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.