NON-ARRIVAL OF SCALCHI--GENERAL INDISPOSITION--KING KALAKAUA
ENNOBLES PATTI--RAVELLI CONSULTS HIS DOG--THE COMPANY
VACCINATED--PATTI EATEN BY MICE--ARRIVAL OF ALBANI--CINCINNATI
OPERA FESTIVAL OF '83--FREEDOM OF THE CITY.
I was getting very anxious about the arrival of Scalchi, who had never
yet appeared in New York, and who had lately been singing in Rio Janeiro
and at Buenos Ayres. It was not until the 20th November that I received
notice of the sighting of her ship, the _Plato_, from Rio Janeiro, which
at length arrived on the 24th, after a tempestuous voyage of twenty-two
days. The vessel had been laden with coffee, hundreds of boxes of which
had been thrown overboard to lighten it. Provisions running short, the
passengers had mostly to live on biscuit and coffee, so that Mdme.
Scalchi on her arrival was in a very feeble state; and in lieu of going
down to the Academy to rehearsal, as I proposed, took to her bed and
remained there for nearly a month. I was almost daily in attendance upon
her.
Early in December I was within a very close shave of closing the
theatre. The opera announced for the evening in question was _William
Tell_. At about four o'clock I received a doctor's certificate from
Mdlle. Dotti, who performed the principal female character, notifying me
that she had been attacked with diphtheria. I therefore had to set about
to find a substitute, having decided to give the opera anyhow. Shortly
after a notification came from Mierzwinski, the tenor, who was also
indisposed, though after a deal of trouble he promised to go on and do
his best.
I was, however, compelled to change the opera to _Lucia di Lammermoor_,
as the lady who had undertaken to replace the prima donna in _William
Tell_ was in such a nervous state. There was no time for a rehearsal; I
therefore decided to give _Lucia_ instead. On the notice being sent to
Mdlle. Laura Zagury, the soprano, she informed me that although _Lucia_
was in the _répertoire_ she furnished me on her engagement she had never
sung that _rôle_. The opera therefore had to be changed to _Aida_.
Orders had just been given to the various departments as to the scenery,
dresses, music, etc., when the news came that Mdlle. Rossini, whom I had
counted upon for the principal part, was lying ill at her house in Fifth
Avenue.
I now changed the opera to _Rigoletto_; but Mdme. Zagury was not ready
with the part of "Gilda," and absolutely refused to appear. _Les
Huguenots_ was next announced, it being now half-past five. Everything
was set in motion for the production of that opera, when Mdme.
Fursch-Madi declared her inability to assume the part of the heroine, as
she had taken some medicine, believing that her services would not be
required until the early part of the following week. Thereupon an attack
was made on Mdme. Savio, who, however, regretted that she was unable to
appear as "Valentine."
Nothing was left but to try _La Favorita_; but Signor Ravelli, who had
just finished a _Carmen_ rehearsal, declared it would be utterly
impossible for him to sing the _rôle_ of "Fernando." Then Minnie Hauk
was sought for; but she was saving herself for her appearance in
Brooklyn on the morrow, and distinctly declined.
I now took a decision either to perform _La Favorita_, or to close up,
as it was already 6.30 p.m. I at length persuaded Signor Clodio, one of
the tenors, to assume the part of "Fernando." But a new difficulty
arose, as, being a very portly gentleman, there were no costumes in the
house to fit him. The tailors were then set to work, who promised to
have the dress ready in time. At this juncture word came from Mdme.
Galassi, who was to have taken the part of "Leonora," that she was in
bed suffering, and that it would be impossible for her to appear. I
immediately went off to Mdme. Galassi myself. She assured me of her
willingness to do her best; but she had two large boils under her right
arm which caused her acute agony. At that moment she nearly swooned from
the pain. To fetch Dr. Mott, our talented theatrical surgeon, was the
work of a moment. We raised her up and the boils were lanced, which at
once gave her relief, and I got her down to the theatre just at five
minutes to eight. She had time to dress, as "Leonora" does not appear
until the second act. The performance went off successfully; I had got
out of another serious difficulty after changing the opera seven times.
