The Mapleson Memoirs, vol II

contract I had made with Mdme. Patti. In fact, they repudiated the engagement altogether, although it had been concluded by me conjointly with Mr. Ernest Gye, the General Manager of the Comp

ntirely from all connection with the Company, as I could then carry out the contracts I had made

ing me my congé, refusing at the same time to p

full inventory was attached to my agreement, and which were valued at many thousands of pounds. In addition to this, during my absence in America, Her Majesty's Theatre had been entirely dismantled and many thousand pounds worth of property not in the inventory taken and rem

have to face Abbey's new Metropolitan Opera-house, for which all the seats had been sold, and the following artists engaged-all with but one or two exceptions taken from me:-Mdme. Christine Nilsson, Mdlle. Valleria, Mdme. Sembrich, M

s OF NEW YORK,

LESON'S

H THE ROYAL ITAL

KHOLDERS PREPARIN

T OF A BRILL

hand and Mr. Mapleson gathered in the prima donna. It will also be remembered that subsequently the stockholders of the Academy met in secret conclave and generously voted to support the manager who established Italian Opera in this country as a permanent source of amusement and art-cultivation by assessing themselves. They decided to raise a subsidy of 40,000 dollars to guarantee the Patti contract and secure the coming season at the Academy. Mdme. Patti subsequently ratified the contract made by Signor Franchi, her agent, with Col. Mapleson, and the Colonel wrote to the stockholders here thanking them for their generous support, and saying that he would return their kindness by bringing to America next Fall a Company of superior strength. An early evidence of the earnestness of his purpose was the engagement of Mdme. Gerster, an artist who is a firm favourite with this public, and whose great merits are unquestionable. Mr. Gye was in this city, it will also be remembered, during the latter part of last season, and was fully aware of Mr. Mapleson's movement. Therefore the stockholders of the Academy have learned with surprise, not to say disgust, the action of the Royal Italian Opera Company (Limited). It has transpired that the princip

now is whether Col. Mapleson will come over next season as a represent

era, Covent Garden, and I set vigorously to work to complete the company with a v

im, who was a great favourite in America. For my contraltos I engaged Miss Josephine Yorke, and also Mdlle. Vianelli. Galassi

names of Signor Del Puente, of Mdme. Lablache, of my stage-manager, Mr. Parry,

her place than where by writing I directed. Arguments were heard the following day before Judge O'Gorman, on my motion to confirm the injunction which I had obtained against Signor Del Puente and Mdme. Lablache, who were announced to sing the opening night at the

otel, on the point of going to bed, when suddenly I heard beneath my window a loud burst of music. The immense orchestra had taken possession of the street. The musicians were

he would allow me to make a donation of ￡100 towards the funds of the Musical Protective Union. But he would not hear of suc

and probably are, a very few who stand outside it; and I remember that Mr. Abbey, unwilling to be bound by its rules, resolved to do without it altogether, and to import his mus

ers who played in my orchestra was arranged as soon as we had an opportunity of talking the matter over. If I have every

ondon what New York has long possessed, a permanent orchestra of high merit under a first-rate conductor. Our orchestras in London are nearly always "scratch" affairs. The players are brought together anyhow, and not one of our concert societies gives more than e

ance at rehearsals is then taken as a matter of course, and no question of replacement by substitutes can be raised. The only English orc

an the excellent one of Sir Char

e for the most part Germans, and the eminent conductor is himself, by race at least, a German. Putting aside, however, all question of nationality, I simply say that the orchestra directed by Mr. Theodore Thomas is the best I am acquainted with; and its high merit is due in a great measure to the permanence of the body. Its membe

ndon, where its presence, apart from all question of the musical delight it would afford, would show our publ

lity that no one player in an orchestra is allowed to receive more than another; the first violin and the big drum are, in this respect, on precisely the same footing. In England we give so much

Metropolitan Opera, to which subscriptions had been extended on a most liberal scale. In fact t

