée_ had to be given prior to the departure
of the Company for Europe in the afternoon, the receipts on that
occasion reaching no less than 9,000 dollars.
This year the Americans paid me the compliment of making me an honorary
member of the 22nd Regiment, with rank corresponding to my own actual
rank in the English volunteers. But beyond attending a couple of balls
and some competition drills in the uniform of the regiment I had never
time enough to profit by the privileges extended to me in so friendly a
manner.
I must not forget among my volunteering reminiscences a rather dramatic
incident which occurred at Her Majesty's Theatre in the year 1860, when
I had just joined the Honorable Artillery Company, and, as yet but
little instructed in the mysteries of drill, was anxious to qualify
myself as soon as possible for admission into line. With this view I
spent every spare moment in practice, sometimes with the Scots Guards at
St. George's Barracks, Trafalgar Square, and often in the evening, when
some operatic representation was actually going on, at Her Majesty's
Theatre, where I utilized the services of the guard of honour in
attendance. The first time I carried out what had struck me as rather a
happy idea I was putting the squad of guardsmen through the bayonet
exercise in the Ballet practice room. I had just given the orders,
"Advance, advance, point!" when the door opened, and Lewis, the
treasurer, appeared, bearing in his hand a bag which held the receipts
of the evening. The word "point!" brought the bayonets of the guardsmen
almost into contact with the breast of the startled official, who,
uttering a shriek and dropping the money-bags, turned and fled.
So scared was he that not until some time afterwards did he quite
recover himself. Had he fancied in his terror that the guard had
suddenly invaded the theatre and prepared an ambuscade in order to rob
the treasurer of the night's receipts? He could give no explanation on
the subject. The sight of the red-coats, the authoritative cry of
"Point!" and the rapid presentation of the bayonets, which all but
pierced him, had the effect of depriving him for a time of his wits. No
other account could poor Lewis give of the matter.
In these degenerate times it is considered enough at one of the Royal
Theatres to station outside during the performance a sergeant's guard;
and Mr. Augustus Harris is modest enough to consider a corporal's guard
sufficient. In former days, however, Her Majesty's Theatre was almost
always during a performance under the care of a captain's guard, the
officers being provided for inside, where the captain, the lieutenant,
and the ensign occupied stalls one, two, and three, specially reserved
for them.
Three other stalls used, at this time, to be reserved for the Captain
of the Body-Guard, the Exon in Waiting, and the Clerk of the Cheque.
To show that my military studies and military labours of the last
twenty-eight years have not been altogether in vain, I may here append a
few letters from various commanding officers and adjutants with whom I
have at various times done duty.
During my English provincial tours I have for many years, thanks to the
kindness of H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief, been enabled to do duty with
a number of different regular regiments, whose officers have done me,
moreover, the honour of making me free of their mess. Sometimes, too,
the Colonel of the regiment has been good enough to place his troops
under my command. I have the pleasantest recollections of having, in the
course of my various provincial tours, worked and dined with the
officers of, I can scarcely say how many regiments. Here are some of the
letters which, on my taking leave, I received from the commanding
officers or adjutants of those corps:--
"Richmond Barracks, Dublin,
"Dec. 14, 1869.
"I certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Mapleson, 6th Tower Hamlets Rifles,
has drilled regularly under my supervision from the 4th of September,
1869, until the 9th of October, 1869. During this period he went
regularly through company drill, and for the last fortnight took command
of the Battalion; he on joining being well up to his work and
thoroughly acquainted with the theory of drill. On leaving I considered
him well qualified to take command of a regiment in the field. He took
the greatest interest in his work, and went in for mastering the minutiæ
of drill with great perseverance.
"C. J. BURNETT,
"Captain and Adjutant 2/15 Regiment."
* * *
"Salford Barracks, Manchester,
"May 6, 1870.
"I hereby testify to the capabilities of Lieutenant-Colonel Mapleson in
drill during the time I had command of the 100th Regiment at Manchester.
He drilled the Battalion several times, and from the report of the
Adjutant I have no hesitation in stating that few officers are superior
to him in the knowledge of battalion manoeuvres.
"H. COOKE,
"Major Commanding 100th Regiment."
* * *
"Gallowgate Barracks, Glasgow,
"May 26, 1870.
"I certify that Colonel J. H. Mapleson, Honble. Artillery Company, was
drilling with the 2nd Battalion 5th Fusiliers, then under my command,
and that he showed considerable proficiency in company and battalion
drill.
"GEORGE CARDEN,
"Major 2nd Battalion 5th Fusiliers."
* * *
"Junior United Service Club,
"November 1, 1871.
"I have much pleasure in testifying as to Colonel Mapleson's thorough
knowledge of the 'Field Exercise Book,' etc., etc., and I feel convinced
from what I saw of him whilst attached to my regiment that he could
handle it under any circumstances.
"J. CLOWES HINDS,
"Major 40th Regiment."
* * *
"Beggars' Bush Barracks, Dublin,
"January 13, 1871.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Mapleson drilled with the 1st Battalion Scots
Fusilier Guards during the autumn of 1870. He was thoroughly up in
company and battalion drill, more especially the latter, and is
perfectly able to drill the Battalion.
"J. W. WALKER,
"Captain and Adjutant
"1st Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards."
* * *
"Glasgow, October 30, 1871.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Mapleson has during the last month frequently
attended the parades of my regiment. He has both taken command of a
company at battalion drill and has also manoeuvred the Battalion
himself, in both situations, showing a thorough knowledge of the
Infantry Field Exercise.
"J. C. RATTRAY,
"Colonel Commanding 90th Light Infantry."
* * *
"Edinburgh Castle,
"May 21, 1873.
"Certified that Colonel James H. Mapleson was attached to the 93rd
Highlanders for drill. I consider him able to drill a squad, company, or
battalion according to the Field Exercise, and fully impart instruction
therein.
"FITZROY MACPHERSON,
"Adjutant 93rd Sutherland Highlanders."
* * *
"Infantry Barracks, Windsor,
"July 7, 1873.
"This is to certify that Colonel Mapleson was attached for drill to the
1st Battalion Scots Guards during the winter months; that he is
thoroughly acquainted with battalion drill, and perfectly competent to
drill the Battalion either singly or in brigade.
"J. W. WALKER,
"Captain and Adjutant 1st Battalion Scots
Guards."
* * *
"Edinburgh Castle, N.B.,
"April 10, 1875.
"I certify that during the stay of Colonel Mapleson at Edinburgh he
attended regularly all parades of the 90th Light Infantry, and
manifested thorough knowledge of company and battalion drill. He has a
good 'word of command,' and nothing could exceed his zeal for military
information, which he is fully in possession of.
"H. W. PALMER,
"Major Commanding 90th Light Infantry."
* * *
"Wellington Barracks,
"January 10, 1874.
"We certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Mapleson, of the Tower Hamlets Rifle
Brigade, is conversant with the drill of a company and of a battalion,
and able to give instruction in the same.
"That he can command a battalion in brigade.
"That he is competent to superintend instruction in aiming and position
drill, and to superintend blank firing and ball practice.
"That he is acquainted with the proper mode of route marching and the
duties of guards.
"Also that he can ride.
"Also that he is acquainted with the mode of posting picquets and their
sentries and the duties of orderly officer.
"L. E. PHILLIPS,
"Colonel 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards.
"E. ANTROBUS,
"Captain and Adjutant 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards.
"Approved
"EDWARD SAXE WEIMAR,
"Major-General Commanding Home District."