In the midst of my trouble a deputation arrived from Kalakaua I., King
of the Sandwich Islands, informing me that they were commanded by his
Majesty the King of Hawaii to confer on Mdme. Patti the Royal Order of
Kapirlani. They had the diploma and jewels with them, and they were
accompanied by the King's Chamberlain. I had to entreat them to wait "a
moment" while I got through my troubles. That moment must have been
nearly two hours.
At length we all went off to Patti's hotel, when the Order was conferred
upon her in the presence of some intimate friends. The Order consisted
of a jewelled star, suspended by a red and white striped ribbon,
accompanied by the following parchment document:--
"Kalakaua I., King of the Hawaiian Islands, to all who shall see these
presents greeting, know that we have appointed and commissioned, and by
these presents we appoint and commission, Mdme. Patti to be a Knight
Companion of our Royal Order of Kapirlani, to exercise and enjoy all the
rights, pre-eminences, and privileges to the same of right appertaining,
and to wear the insignia as by decree created.
"In testimony whereof we have caused these letters to be made patent,
and the seal of the Order to be hereunto affixed.
"Given under our hand, at our palace at Honolulu, this 8th day of
November, in the year of our Lord 1882.
"KALAKAUA REX.
"By the King, the Chancellor of the Royal Order of Kapirlani.
"(Signed) CHARLES H. JUDD."
The season continued, and _Lohengrin_, _Africaine_, _Huguenots_ and
other important operas were produced. The unfortunate illness of Scalchi
had long delayed me from producing _Semiramide_, which, however, was at
length brought out on the 20th December, being the last night but two of
the season. Never shall I forget the enthusiasm of the crowded and
fashionable audience of that evening. Mdme. Patti's exquisite purity of
intonation and her breadth of phrasing filled the large audience
assembled with delight. At length Mdme. Scalchi appeared, and she at
once proved herself an artist of extraordinary excellence, and a true
dramatic singer, with a contralto of unusual richness, volume, and
compass. The enormous success achieved by Scalchi inspired _la Diva_,
and it was generally pronounced that her singing on this occasion was
the best she had ever given in America, being, indeed, the perfection of
vocal art. The whole performance was beyond criticism.
For the morning of the following Saturday, the 23rd, I announced the
opera of _Carmen_. This was to be the closing _matinée_ of the regular
winter season, and the announcement drew one of the largest assemblages
of ladies, there being very few gentlemen, to the doors of the Academy.
It was about three-quarters of an hour before the opening of the doors
when Ravelli sent word that he could not sing. It was then too late to
change the opera. I therefore rushed off to his hotel, leaving word that
the doors were on no account to be opened until I returned.
I found him in bed. Hearing me enter he slunk under the clothes, and I
could not get him to answer my questions. I approached the bed to remove
the sheets, when a dog sprang out at me, Ravelli's favourite dog
Niagara.
"Laissez moi dormir!" muttered the sluggard, as he turned over on the
other side.
"Get up," I exclaimed; "don't you understand that you are imperilling my
enterprise by lying in bed and refusing to sing when there is nothing
the matter with you?"
He told me that he was very tired, that he was quite out of sorts, that
his voice was not in good order, and so on.
With the aid of his wife, I succeeded in making him get up. He dressed
himself. Then taking him to the piano I tried his voice, and found that
there was nothing whatever the matter with it. He could sing perfectly
well.
Ravelli, however, for some minutes still hesitated. In his difficulty he
determined to consult Niagara. Appealing to an animal whose superior
intelligence he recognized, Ravelli said in the French language--
"Est ce que ton mâitre doit chanter?"
The dog growled, and Ravelli interpreted this oracular response as an
order not to sing. He tore his clothes off, sprang hurriedly into bed,
and left me to my own resources.
In London I had raised poor Volpini almost from the dead to make him
sing the part of _Faust_, when but for his services I should have had to
close my theatre. I had induced George Bolton (of whom I knew nothing at
the time, except that he had a tenor voice, and that I had nearly run
over him in a cab) to undertake literally at a moment's notice the part
of "Lionel" in _Martha_, of which he knew nothing until I coached him,
except one air. But neither a Bolton nor a Volpini was now to be found,
and thanks to my lazy, superstitious, dog-ridden tenor, I had to close
my theatre and send away one of the most brilliant audiences that New
York could produce.
I wrote a hurried notice which was put up in manuscript just as I had
scribbled it down, to the effect that in consequence of Ravelli's
refusing without explanation to sing, the theatre was closed for that
morning.