Novara as "Mephistopheles," Del Puente as "Valentine," and Campanini as "Faust;" a fine cast and perfectly trained, since all these artists had played under my direction and did not even require a rehearsal. After a few nights I began to dis

, which I had previously calculated would be about the amount required to defeat the enemy. This was guaranteed by them to the B

approaching arrival. I, therefore, arranged to charter sixteen large tug boats, covered with bunting, to meet the Diva; eight of them to steam up the bay on each side of the arriving steamer, and to toot off their steam whistles all the way along, accompanied by military bands. All

dock, where there was not even a carriage to meet her. She got hustled by the crowd, and eventually reached her hotel with diff

val, I hurried up to the Windsor

merest chance one of my friends happened to come down to the dock and luckily espied me as I was wandering about trying to keep my feet warm, and assiste

her début three days aft

Gerster undertaking the part of "Gilda," which she sang with rare delicacy and b

ramatically. In the "La Donna è Mobile" he cracked on each of the high notes, whilst in the "Bella Figlia" quartet h

ssity of sending him the follo

GNOR B

duty to notify you that by reason of your inability to perform your contract, I hereby put an end to it. At the sam

rs,

) J. H.

fell into the hands of some attorneys, who at once

tained that latterly, from some cause or other, his voice had utterly gone.

hestra and chorus, and a jury half of his own selection and half of mine, with the Judge of one of the Superior Courts as umpire; but this he refused. The matter, therefore, went into the usual groove of protracted law proceedings and con

début of Mdme. Patti at New York in La Gazza Ladra. The occasion naturally drew together an immense audience, which displayed much enthusiasm for

he Press and the public to be too antiquated. The contralto who undertook the r?le of "Pi

led away into the flies with prodigious success, adding: "La Gazza Ladra will soon be laid permanently on the shelf. It is many yea

osening his overcoat, discovered him to be a priest. On his mentioning to me that Mdlle. Titiens had done service formerly for a church in Ireland with which he was connected, I at once gave him every attention.

igh mass, and would, moreover, hold the plate myself at the church door to receive any offerings that might be made. After meeting him once or twice, I promised to take still further interest in relieving the Church of its difficulties by g

nnouncement was made regardin

ECILIA

he day, and has kindly consented to send a number of his best artists to delight the people and do honour to the beautiful 'Queen of Melody.' Our music-loving people will have at their own doors a genuine artistic treat-such a one as has never been given in Harlem before-and we doubt not they will appreciate it and fill St. Cecilia's Church to

ncert at Steinway Hall on the same day. The famous Mapleson Opera Company will be at their best, supported by a supe

e "up town." There was no charge for admission, but I held the plate at the door, and everyone who entered gave something according to his means or inclinati

lady of conspicuous distinction. Hers was no common origin, hers no ordinary name; but she relinquished all this social prestige for her religion. What wonder that she should be so popular among Christians when she is everywhere recognized as the patroness of the loveliest of arts, an art which lives beyond the bounds of time and can never die! Like the immortal souls of men, there is nothing destructive about music. It is music which illustrates the relation between art and religion. How much the art of music adds to the profound mystery of religion! How in the hour of exalte

ich some 200 guests were invited. Afterwards some speeches were made and thanks tendered to m

time), which was crowded to the very doors. The receipts taken in the morning at the Church, coupled with those

nt friend, Father Flattery. It was a Sunday afternoon, and when I got to his house, at some little distance from the central quarters of New York,

y that I had come to

come to dine with me, and you are just in the nick of time. Dinner will

and while he was away one of his servants whispered to me tha

d I saw from his manner that he would take no refusal, and that whether there was anything in

n Homeric feast. Three roast turkeys were followed by two legs of mutton, and these, again, by four roast ducks. The wines we

nd that in order to be agreeable to me, and to express his gratitude for a slight service which I had most

ble and generous host had furnished the feast; or it may be that in summoning his guests he recommended them to bring their dinner with them. I can only speak with