Among my experiences of exercise and drill I remember an incident in
connection with a Scottish regiment which, though I cannot very well
narrate it in minute detail, I can say enough to make the whole story
intelligible to those who have worn a kilt. At Edinburgh, in 1873, the
93rd Highlanders were one morning placed under my orders in the Queen's
Park by the Commanding Officer, at that time Colonel Burroughs. The
regiment was on the slope of a hill looking downwards. I gave the word
to fire a volley at a distance of 500 yards, and my military readers are
aware that at a distance beyond 200 yards the position for firing is the
kneeling one.
A great number of persons were looking on. Suddenly an adjutant rode up
to me, and pointing to the crowd exclaimed--
"For heaven's sake give the word, 'As you were!'"
* * * * *
Friends have often asked me how, occupied, absorbed, distracted as I
must have been by the affairs of a great operatic establishment, I could
nevertheless find time, leisure, and even strong inclination for
military pursuits. The simple explanation is that I needed diversion
from my ordinary labours, and that I found this in the active duties of
a volunteer officer. Frequently at the end of a long rehearsal I have,
without finding time to dine, had to put on my uniform, get on
horseback, and hurry to take the command of my regiment in the Regent's
or in Hyde Park. The entire change of occupation was, I am convinced,
the best possible relaxation I could have. I never could have recruited
my energies by simple idleness, which, besides being in my case
intolerable, is apt to lead one into scrapes.
Many years ago, at the beginning of the volunteer movement, at which
time I was still associated with Mr. E. T. Smith, I qualified myself for
the duties of sergeant, and used to receive half-a-guinea a time from
the corps for drilling recruits, who came to us, naturally under the
circumstances, in the rawest condition. My reflection (not, perhaps, a
particularly new one) as to the perils of idleness was forcibly
illustrated when, a short time afterwards, I found myself at
Walton-on-the-Naze doing duty with a battery. Anything more hopelessly
dull than that place when drill was once at an end, can scarcely be
imagined. At last I could stand it no longer, and was obliged to devise
some means of diversion, which if culpable was, I hope, original.
The people of the place told me that, though Walton was dull and
desolate, there were plenty of farmers in the neighbourhood who had
buxom wives and pretty daughters, and that when anything really worth
seeing was going on whole families would flock in, and render the place
quite lively with their presence.
What would attract them? I put the question to myself as an impresario
just beginning his career, but already accustomed to consider such
questions. Our artillery drill was evidently not enough. The great
sensation of the moment with the British public was Blondin and his
tight-rope performances.
Would Blondin fetch them? I asked myself; and, Blondin himself being out
of the question, would public announcements to the effect that Blondin
would appear on a certain day have the desired result?
A day or two afterwards the walls of Walton-on-the-Naze as well as
Colchester were covered with placards setting forth that on a fixed day
Blondin would appear and walk on the tight-rope from the end of the pier
to the top of the hotel in which we were staying.
On the day appointed the sun shone brightly, and long before the time at
which Blondin was expected an army of holiday folks from the surrounding
country came in with as many pretty girls as one could wish to see in
the somewhat similar scene of the "statute fair" in the opera of
_Martha_.
There was no room for the carts in the stables of the place, and they
had to be packed close together on the beach.
The regimental band played on the pier, and the holiday folk had, I am
sure, an agreeable time. Some disappointment may have been caused when
telegrams in _fac-simile_ were posted on the walls with the information
that Blondin from indisposition would be unable to appear. But this was
atoned for by an announcement that in lieu of the tight-rope
performance there would be a grand display of fireworks; and the
pyrotechnics, which the organizers of the hoax paid for, went off most
brilliantly.
At one time, moreover, I used to find solace from my managerial cares in
the pursuit of politics, and, with or without justification, I nourish
the hope that I did something towards securing the return of Mr. W. H.
Smith for Westminster. I was an active member of his committee, both in
connection with the elections which went against him and the subsequent
one which brought him triumphantly in. After his second failure I
remember the late Mr. Lionel Lawson saying to me--
"The thing is impossible; I would not mind giving you a written promise
to pay you £10,000 if ever he gets in."
Lists were at that time in the hands of the registration committees,
showing on which side each elector gave his vote. It seemed useless to
interfere with those who were marked "L," as voting firmly on the
Liberal side. But among the Westminster shop-keepers there were numbers
who were marked "LC," who apparently did not care on which side they
voted, and who generally divided their vote between a Liberal and a
Conservative candidate. With these undecided men there was evidently
something to be done; and I gave them to understand that, having strong
Conservative sympathies, I should feel it my duty to place on my free
list those of the undecided who could bring themselves to support that
side.
As the ballot system had just been introduced when Mr. W. H. Smith was
for the first time returned, I cannot, of course, say to what extent my
advocacy and aid may have benefited him. But I hope, as before observed,
that I did something towards securing his presence in Parliament.
On my arrival in London I was notified that the Royal Italian Opera,
Covent Garden, Limited, had not yet been floated. But this result was
daily expected. I was precluded then from taking further steps towards
opening my London season of 1882, fearing that the Company might be
floated just as I started, in which case I should have to close up
again.
In the meantime, fire insurances, poor rates, and taxes generally kept
on accumulating, and although I notified that I was ready to hand over
possession of the theatre, I still could get no reply. The consequence
was that I had to pay all sorts of arrears whilst an action for
ejectment was brought against me for having been a few days late in
paying the fire insurance. My landlord, in order to keep his superior
lease straight with the Woods and Forests, had also paid it, so that the
Company received the money twice over. Considerable battles hereupon
commenced in the law courts with a view of ejecting me from my theatre,
and it was not till late in the season that the long-expected
notification came that the Company had been floated.
The consideration I was to receive consisted of a payment of £2,500 in
cash and 1,000 fully paid up £10 shares in the new Company. I need
hardly inform the reader that I never saw one of the shares, and could
never get them; whilst all the cash that I received was consumed in
paying off the arrears of ground rent of Her Majesty's Theatre,
insurance, etc., whilst I was waiting for the Company to be floated.
The main object of the Gyes and of the new Royal Italian Opera, Covent
Garden, Limited, was to obtain possession of the new Metropolitan
Opera-house, New York, which was then approaching completion. By the
terms of my agreement with the Academy of Music in New York I was
prohibited from parting with or assigning my interest or any part
thereof in that building during the remaining portion of my tenancy,
which still had two years to run. The agreement in reference to my
services for the next season at the Academy had to be drawn so as to
make it appear that I had not in any way parted with my interest or any
portion thereof; although by another agreement it was stipulated that I
ran no pecuniary risks whatever in connection with the approaching
season, simply receiving my personal expenses, my salary of £1,000 a
year, and my 50 per cent. of the profits, while retaining, as hitherto,
the sole direction of the whole concern.
On starting from Europe, the Royal Italian Opera Company, Limited, gave
me a financial secretary to accompany me; and I was also assisted by
Commander Gye as treasurer. I formed, as I considered, a most brilliant
Company, which included Mdme. Adelina Patti, Mdlle. Savio, a new singer
whom I had heard in Italy, Mdlle. Rossini, Mdlle. Minnie Hauk, Mdme.
Fursch-Madi, Mdlle. Dotti, Mdlle. Valleria, Mdlle. Zagury, Mdme.
Scalchi, Signori Mierzwinski, Ravelli, Campanini, Nicolini, Galassi, Del
Puente, and Durat, a Parisian baritone of some note. I augmented the
strength of the chorus, and when on the point of publishing my
prospectus I found that the general manager in London had added a Mdlle.
Berghi, without my knowledge, who on her appearance later on made
probably the greatest _fiasco_ ever known in America. He also, however,
added his wife, Mdme. Albani, whose brilliant talents added lustre to
the season. We began, therefore, in grand style, and had an enormous
subscription.
The opera troupe arrived in New York early in October, and was met in
the usual way by steamers and bands of music up the bay. These
accompanied us to the wharf, where the party landed amidst great
cheering.