The excitement outside was prodigious. Everyone, of course, said that it
was through my fault the doors were shut.
"It is all that Mapleson," one charming lady was heard to exclaim.
"Wouldn't I scratch his face if I had him here!"
Worst of all, the "scalpers" went off with the money they had received
for tickets sold outside the theatre.
Let me here explain what "scalper" means. I am afraid that in America
our excellent librarians who do so much for the support of the Opera
would be called "scalpers;" a scalper meaning simply one who buys
tickets at the theatre to sell them at an advance elsewhere. The
ferocious name bestowed upon these gentry shows, however, that their
dealings are not quite so honourable as those of our "booksellers." For
when they had disposed of their tickets, and the performance changed, or
the theatre by some accident closed, they would walk off without any
thought of restoring the money they had received for tickets now
unavailable. At times, too, I have caught them exhibiting a gallery
diagram, and selling gallery places as orchestra stalls. They are now
obliged, by a just law, to take out licenses, and register their places
of abode. Nor do managers allow any one of them to buy more than four
tickets for each representation.
Meanwhile the New York fall season of 1882 finished up grandly with
_Semiramide_, the receipts reaching 14,000 dollars, and the public mad
with enthusiasm.
I afterwards started with the Company for Baltimore, where we opened
with rather less than our usual success, on account of the small-pox
which was raging all over the city. Very few notices were given of the
opera in consequence of three and four columns a day being occupied with
the crusade undertaken against the small-pox by Mayor White, who had
telegraphed for a large number of vaccination physicians from various
States, determined as he was to stamp out the disease.
The whole of the twenty wards of the city had been placed under properly
constituted medical authorities, and there everyone had to be
vaccinated, including the whole of my Company. Prima donnas had to be
vaccinated on the legs, whilst ballet-girls were vaccinated on the arms;
in fact the theatre at one time became quite a hospital.
However, we managed to get through our engagement with success, though
Mdme. Patti remained over at Philadelphia, being afraid to enter the
city of Baltimore.
The production of _L'Africaine_, which was new to Baltimore, was a
marked success. On terminating our engagement we went over to
Philadelphia, where Patti made a splendid opening in _La Traviata_, the
vast theatre being crowded from floor to ceiling.
The next night we produced _Aida_, the Directors of the Academy of Music
having caused to be painted specially for the occasion some of the most
gorgeous Egyptian scenery I have ever seen.
At five o'clock Mdme. Scalchi sent me word that she was very ill, and
unable to sing. I thereupon went for the physician, whom I conducted
forthwith to her hotel. On our arriving at the door of her apartment I
saw a waiter going in with some lobsters, salad, and roast duck. I
immediately asked for whom he was catering, and he replied: "Mdme.
Scalchi." I waited a few minutes in order to give her time to begin
operations on the duck and the lobsters; and she was recounting some
amusing story which ended in loud laughter, when I took this as my cue
for entering.
Mdme. Scalchi could no longer plead indisposition, and in due time she
came to the theatre.
_Aida_ was a great success. At two o'clock the following afternoon we
performed _Lucia_ with Adelina Patti to a house containing over 14,000
dollars. In the evening we gave _L'Africaine_, magnificently placed on
the vast stage, to receipts not far inferior to those of the morning.
Prior to the close of our very successful engagement sad alarm was
created all over the city by a report in some of the leading morning
papers that Mdme. Patti the preceding night had been devoured by mice.
Several persons had already applied at the box office for the return of
their money on the ground that _la Diva_ had ceased to breathe.
On inquiry it turned out that Mdme. Patti had been bitten by a mouse on
the left ear. I had better tell the story in the _Diva's_ own words, as
given to the reporter of the _Philadelphia Press_.
"'So you were bitten by rats last evening?' the reporter said.
