The Mapleson Memoirs, vol II

hich had still a year to run, took further steps towards securing Mr. Gye as manager; and it was proposed that he should open his season at the new theatre on November 10th, to continue fo

rantee against loss, and ￡200 for each performance. This

0 a night; likewise Mdme. Scalchi, Galassi, and Arditi, thus forming a very strong nucleus to start with. I afterwards learned t

able attorney, George L. Rives, to Europe for the

Opera Directors, who being now left without an impresario contemplated diverting the grand building to other purposes. They ultimately, however, resolved to try a German Opera rather

e best seats, for which no payment whatever was to be made, should be occupied for listening to Mdme. Patti, who was receiving ￡1,000 a night. After various meetings, a resolution was passed by which they agreed to give me a nightly assessment of four dollars a seat for the proscenium boxes, three for the other boxes, and two for the

cceeded in adding her name to my already powerful list, which, however, did not include that of Madame Christine Nilsson, as I h

d, and a very fine subscription was the result,

to give preliminary instruction regarding the commencement of my season when a telegram arri

hey went on shore for beer. It was late in the evening when the expected telegram arrived, and the vessel had to start i

teamer came alongside a small group appeared, and I at once recognized Patti. Handkerchiefs were waved, and three cheers given by my friends on board the Blackbird. We had a lad

to-night without a permissi

e barge office, allowing Patti to go on shore. I p

-officer must give me a permit bef

ough whose kind assistance I obtained a permit to take Patti off the ship. On my returning the whole of the passengers gave t

d at the Windsor Hotel that evening, and the chief of the party was, of c

of Americans stopping with us at my Castle, and t

d occurred the previous day, and she sent a magnificent wreath to be

the steamship Lessing arrived from Hamburg with an entire German Company for the Metropolitan Oper

ng the arrival of Patti, with her inimitab

n had been asked; and never shall I forget the sermon he preached to them. It was magnificent, and in every way impressive. At the conclusion

few minutes afterwards he said he thought he had a bottle of cider which I might prefer to the beverage then before us; a

; but shortly after the overture had commenced I was surprised to find him sitting at my side.

in La Sonnambula, when a remarkable scene occurred. At the close of the performance the audience, instead of rush

Emma Nevada again appeared with brilliant success; and afterward

ance at the New York Academy of Music, great preparations were made for the

y on the Academy boards. Patti's first "Edgardo," Signor Brignoli, was to have appeared with her. But his sudden death necessitated a

ch appeared in the New York Herald, of Nove

OF MISS

e when an infant, belonging to an Italian family which has been fruitful of good

to the affections of an audience, we cannot say. Certain it is, however, that the aspirants for the ovations, the triumphs, the glories, that await a successful prima donna almost always select this opera for their preliminary dash at the laur

c, who do not nowadays put their faith in managers' announcements, unless they are endorsed. With an off-night and an opera worn to bits, the public interest in Miss Patti's début was so great as to bring together a very large audience, rather more popular than usual, but still numbering the best-known habitués and

he high note E flat, above the line, with the greatest ease. In this cabaletta we noticed a tendency to show off vocal gifts which may be just a little out of place. The introduction of variations not written by the composer is only pardonable in an artist who has already assured her position. In the duet with the tenor (Brign

e. The mere convenances of the stage will come of themselves. She is already pretty well acquainted with them. So far as her voice, skill, method,

artist, and who knows but the managers may

terally covered with the flowers thrown before her. The success of this artist, educated and reared amongst us, with all the vocal gifts of an

ompany, plenty of fine artists, everything required for fine performances, but t

he connoisseurs and is the special favourite of the fai

mmense American eagle about to soar, beneath which was the word "Patti," and over it "1859-1884." The band of the 7th Regiment approached the footlights, and the musicians played a march that Cappa

ious burthen to her hotel. Following this we had 100 torch-bearers, for the most part admirers and supporters of the opera. Mounted police were on each side of Patti's carriage. At the end of the procession was a waggon full o

r, never reached me. It was found impossible to get it through the crowd. This did not preven

s windows. This terminated the festivities in honour of the twenty-fif

appearance on the American stage in 1859. I find, too, that she sang at Niblo's S

AND INSTRUME

ID O

nevolent

LO'S S

vening, Feb.

will not be able to fulfil her engagement this evening; also, that MME. COMETANT cannot appear in con

NA ADEL

in connection wit

have volu

R BER

R RAP

HARLES

KLIN BA

SAND

-

GRA

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Piano and Violin-;Mr. Rapetti a

orma, Casta Diva-;Sign

nri," Overture for Piano

Sebastian"-;Sig.

eet Home"-;Signa. A

s of "Norma," for Two Pianos-;

-

SEC

arranged and performed by Mr. Sanderson,

Opera Le Chalet-;

he Eoli

h} Composed and pe

ho Song-;Signa. A

from La Sonnamb

erformed by Messrs. Bassford and We

-

Mr. Char

-

on, are from the Music Stores of Messrs. Bassfo

o'clock. To comm

S ONE

and Son, Bassford and Brower, 603, Broadway

rst appearance on the operatic stage in 1850, at Tripler's Hall, New Yo

ed until the latte

would only be allowed to me on Patti nights. This reduced my ￡6,000 by three-fourths, I having based my calculations on the amount that had been cabled to me. I in no way blame the stockhol

e. Adelina Patti, and shortly afterwards made arrangements for her appearance, together with that of the whol

ella, in which Nevada, Scalchi, De Anna, and other artists appeared. Afterward

n supposed to be Patti's positive farewell to the Bostoni

wing morning we started for Philadelphia, where we had a very re

of getting her dress spoiled; which in England, if the dress be of delicate material, she scarcely can do. The American theatres, moreover, are beautifully warmed during the winte

the dresses from being seen. At the American Opera-houses the boxes are not constructed in the Italian, but in the French style. They are open in front, that is to say, so that those who occupy them can not onl

iberty to supply them with bouquets, which are always of the most delicate and most expensive kind-costing in winter from ￡4 to ￡5 a-piece. The front of the young ladies' box is kept constantly furnished with the most beautiful flowers th

om he considered worthy of my attention. In due course he got me a ticket, and I attended the concert, which was held in one of the extreme quarters of the city. On entering I was quite surprised t

amond necklace and earrings. She moreover wore white kid gloves, which nearly went to the full extent of her arm, leaving but a small space of so

afterwards a young baritone appeared and sang the "Bellringer," so as to remind me forcibly of Santley in his best days. I immediately resolved upon offering him an engagement to appear at the Opera-house in London as "Renato" in Un Ballo

to complete the arrangement. He pref

ity by the following Sunday. On arriving at Louisville the gauge was broken, and the track became narrow gauge, which necessitated the slinging of every one of my grand ca