Whilst on board I organized a grand opera concert, in which the whole of
the principal singers and chorus took part, under the direction of
Arditi, in aid of the Liverpool Sailors' Orphanage. The saloon was
elegantly decorated for the occasion, and, without exception, every
passenger aided the scheme by attendance and contributions. I directed
the musical arrangements, whilst the prince of American orators, the
Hon. Daniel Dogherty, presided. Over £50 was realized for the charity.
It was now announced by the Royal Italian Opera Company, Limited, that
on the completion of the new Metropolitan Opera-house, which Gye felt so
sure of obtaining, the Academy would be closed, so that a monopoly of
Italian Opera would thus be established in New York.
The papers took the idea up warmly, but in a hostile spirit; the
_Herald_ declaring in a leading article that if the Royal Italian Opera,
Covent Garden, Limited, of London, ever expected to monopolize opera in
America it was very much mistaken. The people in America, it stated,
would heartily encourage them in all efforts to establish and maintain a
first-class Opera in New York; but when they talked of repeating the
London proceeding by closing up either one of the existing Opera-houses
for the purpose of monopolizing the business, they might as well
understand that they were proposing a scheme which the American public
would readily defeat. It was contended that New York was large enough
for two Italian Opera-houses, and, if the performances in both were
meritorious, both would be well supported.
Of course all the attention of the public was concentrated on the
expected arrival of Patti, which in due course took place. There was the
usual crowd on the wharf all night awaiting the ship's arrival. I had
left orders for a telegram to be sent to me as soon as the vessel passed
Fire Island in order that I might be in time to dress and go down to one
of the specially chartered steamers with Signor Franchi, Patti's agent,
Commander Herbert Gye, and a party of artists and reporters, accompanied
by military bands, fireworks, etc. The _Servia_ was out in the middle of
the stream, and we steamed up alongside, when we saw Patti, who had been
up since half-past four in the morning, in feverish anxiety to reach
_terra firma_.
Our band struck up "God Save the Queen" and everyone bared his head; the
Englishmen partly from traditional reverence, but most of those present
from admiration of the lyric queen who had come for another reign to the
delighted people of New York. Handshaking and greetings followed.
After we had got the Patti through the Custom House she was placed in a
carriage and taken to the Windsor Hotel, the room being piled up with
telegrams, cards, and bouquets. There was also a large set piece with
the word "Welcome!" embroidered on it in roses. In the evening there was
a midnight serenade in front of the Windsor Hotel, and ultimately _la
Diva_ had to appear at the window, when orchestra and chorus, who were
outside, performed the grand prayer from _I Lombardi_. After three
hearty cheers for Adelina Patti people went home, and she was left in
peace.
Mdme. Patti made her _début_ a few days afterwards as "Lucia di
Lammermoor," followed by the _Traviata_, etc. To describe in detail her
success would be to repeat an oft-told tale.
Amongst the numberless inquiries at the box-office several were made as
to how long Mdme. Patti remained on the stage in each of the different
operas; and the newspapers busied themselves as to the number of notes
she sang in each particular work; larger demands for seats being made on
those evenings when she sang more notes. _La Traviata_ generally carried
off the palm, perhaps because one journal had calculated the interest of
the money accruing on her diamonds, whilst she was singing in that work.
A party of amateurs would buy a ticket between them, each one taking 20
minutes of the ticket and returning with the pass-out check to the next.
Lots were drawn to decide who was to go in first; and in the event of
anyone overstaying his 20 minutes he had to pay for the whole ticket;
correctness of time being the essence of the arrangement.
CHAPTER XIX.
NON-ARRIVAL OF SCALCHI--GENERAL INDISPOSITION--KING KALAKAUA
ENNOBLES PATTI--RAVELLI CONSULTS HIS DOG--THE COMPANY
VACCINATED--PATTI EATEN BY MICE--ARRIVAL OF ALBANI--CINCINNATI
OPERA FESTIVAL OF '83--FREEDOM OF THE CITY.
I was getting very anxious about the arrival of Scalchi, who had never
yet appeared in New York, and who had lately been singing in Rio Janeiro
and at Buenos Ayres. It was not until the 20th November that I received
notice of the sighting of her ship, the _Plato_, from Rio Janeiro, which
at length arrived on the 24th, after a tempestuous voyage of twenty-two
days. The vessel had been laden with coffee, hundreds of boxes of which
had been thrown overboard to lighten it. Provisions running short, the
passengers had mostly to live on biscuit and coffee, so that Mdme.
Scalchi on her arrival was in a very feeble state; and in lieu of going
down to the Academy to rehearsal, as I proposed, took to her bed and
remained there for nearly a month. I was almost daily in attendance upon
her.
Early in December I was within a very close shave of closing the
theatre. The opera announced for the evening in question was _William
Tell_. At about four o'clock I received a doctor's certificate from
Mdlle. Dotti, who performed the principal female character, notifying me
that she had been attacked with diphtheria. I therefore had to set about
to find a substitute, having decided to give the opera anyhow. Shortly
after a notification came from Mierzwinski, the tenor, who was also
indisposed, though after a deal of trouble he promised to go on and do
his best.
I was, however, compelled to change the opera to _Lucia di Lammermoor_,
as the lady who had undertaken to replace the prima donna in _William
Tell_ was in such a nervous state. There was no time for a rehearsal; I
therefore decided to give _Lucia_ instead. On the notice being sent to
Mdlle. Laura Zagury, the soprano, she informed me that although _Lucia_
was in the _répertoire_ she furnished me on her engagement she had never
sung that _rôle_. The opera therefore had to be changed to _Aida_.
Orders had just been given to the various departments as to the scenery,
dresses, music, etc., when the news came that Mdlle. Rossini, whom I had
counted upon for the principal part, was lying ill at her house in Fifth
Avenue.
I now changed the opera to _Rigoletto_; but Mdme. Zagury was not ready
with the part of "Gilda," and absolutely refused to appear. _Les
Huguenots_ was next announced, it being now half-past five. Everything
was set in motion for the production of that opera, when Mdme.
Fursch-Madi declared her inability to assume the part of the heroine, as
she had taken some medicine, believing that her services would not be
required until the early part of the following week. Thereupon an attack
was made on Mdme. Savio, who, however, regretted that she was unable to
appear as "Valentine."
Nothing was left but to try _La Favorita_; but Signor Ravelli, who had
just finished a _Carmen_ rehearsal, declared it would be utterly
impossible for him to sing the _rôle_ of "Fernando." Then Minnie Hauk
was sought for; but she was saving herself for her appearance in
Brooklyn on the morrow, and distinctly declined.
I now took a decision either to perform _La Favorita_, or to close up,
as it was already 6.30 p.m. I at length persuaded Signor Clodio, one of
the tenors, to assume the part of "Fernando." But a new difficulty
arose, as, being a very portly gentleman, there were no costumes in the
house to fit him. The tailors were then set to work, who promised to
have the dress ready in time. At this juncture word came from Mdme.
Galassi, who was to have taken the part of "Leonora," that she was in
bed suffering, and that it would be impossible for her to appear. I
immediately went off to Mdme. Galassi myself. She assured me of her
willingness to do her best; but she had two large boils under her right
arm which caused her acute agony. At that moment she nearly swooned from
the pain. To fetch Dr. Mott, our talented theatrical surgeon, was the
work of a moment. We raised her up and the boils were lanced, which at
once gave her relief, and I got her down to the theatre just at five
minutes to eight. She had time to dress, as "Leonora" does not appear
until the second act. The performance went off successfully; I had got
out of another serious difficulty after changing the opera seven times.