"'Oh, no, it was not so bad as that,' replied Patti, laughing heartily
as she recalled the adventure. 'I hardly, however, like to mention it at
all, for I am really so comfortable in this hotel. They do all they can
to please me. When I went to bed last evening my maid turned the clothes
over for me to get in, when out jumped six mice--a complete family, in
fact; nice fat little fellows. I was not frightened; at least, I was
only astonished. I took my bon-bon box and scattered some sweetmeats on
the carpet so that the tiny intruders should have some supper, and I
went to sleep without any apprehension. In the middle of the night,
however, something disagreeable occurred, and I was awakened by a sharp
pain in my ear. I put my hand to my head when a mouse jumped to the
floor, and I felt blood trickling on the side of my cheek. I got up and
called my maid, and examination showed a bite on my left ear. It bled a
good deal, and to-day my ear is much swollen. I shall not put any
bon-bons down to-night,' continued Mdme. Patti, 'and when I sleep in the
day time I shall place my maid to act as sentry.'"
The reporter, feeling that he had passed one of the most delightful
quarters of an hour in his life, now left the apartment.
When the news got about that Patti had been bitten by a mouse,
enterprising makers and patentees of mousetraps approached her from all
sides with specimens of their various mouse-catching contrivances. Some
of these were very curious. One was prompt and severe in its action,
despatching the mouse at the moment of capture by a single cutting blow.
Another was apparently the work of some member of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Far from killing the mouse, it
provided the little creature with a wheel, which, as long as it was
allowed to live, it could amuse itself by turning.
About this time two "sensations" occurred. One was connected with
Commander Gye, who was leaving the city at an early hour, when he was
robbed of his black leather travelling-bag, containing money, pins,
rings, Roman coins, cigarette boxes, a cheque book, a cheque for 4,400
dollars, which I had signed for Mdme. Patti's previous night's salary,
with other documents of less value, including Nilsson's broken contract.
The reports of this robbery, as usual, were considerably enlarged, and
it afterwards got into circulation that amongst the things lost were
Mdme. Albani's jewels, worth several thousands of pounds. This cost
Captain Gye a deal of inconvenience, for it brought down the Inland
Revenue authorities on him. He was accused of having smuggled in the
diamonds from abroad, and some considerable time passed before all the
excitement subsided.
The other "sensation" was the invasion of the basso Monti's room while
he was in bed and the theft of 400 dollars worth of jewellery belonging
to him. This, too, caused a deal of talk in the papers.
Our last night was, indeed, a gala night. The most brilliant audience of
the whole season filled every corner of the theatre, so great was the
curiosity of the public to see Mdme. Patti and Mdme. Scalchi together in
the same opera. About five o'clock the crowd outside the Academy was
already immense, and it was not until seven that we opened the doors.
The rush was great, and a sad incident now took place. A lady in the
crowd who had purchased her ticket beforehand was taken up from the
bottom of the staircase to the top, though she died before reaching the
first landing from disease of the heart, rendered fatal by the
excitement. Borne upwards by the dense crowd she did not fall till she
reached the gallery. Fearing the alarm this occurrence might cause, the
servants, in order that I should not hear of it, had placed the lady on
the floor of a little top private box, where she remained during the
whole of the performance; her body not being removed by her friends
until the next morning.
After leaving Philadelphia we visited Chicago, where the advance sale of
seats prior to our opening reached the enormous sum of 16,000 dollars.
On the evening of our arrival I received a telegram from Mdme. Albani
stating that she would arrive early the following morning. I met her at
the station. She was accompanied by her husband, Mr. Ernest Gye, and his
brother, Commander Gye. She had just returned from some concerts which I
had arranged in Albany and in New York, where she had met with the most
enthusiastic reception.
She appeared on the fifth evening of my first week in _I Puritani_, when
the cold weather did not deter the holders of tickets from claiming
their places in the theatre. At an early hour, and long before the
curtain ran up for the first act, there was absolutely not a vacant spot
in the theatre. Albani was welcomed with an enthusiasm that even Patti
might have been proud of. She was queen in the hearts of all who were
present that evening.
On leaving Chicago we went to St. Louis, where our triumphs were again
repeated; Mdme. Albani, Mdme. Patti, and Scalchi all contributing to the
immense success.
About this time several of my songbirds began to take cold, the weather
having suddenly changed. Mdme. Patti had to remain at home, Mdme.
Scalchi took to her bed, as also did Mdme. Fursch-Madi and Mdme. Albani.
The duty, therefore, of singing fell to Mdlle. Dotti, who for three
nights in succession sustained the prima donna duties, giving much
satisfaction under the circumstances.
Patti, however, was able to resume work the following night in _La
Traviata_; Mdme. