The Introduction of Italian Opera in New York English Ballad Operas and Adaptations from French and Italian Works Hallam's Comedians and "The Beggar's Opera" The John Street Theater and Its Early Successors Italian Opera's First Home Manuel Garcia The New Park Theater and Some of Its Rivals Malibran and English Opera The Bowery Theater, Richmond Hill, Niblo's and Castle Gardens CHAPTER II EARLY THEATERS, MANAGERS, AND SINGERS Of the Building of Opera Houses A Study of Influences The First Italian Opera House in New York Early Impresarios and Singers Da Ponte, Montressor, Rivafinoli Signorina Pedrotti and Fornasari Why Do Men Become Opera-Managers? Addison and Italian Opera The Vernacular Triumphant CHAPTER III THE FIRST ITALIAN COMPANY Manuel del Popolo Vicente Garcia "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" Signorina Maria Garcia's Unfortunate Marriage Lorenzo da Ponte His Hebraic Origin and Checkered Career "Don Giovanni" An Appeal in Behalf of Italian Opera CHAPTER IV HOUSES BUILT FOR OPERA More Opera Houses Palmo's and the Astor Place Signora Borghese and the Distressful Vocal Wabble Antognini and Cinti-Damoreau An Orchestral Strike Advent of the Patti Family Don Francesco Marty y Torrens and His Havanese Company Opera Gowns Fifty Years Ago Edward and William Henry Fry Horace Greeley and His Musical Critic James H. Hackett and William Niblo Tragic Consequences of Canine Interference Goethe and a Poodle A Dog-Show and the Astor Place Opera House CHAPTER V MARETZEK, HIS RIVALS AND SINGERS Max Maretzek His Managerial Career Some Anecdotes "Crotchets and Quavers" His Rivals and Some of His Singers Bernard Ullmann Marty Again Bottesini and Arditi Steffanone Bosio Tedesco Salvi Bettini Badiali Marini CHAPTER VI THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MUSIC Operatic Warfare Half a Century Ago The Academy of Music and Its Misfortunes A Critic's Opera and His Ideals A Roster of American Singers Grisi and Mario Annie Louise Cary Ole Bull as Manager Piccolomini and Réclame Adelina Patti's Début and an Anniversary Dinner Twenty-five Years Later A Kiss for Maretzek CHAPTER VII MAPLESON AND OTHER IMPRESARIOS Colonel James H. Mapleson A Diplomatic Manager His Persuasiveness How He Borrowed Money from an Irate Creditor Maurice Strakosch Musical Managers Pollini Sofia Scalchi and Annie Louise Cary Again Campanini and His Beautiful Attack Brignoli His Appetite and Superstition CHAPTER VIII THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE The Academy's Successful Rival Why It Was Built The Demands of Fashion Description of the Theater War between the Metropolitan and the Academy of Music Mapleson and Abbey The Rival Forces Patti and Nilsson Gerster and Sembrich A Costly Victory CHAPTER IX FIRST SEASON AT THE METROPOLITAN