In the midst of my trouble a deputation arrived from Kalakaua I., King
of the Sandwich Islands, informing me that they were commanded by his
Majesty the King of Hawaii to confer on Mdme. Patti the Royal Order of
Kapirlani. They had the diploma and jewels with them, and they were
accompanied by the King's Chamberlain. I had to entreat them to wait "a
moment" while I got through my troubles. That moment must have been
nearly two hours.
At length we all went off to Patti's hotel, when the Order was conferred
upon her in the presence of some intimate friends. The Order consisted
of a jewelled star, suspended by a red and white striped ribbon,
accompanied by the following parchment document:--
"Kalakaua I., King of the Hawaiian Islands, to all who shall see these
presents greeting, know that we have appointed and commissioned, and by
these presents we appoint and commission, Mdme. Patti to be a Knight
Companion of our Royal Order of Kapirlani, to exercise and enjoy all the
rights, pre-eminences, and privileges to the same of right appertaining,
and to wear the insignia as by decree created.
"In testimony whereof we have caused these letters to be made patent,
and the seal of the Order to be hereunto affixed.
"Given under our hand, at our palace at Honolulu, this 8th day of
November, in the year of our Lord 1882.
"KALAKAUA REX.
"By the King, the Chancellor of the Royal Order of Kapirlani.
"(Signed) CHARLES H. JUDD."
The season continued, and _Lohengrin_, _Africaine_, _Huguenots_ and
other important operas were produced. The unfortunate illness of Scalchi
had long delayed me from producing _Semiramide_, which, however, was at
length brought out on the 20th December, being the last night but two of
the season. Never shall I forget the enthusiasm of the crowded and
fashionable audience of that evening. Mdme. Patti's exquisite purity of
intonation and her breadth of phrasing filled the large audience
assembled with delight. At length Mdme. Scalchi appeared, and she at
once proved herself an artist of extraordinary excellence, and a true
dramatic singer, with a contralto of unusual richness, volume, and
compass. The enormous success achieved by Scalchi inspired _la Diva_,
and it was generally pronounced that her singing on this occasion was
the best she had ever given in America, being, indeed, the perfection of
vocal art. The whole performance was beyond criticism.
For the morning of the following Saturday, the 23rd, I announced the
opera of _Carmen_. This was to be the closing _matinée_ of the regular
winter season, and the announcement drew one of the largest assemblages
of ladies, there being very few gentlemen, to the doors of the Academy.
It was about three-quarters of an hour before the opening of the doors
when Ravelli sent word that he could not sing. It was then too late to
change the opera. I therefore rushed off to his hotel, leaving word that
the doors were on no account to be opened until I returned.
I found him in bed. Hearing me enter he slunk under the clothes, and I
could not get him to answer my questions. I approached the bed to remove
the sheets, when a dog sprang out at me, Ravelli's favourite dog
Niagara.
"Laissez moi dormir!" muttered the sluggard, as he turned over on the
other side.
"Get up," I exclaimed; "don't you understand that you are imperilling my
enterprise by lying in bed and refusing to sing when there is nothing
the matter with you?"
He told me that he was very tired, that he was quite out of sorts, that
his voice was not in good order, and so on.
With the aid of his wife, I succeeded in making him get up. He dressed
himself. Then taking him to the piano I tried his voice, and found that
there was nothing whatever the matter with it. He could sing perfectly
well.
Ravelli, however, for some minutes still hesitated. In his difficulty he
determined to consult Niagara. Appealing to an animal whose superior
intelligence he recognized, Ravelli said in the French language--
"Est ce que ton mâitre doit chanter?"
The dog growled, and Ravelli interpreted this oracular response as an
order not to sing. He tore his clothes off, sprang hurriedly into bed,
and left me to my own resources.
In London I had raised poor Volpini almost from the dead to make him
sing the part of _Faust_, when but for his services I should have had to
close my theatre. I had induced George Bolton (of whom I knew nothing at
the time, except that he had a tenor voice, and that I had nearly run
over him in a cab) to undertake literally at a moment's notice the part
of "Lionel" in _Martha_, of which he knew nothing until I coached him,
except one air. But neither a Bolton nor a Volpini was now to be found,
and thanks to my lazy, superstitious, dog-ridden tenor, I had to close
my theatre and send away one of the most brilliant audiences that New
York could produce.
I wrote a hurried notice which was put up in manuscript just as I had
scribbled it down, to the effect that in consequence of Ravelli's
refusing without explanation to sing, the theatre was closed for that
morning.
The excitement outside was prodigious. Everyone, of course, said that it
was through my fault the doors were shut.
"It is all that Mapleson," one charming lady was heard to exclaim.
"Wouldn't I scratch his face if I had him here!"
Worst of all, the "scalpers" went off with the money they had received
for tickets sold outside the theatre.
Let me here explain what "scalper" means. I am afraid that in America
our excellent librarians who do so much for the support of the Opera
would be called "scalpers;" a scalper meaning simply one who buys
tickets at the theatre to sell them at an advance elsewhere. The
ferocious name bestowed upon these gentry shows, however, that their
dealings are not quite so honourable as those of our "booksellers." For
when they had disposed of their tickets, and the performance changed, or
the theatre by some accident closed, they would walk off without any
thought of restoring the money they had received for tickets now
unavailable. At times, too, I have caught them exhibiting a gallery
diagram, and selling gallery places as orchestra stalls. They are now
obliged, by a just law, to take out licenses, and register their places
of abode. Nor do managers allow any one of them to buy more than four
tickets for each representation.
Meanwhile the New York fall season of 1882 finished up grandly with
_Semiramide_, the receipts reaching 14,000 dollars, and the public mad
with enthusiasm.
I afterwards started with the Company for Baltimore, where we opened
with rather less than our usual success, on account of the small-pox
which was raging all over the city. Very few notices were given of the
opera in consequence of three and four columns a day being occupied with
the crusade undertaken against the small-pox by Mayor White, who had
telegraphed for a large number of vaccination physicians from various
States, determined as he was to stamp out the disease.
The whole of the twenty wards of the city had been placed under properly
constituted medical authorities, and there everyone had to be
vaccinated, including the whole of my Company. Prima donnas had to be
vaccinated on the legs, whilst ballet-girls were vaccinated on the arms;
in fact the theatre at one time became quite a hospital.
However, we managed to get through our engagement with success, though
Mdme. Patti remained over at Philadelphia, being afraid to enter the
city of Baltimore.
The production of _L'Africaine_, which was new to Baltimore, was a
marked success. On terminating our engagement we went over to
Philadelphia, where Patti made a splendid opening in _La Traviata_, the
vast theatre being crowded from floor to ceiling.
The next night we produced _Aida_, the Directors of the Academy of Music
having caused to be painted specially for the occasion some of the most
gorgeous Egyptian scenery I have ever seen.
At five o'clock Mdme. Scalchi sent me word that she was very ill, and
unable to sing. I thereupon went for the physician, whom I conducted
forthwith to her hotel. On our arriving at the door of her apartment I
saw a waiter going in with some lobsters, salad, and roast duck. I
immediately asked for whom he was catering, and he replied: "Mdme.
Scalchi." I waited a few minutes in order to give her time to begin
operations on the duck and the lobsters; and she was recounting some
amusing story which ended in loud laughter, when I took this as my cue
for entering.
Mdme. Scalchi could no longer plead indisposition, and in due time she
came to the theatre.
_Aida_ was a great success. At two o'clock the following afternoon we
performed _Lucia_ with Adelina Patti to a house containing over 14,000
dollars. In the evening we gave _L'Africaine_, magnificently placed on
the vast stage, to receipts not far inferior to those of the morning.
Prior to the close of our very successful engagement sad alarm was
created all over the city by a report in some of the leading morning
papers that Mdme. Patti the preceding night had been devoured by mice.
Several persons had already applied at the box office for the return of
their money on the ground that _la Diva_ had ceased to breathe.
On inquiry it turned out that Mdme. Patti had been bitten by a mouse on
the left ear. I had better tell the story in the _Diva's_ own words, as
given to the reporter of the _Philadelphia Press_.
"'So you were bitten by rats last evening?' the reporter said.
"'Oh, no, it was not so bad as that,' replied Patti, laughing heartily
as she recalled the adventure. 'I hardly, however, like to mention it at
all, for I am really so comfortable in this hotel. They do all they can
to please me. When I went to bed last evening my maid turned the clothes
over for me to get in, when out jumped six mice--a complete family, in
fact; nice fat little fellows. I was not frightened; at least, I was
only astonished. I took my bon-bon box and scattered some sweetmeats on
the carpet so that the tiny intruders should have some supper, and I
went to sleep without any apprehension. In the middle of the night,
however, something disagreeable occurred, and I was awakened by a sharp
pain in my ear. I put my hand to my head when a mouse jumped to the
floor, and I felt blood trickling on the side of my cheek. I got up and
called my maid, and examination showed a bite on my left ear. It bled a
good deal, and to-day my ear is much swollen. I shall not put any
bon-bons down to-night,' continued Mdme. Patti, 'and when I sleep in the
day time I shall place my maid to act as sentry.'"
The reporter, feeling that he had passed one of the most delightful
quarters of an hour in his life, now left the apartment.
When the news got about that Patti had been bitten by a mouse,
enterprising makers and patentees of mousetraps approached her from all
sides with specimens of their various mouse-catching contrivances. Some
of these were very curious. One was prompt and severe in its action,
despatching the mouse at the moment of capture by a single cutting blow.
Another was apparently the work of some member of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Far from killing the mouse, it
provided the little creature with a wheel, which, as long as it was
allowed to live, it could amuse itself by turning.
About this time two "sensations" occurred. One was connected with
Commander Gye, who was leaving the city at an early hour, when he was
robbed of his black leather travelling-bag, containing money, pins,
rings, Roman coins, cigarette boxes, a cheque book, a cheque for 4,400
dollars, which I had signed for Mdme. Patti's previous night's salary,
with other documents of less value, including Nilsson's broken contract.
The reports of this robbery, as usual, were considerably enlarged, and
it afterwards got into circulation that amongst the things lost were
Mdme. Albani's jewels, worth several thousands of pounds. This cost
Captain Gye a deal of inconvenience, for it brought down the Inland
Revenue authorities on him. He was accused of having smuggled in the
diamonds from abroad, and some considerable time passed before all the
excitement subsided.
The other "sensation" was the invasion of the basso Monti's room while
he was in bed and the theft of 400 dollars worth of jewellery belonging
to him. This, too, caused a deal of talk in the papers.
Our last night was, indeed, a gala night. The most brilliant audience of
the whole season filled every corner of the theatre, so great was the
curiosity of the public to see Mdme. Patti and Mdme. Scalchi together in
the same opera. About five o'clock the crowd outside the Academy was
already immense, and it was not until seven that we opened the doors.
The rush was great, and a sad incident now took place. A lady in the
crowd who had purchased her ticket beforehand was taken up from the
bottom of the staircase to the top, though she died before reaching the
first landing from disease of the heart, rendered fatal by the
excitement. Borne upwards by the dense crowd she did not fall till she
reached the gallery. Fearing the alarm this occurrence might cause, the
servants, in order that I should not hear of it, had placed the lady on
the floor of a little top private box, where she remained during the
whole of the performance; her body not being removed by her friends
until the next morning.
After leaving Philadelphia we visited Chicago, where the advance sale of
seats prior to our opening reached the enormous sum of 16,000 dollars.
On the evening of our arrival I received a telegram from Mdme. Albani
stating that she would arrive early the following morning. I met her at
the station. She was accompanied by her husband, Mr. Ernest Gye, and his
brother, Commander Gye. She had just returned from some concerts which I
had arranged in Albany and in New York, where she had met with the most
enthusiastic reception.
She appeared on the fifth evening of my first week in _I Puritani_, when
the cold weather did not deter the holders of tickets from claiming
their places in the theatre. At an early hour, and long before the
curtain ran up for the first act, there was absolutely not a vacant spot
in the theatre. Albani was welcomed with an enthusiasm that even Patti
might have been proud of. She was queen in the hearts of all who were
present that evening.
On leaving Chicago we went to St. Louis, where our triumphs were again
repeated; Mdme. Albani, Mdme. Patti, and Scalchi all contributing to the
immense success.
About this time several of my songbirds began to take cold, the weather
having suddenly changed. Mdme. Patti had to remain at home, Mdme.
Scalchi took to her bed, as also did Mdme. Fursch-Madi and Mdme. Albani.
The duty, therefore, of singing fell to Mdlle. Dotti, who for three
nights in succession sustained the prima donna duties, giving much
satisfaction under the circumstances.
Patti, however, was able to resume work the following night in _La
Traviata_; Mdme. Albani singing "Lohengrin" at the morning performance
of the next day, whilst Mdlle. Dotti closed the season by singing
"Margherita" in _Faust_ the same evening.
I was naturally very anxious about my singers. We had to leave by
special train at one o'clock in the morning in order to reach
Cincinnati; and as it was now some 40 degrees below freezing point, I
left the ballet, chorus, and orchestra to sleep in the railway
carriages, which were shunted up a siding. Those who went to the hotel
had the greatest difficulty in reaching it.
On ascertaining that nearly every place had been sold for the whole of
the Festival week, I entered at once into arrangements for giving two
additional nights in the succeeding week, on which I arranged that Patti
should sing "Aida" and Albani "Margherita" in _Faust_.
The first performance at the great Festival was _La Traviata_, followed
by _L'Africaine_, magnificently placed upon the stage. On the Wednesday
afternoon Mdme. Albani appeared as "Amina" in _La Sonnambula_, and in
the evening _William Tell_ was given, with Mierzwinski, Galassi, and
Dotti. This drew the largest number of people of any night during the
week, the great choruses of the Gathering of the Cantons eliciting the
loudest expressions of admiration. On the Thursday evening we performed
Rossini's _Semiramide_, Patti and Scalchi surpassing themselves. On the
following evening Wagner's _Flying Dutchman_ was produced, with Ravelli,
Galassi, and Albani. The next morning came _Don Giovanni_; with
Fursch-Madi as "Donna Anna; "Dotti as "Elvira;" and Patti as "Zerlina."
The first week was brought to a fitting close by a splendid performance
of _Lohengrin_; Mierzwinski performing the "Knight of the Swan;"
Galassi, "Telramund;" Monti, the "King;" Scalchi, "Ortruda;" and Albani,
"Elsa."
This Festival, without going into details, surpassed the two preceding
ones.
Everyone, I believe, made money. All the spring fashions were introduced
in the leading stores of the city, whilst visitors came in from many
hundreds of miles. The hotels were crowded, and people were sleeping
even in the corridors. The railways were making money, and the cabmen
making fortunes, from the high charges they taxed the public with.
The Music Hall was nightly crowded to its utmost limit, there being
never less than 7,000 people present; and one representation surpassed
the other till all ended in one great excitement. The newspapers in the
city were taken up almost exclusively with the Festival. Nothing was
thought of but the Festival, and all business appeared to be suspended.
The toilettes of the ladies were something to be remembered.
On February 18, 1882, prior to my leaving Cincinnati, a meeting was held
at the Mayor's Office, when my attendance was requested. To my
astonishment and delight the highest possible compliment was now paid
me; for I was presented with the freedom of the city, which was given to
me in a valuable casket, Mayor Means explaining that since the history
of the city no similar compliment had been paid even to one of their own
citizens, much less to an Englishman. This was followed by a grand
banquet at the Club, where, amongst others, I had the honour of making
the acquaintance of Mr. Reuben Springer, the donor of the magnificent
hall in which the Festival had been held.
