The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol IMapleson, James Henry
History
The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I
Mapleson, James Henry
Opera -- England -- London; Opera -- United States
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."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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