I omitted, however, to mention that my friend Abbey was determined, if
possible, to injure this Festival, for which purpose he brought Madame
Nilsson into the town, and kept her there during the whole of the week,
with a Company of artists, who sang at some small theatre. I need hardly
say that no harm whatever was done to the receipts, which totalled up to
40,000 dollars more than any of the preceding Festivals had brought.
CHAPTER XX.
GALASSI DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF--POLITENESS OF PRIME DONNE--ENGLISH
WELCOME IN CANADA--CONCERT AT THE WHITE HOUSE--VALUE OF PATTI'S
NOTES--PHANTOM SHIP WRECKED--NILSSON'S CONTRACT--PATTI'S
CONTRACT--RETURN TO ENGLAND.
THE Company now left for Detroit. Our season opened with Albani as
"Lucia;" and for the following night _Semiramide_ was announced, with
Adelina Patti and Scalchi. Unfortunately Mdme. Patti had taken cold, and
was unable to sing. It appeared that on arriving at the station she had
had to walk through piles of snow for some distance in order to reach
her carriage.
At one time the public threatened to demolish the building, so
disappointed were they; especially as Mdme. Patti had also failed to
appear in that same city the previous year.
It was at once put down (as these things generally are) to caprice on
the part of the prima donna, or a trick on that of the operatic manager.
I, therefore, at once sought Dr. Brodie, an eminent physician of
Detroit, and he furnished a certificate as to the _Diva'_ illness.
Despite the change of the bill, a good-sized audience remained for
Verdi's tragic opera of _Il Trovatore_.
On the closing night we performed _Guillaume Tell_, in which Signor
Galassi particularly distinguished himself. According to one of the
journals, which appeared the following morning, so dexterously did he
shoot the apple off his son's head that he might always be sure of a
warm welcome whenever he returned to that city.
Rival prime donne--those, at least, who have the habits of polite
society--are very particular in calling on one another, though these
visits are sometimes of a highly formal kind. During my American season
of 1883 I was associated with Mr. Gye; and it so happened that Nicolini
and Patti, Ernest Gye and Albani (Mrs. Ernest Gye) were staying at
Detroit in the same hotel where I also had put up. Patti and Nicolini
having just gone for a drive, Madame Albani, seeing them pass beneath
her window, called out to her husband--
"Ernest, they have gone out. We had better leave cards on them at once."
On returning home Madame Patti duly received the cards; and an hour or
two afterwards, when Albani and Mr. Gye had just gone to the theatre,
where there was to be a rehearsal, said to Nicolini--
"Ernest" (his name, also, was Ernest), "they have gone to the theatre.
Now is the time for returning their visit."
As Madame Patti was still suffering from a very severe cold, I thought
it prudent to leave her behind at Detroit, for the purpose not only of
re-establishing herself, but of assuring the public that she was really
ill. She remained there some four or five days after we had left.
The whole Company, except Madame Patti, had to muster at the station
about 2 a.m. to start for Canada. By some mismanagement on the part of
the railway company, there being two competing lines, with but one set
of rails running into the joint station, the artists were kept waiting
at this station for over a couple of hours, the wind bitterly cold, and
the thermometer some fifty degrees below freezing point. At length, to
the joy of all, our special was drawn up alongside the platform, and we
were enabled to make a start, arriving at Toronto the following
afternoon.
The next morning the musicians all came to me in great despair, the
Canadian Custom House authorities having seized the whole of their
instruments as liable to duty. The same difficulty occurred with the
wardrobes and properties; and it was not until very late in the day, by
going through a course of red-tape, which reminded one of the old
country, that they could be released, I giving an undertaking that the
troupe should leave Canada within two days.
A right royal English welcome did our Company receive there. Prior to
the performance I requested Arditi to play the National Anthem. The
whole of the audience stood up, and, on its conclusion, gave three
hearty cheers. Nearly all the private box, dress circle, and stall
ticket-holders arrived in open sleighs, the snow being very thick.
The opening performance was _Il Trovatore_, in which Mierzwinski,
Galassi, Scalchi, and Fursch-Madi appeared, giving great satisfaction.
The excellence of the representation was quite a revelation to the
public, as it were.
On the following night Madame Albani appeared as "Lucia," when the
_parquette_, balconies, and boxes were crowded with the _élite_ of the
city, the Lieutenant-Governor occupying the gubernatorial box.
The galleries were likewise crowded to their fullest capacity, standing
room even being at a premium. Albani was welcomed with vociferous
cheers, and her performance throughout received the warmest approbation.
Immediately after the conclusion of our grand two-night season in Canada
our special train was put in motion towards Buffalo, where we performed
the following evening, leaving again after the performance at 2 a.m. for
Pittsburg, at which place Mdme. Patti had arrived the previous day.
At Pittsburg the season opened most auspiciously with _La Traviata_.
The theatre itself was not only crowded to the ceiling, but we charged
five dollars a head for standing room on the window sills.
The following night Mdme. Albani appeared as "Margherita" in _Faust_,
supported by Ravelli, Scalchi, etc.
A matinée was given the next day of _Il Trovatore_, followed by a
splendid performance the same evening of _William Tell_. On each
occasion the house was crammed.
The Company had again to muster at 2 a.m. after the performance to start
for Washington, at which place we arrived the following evening, Mdme.
Albani opening the next day as "Margherita" in _Faust_.
The next evening I had to change the performance, _la Diva_ having
contracted a sore throat during the journey. I substituted _William
Tell_, postponing Mdme. Patti's _début_ until the following night, when
she and Scalchi captivated the audience with _Semiramide_. In a letter
to the papers the following morning a mathematician stated that by
carefully counting the notes in the part of _Semiramide_, and dividing
the result by the sum paid nightly to Patti for singing that part, he
discovered that she received exactly 42 5/8 cents for each of the notes
that issued from her throat. This was found to be just 7 1/10 cents per
note more than Rossini got for writing the whole opera.
On the following Friday President Arthur gave a private concert at the
White House. I here append the programme:--
PART I.
Duetto--"Sull'aria" (Nozze di Figaro) _Mozart._
Mdme. Fursch-Madi and Mdlle. Dotti.
Romanza--"Angelo Casto" (Duca d'Alba) posthumous opera
by _Donizetti_. Signor Frapolli.
Cavatina--Tacca la notte (Trovatore) _Verdi._
Mdme. Fursch-Madi.
Aria Buffa--Miei rampolli (Cenerentola) _Rossini._
Signor Corsini.
Air--Voi che sapete (Nozze di Figaro) _Mozart._
Mdlle. Dotti.
An Interval of Half an Hour.
PART II.
Trio--Qual Volutta (Lombardi) _Verdi._
Mdme. Fursch-Madi, Signor Frapolli, and Signor Galassi.
Cavatina--"Nobil Signor" (Huguenots) _Meyerbeer._
Mdme. Scalchi.
Romanza--O tu bel astro (Tannhäuser) _Wagner._
Signor Galassi.
a{Air--"Pur dicesti" _Lotti._
b{Song--"Robin Adair" ----
Madame Albani.
The White House.
February 28, 1883.
At the conclusion of the concert a splendid supper was served in the
banqueting hall. As I had to attend upon no less than five ladies, the
President observed at the close of the feast that I had had nothing to
eat myself. He, therefore, gave orders that on the departure of the
guests another supper should be served, at which he occupied the chair.
The repast was really of the first order. It was interspersed with
excellent Veuve Clicquot, and the President afterwards ordered in cigars
and related to me some most interesting anecdotes of his earlier career.
He also gave me an account of the alarm felt at New York when one Sunday
the _Merrimac_ was expected to come up the bay in order to levy
contributions on the city; there being no powder in the forts and but
few cannon balls, all of the wrong calibre. Fortunately she met the
_Monitor_, who soon gave a good account of her.
We gave a grand _matinée_ the following day, with Patti as "La
Traviata," when people paid even for standing in the passages, where
they could only occasionally hear sounds.
At the close of the morning performance our special train started for
Boston, where we arrived late the next day.
Here further calculations were made in the daily papers as to the value
of Patti's notes, _Semiramide_ showing 30 cents. for every note she
sang, whilst in "Lucia" the rate of 42 1/2 cents. per note was reached.
We afterwards performed _Faust_ with Albani, and some of the grand
operas, such as _L'Africaine_, _Les Huguenots_, _Lohengrin_, and _Aida_.
Towards the close of our engagement Wagner's _Flying Dutchman_ was given
for the first time on the Italian stage at Boston.
A rather startling event occurred during the first act on the arrival of
the Phantom Ship, which, after sweeping gracefully round, broadside to
the audience, suddenly capsized, casting the Dutchman and his crew
promiscuously on to the stage, the masts going straight across the
occupants of the stalls and the sails covering Arditi, who was then at
the desk.
At this juncture loud screams were heard. They came from the wife of the
principal baritone, who, witnessing the accident, had fears for her
husband's safety. The choristers, who were thrown pell-mell into the
water, and on to their stomachs, began with a great deal of tact to
strike out as if swimming, until--as soon as possible--the curtain was
lowered. The ship was soon set on its keel again, but nothing could
induce Galassi to board the vessel.
At the close of the Boston engagement, which was highly successful, we
returned to New York, where we remained some five weeks, performing a
different opera almost nightly.
About this time I learned that the Washington and Lee University for
promoting higher education in the South was in great need of funds. I,
therefore, notified General Lilly, of Virginia, who had been interested
in that institution for years, my willingness to assist by giving a
miscellaneous performance for that purpose. A committee of distinguished
ladies was formed to superintend the distribution of the tickets,
including Mrs. General Dix, Mrs. Franklin Edson, Mrs. August Belmont,
Mrs. G. Rives, Mrs. Livingstone, Mrs. Jay, Mrs. Pierre Lorillard, Mrs.
Frederick Kernochan, Mrs. Henry Clewes, Mrs. Pryor, Mrs. General
Hancock, Mrs. Barton French, Mrs. W. C. Whitney, Mrs. Vanderbilt,
Baroness de Thomsen, Mrs. Bowdoin, Mrs. Alonzo B. Cornell, Mrs. Benjamin
Willis, Mrs. F. B. Thurber, etc., etc.
The appearance of the Academy, on this occasion filled by a most
brilliant audience, was a thing long to be remembered. The evening
commenced with an act of _Trovatore_, which was followed by the
appearance of Mdme. Albani in the first act of _Norma_. A more beautiful
rendering of the lovely cavatina "Casta Diva" could not have been heard,
Mdme. Albani's vocalization being really the perfection of art. She was
recalled several times, and covered with flowers. An act from
Meyerbeer's _Dinorah_ came next, with Mdme. Patti and Scalchi. Both left
the stage loaded with flowers, Patti coming forward at the close and
afterwards good-naturedly singing in front of the drop curtain "Home,
sweet Home."
A scene then followed not put down in the programme, in the shape of a
presentation to myself of two large and handsome silk flags, one English
and the other American, the gift of the ladies of the committee; each of
the white stars on the blue ground of the American flag having been
inserted by a member of this committee.
I thanked the ladies in a grateful speech, shouldered my lofty flags,
and left the stage amidst loud cheering. The receipts amounted to some
£1,800. About a fortnight afterwards I was informed by General Lilley
that a chair of English literature had been established at the
University bearing my name.
The following Saturday morning _La Traviata_ was again given, the house
being even more crowded than usual. The bank having closed prior to the
termination of the performance, the monies were all placed in the iron
safe.
Early the following morning I was informed that one of the doors leading
to the treasury had been forced open, the floor of which was strewn with
tickets and furniture. Worse still, the iron safe had been opened and
rifled of its contents; over 21,500 dollars having been carried off.
Fortunately this amount was for the most part in cheques, which I
succeeded in stopping at the bank; but the loss in hard cash exceeded
£1,600.
About this time further rumours were in circulation as to Mr. Abbey
trying to take away several of my best singers, notably both Patti and
Galassi.
During the New York season I sent Mdme. Albani to sing in a concert at
Montreal, the railway directors providing a special car for her. On her
arrival she was received by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city; also by
a guard of honour of 200 men in uniform, besides the members of four
snow-shoe clubs in their beautiful and picturesque costumes.
A reception was afterwards held at the Hôtel de Ville, when a formal
address was handed to Mdme. Albani on a beautifully illuminated scroll.
All the tickets being instantly sold out, two more concerts had to be
given; and Mdme. Albani returned to New York in time to sing the
following Friday, having netted for the treasury 16,000 dollars by her
three days' visit to Montreal.
Shortly afterwards I gave a combined performance for the benefit of the
New York Exchange for Woman's Work. Again I had a ladies' committee to
work with, including the charming Mrs. F. B. Thurber, who acted as
secretary, the president being Mrs. W. G. Choate, while the
vice-presidents consisted of some forty leading ladies of New York. The
entertainment consisted of a concert in which Mdme. Adelina Patti, Mdme.
Albani, Mdme. Scalchi, Nicolini, and others of the Company appeared.
I append the programme, in which will be found several features of
interest, including, in particular, the singing of Mozart's delightful
duet by Patti and Albani.
PART I.
Overture--"Egmont" _Beethoven_
Orchestra.
Romanza--"O lieti, di" (Etoile du Nord) _Meyerbeer_
Monsieur Durat.
Aria--"Nobil Signor" (Huguenots) _Meyerbeer_
Madame Scalchi.
Ballade et Polonaise _Vieuxtemps_
Herr Brandt.
Cavatina--"Qui la voce" (Puritani) _Bellini_
Madame Albani.
Romanza--"Vien, vien m'e noto" (Velleda) _Lenepreu_
Signor Nicolini.
Valse--"Nell' ebrezza" (Romeo e Giulietta) _Gounod_
Madame Adelina Patti.
Ballet, Silvia _Delibes_
Orchestra.
PART II.
L'invitation a la Valse _Weber_
Orchestra.
Ballade--"Ouvre ta porte" _Grieg_
Signor Ravelli.
Hungarian Fantaisie _Liszt_
(With orchestra)
Herr Rafael Joseffy.
Duetto, "Sull aria" (Nozze di Figaro) _Mozart_
Madame Adelina Patti and Madame Albani.
Gavotte--"In veder l'amata stanza" (Mignon) _Thomas_
Madame Scalchi.
Romanza--"M'appari" (Martha) _Flotow_
Signor Ravelli.
Rakoczy March _Berlioz_
Orchestra.
After the concert the ladies presented me on the stage with a
magnificent gold badge, bearing the English arms on one side, surmounted
with diamonds and rubies, and the American arms on the other; also an
elegant walking cane with a massive gold top, crowned by a very large
uncut sapphire of great value.
The next morning Mr. Gye came to me with the alarming intelligence that
the lease of the new Metropolitan Opera-house had been given to Mr.
Abbey. He complained bitterly of the treatment he had received at the
hands of its Directors after the trouble he had taken in furnishing
them with the interior plans and workings of Covent Garden Theatre, in
order to assist the architect to get as complete a building as possible.
He had been negotiating with the Directors on behalf of the Royal
Italian Opera Company, Covent Garden, Limited, and, in fact, those
negotiations had never been broken off. He was still awaiting an answer
from the Committee, to whom the matter had been referred.
Mr. Abbey having announced that he would open the New Metropolitan
Opera-house with Madame Nilsson, Mr. Gye informed me that she was under
contract to sing with our Company, and showed me the following
engagement:--
"London, 2nd May, 1882.
"Madame Christine Nilsson agrees to accept an engagement with Mr. Gye to
sing either for him or for the Royal Italian Opera Company, Limited, in
London, during the season of 1883, at a salary of £200 per night. Madame
Nilsson also agrees to accept an engagement for America for the season
of 1883-1884, for fifty or sixty representations, operas, concerts, or
oratorios, at a salary of £300 per night, this to include all hotel
expenses, but not travelling. Madame Nilsson agrees also to sing for
five or six nights at Covent Garden during next July, the répertoire for
Madame Nilsson being _Mignon_, _Lohengrin_, _Don Giovanni_,
_Mefistofele_, and _Faust_ if possible, which Mr. Gye agrees to do his
best to obtain for her in London, 1883, and in America, her répertoire
to be the same, and other operas by common consent. No opera is to
belong to Madame Nilsson exclusively, except one opera that she may
create, and that for one season. Should Madame Nilsson wish to remain in
America in the summer of 1884 she is to be at liberty to do so, and
should she wish to return to England, Mr. Gye engages himself for her to
sing in London during the London season on the same conditions. Mr. Gye
binds himself to accept the engagement now in preparation.
"(Signed) CHRISTINE NILSSON ROUZAUD."
Despite this, however, Madame Nilsson signed with Mr. Abbey, receiving a
sum considerably in excess of the one stipulated for in the Gye
engagement.
In the meantime further rumours were getting circulated with regard to
Mr. Abbey's razzia on my singers, and the daily papers were full of our
disputes and recriminations; with which I will not trouble the reader
just now. On the conclusion of our New York season we again returned to
Philadelphia, in consequence of the success of our previous visit,
opening there with the _Flying Dutchman_. The next night _l'Etoile du
Nord_ was performed with the peerless Adelina, followed by Lohengrin
with the charming "Elsa" of Albani. Thus we continued our triumphant
career.
Mr. Abbey had begun his intrigues with Campanini, to whom he offered
1,000 dollars (£200) a night. He now proposed a similar amount to
Scalchi and a considerable sum to Valleria, whilst his _employés_ were
hard at work round the stage-door taking away my choruses, wardrobe
keepers, and even the stage-manager. All my people, in short, were
offered three or four times their usual salaries, merely for the sake of
injuring me, without Mr. Abbey's benefiting himself in any way. I
described him, to an interviewer, as a _guastomestiere_; a word which
sorely puzzled him, and caused him to consult his solicitor.
I now endeavoured to make sure of Patti, and she eventually consented to
make a small reduction in her terms and to accept 4,000 dollars a night.
In due course her contract had been prepared by her agent and a day
fixed for executing it, which happened to be a Thursday. Being much
occupied that day at the theatre in consequence of troubles of various
sorts I found it too late to get up to Mdme. Patti's hotel, but went the
following morning early. Nicolini explained to me that Mdme. Patti never
did anything on a Friday, and that I had better call the next day. The
day afterwards he informed me that, soon after I had left, Mr. Abbey had
come to Mdme. Patti saying that he could offer her a minimum of 5,000
dollars (£1,000) a night, payment to be made on the morning of each
performance, and 50,000 deposited in the bank as payment for the last
ten nights of the engagement, and that Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt would sign
the contract and give her the requisite guarantees.
This was not the only inducement he offered her if she would link her
fortunes with the new Metropolitan Opera-house the following season. She
was further to have a special private drawing-room and sleeping car, the
like of which had never yet been run on rails, to be specially built for
her, fitted with a conservatory, fernery, &c.
There was no reason, however, why these propositions should interfere
with the formal acceptance of a contract already drawn up and verbally
agreed to. The next day, then, about 11 o'clock, I was going in joyously
to sign my contract when I was met by Signor Nicolini at the door, who
told me that a very dreadful thing had happened since he last saw me. On
my inquiring what it was he informed me that Mr. Abbey's visit had quite
upset Mdme. Patti, who was ill in her room. She had not even spoken to
the parrot, which was a sad sign. He then communicated to me Mr. Abbey's
proposition, as above.
Nicolini, however, assured me that Mdme. Patti held me in the highest
esteem, and would on no account throw me over, considering that my
engagement with her would be just as good as Mr. Vanderbilt's. If I
would call later in the day, after luncheon, he hoped to get the matter
concluded. He, at the same time, gave me to understand that no
reduction could be made in the terms which had been offered by
Vanderbilt through Abbey.
On leaving I at once consulted with Mr. Gye, the General Manager of the
Royal Italian Opera Company, Covent Garden, Limited, and he fully agreed
with me that there was no alternative but to accede to the terms, the
sum demanded being but a trifle more than Patti had been receiving
throughout the season then about to close. Gye telegraphed the
particulars to his London Directors.
I accordingly went round in the afternoon and signed the contract. The
visit of Mr. Abbey to Mdme. Patti on the previous day had meanwhile
caused a rise of no less than 50,000 dollars (£10,000) in her demands.
Next day Mdme. Patti sailed for Europe on the _Arizona_, Signor Franchi,
her agent, remaining behind to complete the details of the new
engagement.
About this time Mdme. Cavalazzi, my daughter-in-law, informed me that
she had had an offer from Abbey's agent of double the amount I was
paying her. I at once told her to accept it, and that I would keep her
place open for her, when she could return the following season, by which
time Abbey would be closed up. The following season she duly returned,
Mr. Abbey, as I shall afterwards relate, having duly come to grief.
Prior to my departure I was entertained by a number of my friends and
supporters at the Manhattan Club. The dinner was arranged partly as a
farewell to me and partly in acknowledgment of the aid I had given to
young American artists essaying an operatic career. Judge J. R. Brady
presided, and the company included the Mayor Edson, the Reverend Dr.
Hoffman, Recorder Smyth, Judge Abraham R. Lawrence, Chief Justice Noah
Davis, Judge W. H. Arnoux, the British Consul General Booker, Chief
Justice C. P. Daly, General de Cesnola, Chief Justice Shea, General
Stewart L. Woodford, General Hancock, Commissioner J. S. Coleman, Mr.
John H. Starin, Mr. F. B. Thurber, Mr. Aaron Vanderpoel, Professor Henry
Drisler, Mr. Wm. Steinway, the Reverend Professor Seabury, Professor A.
Charlier, Mr. Oscar S. Strauss, and many others.
On the removal of the cloth Judge Brady gave the toast, "The guest of
the evening," to which I replied. Other toasts followed, and the
entertainment passed off merrily enough. Signor Clodio, Signor Ravelli,
and Signor Ronconi came in with the cigars, and pleasantly varied the
latter portion of the evening by a choice selection of operatic arias.
At the close of the entertainment it was unanimously resolved to charter
a special steamer to accompany me the following morning down the bay
conveying those who were present at the dinner. Mr. Starin, who was
sitting at the table, offered to place one of his magnificent steamers
at their disposal, which was to leave Pier 41, North River, at a quarter
to nine the following morning. After singing "Auld Lang Syne" and "He's
a jolly good fellow" the company separated. Just prior to my departure
the following morning my friends appeared on the chartered steamer,
which followed us down the bay with a band of music, accompanied by
hearty cheers until we were out of sight.
END OF VOL. I.
(note of etext transcriber:)
scarely=scarcely
Italian verson=Italian version
singing in Rio Janiero=singing in Rio Janeiro
be promised to go on=he promised to go on
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I" ***
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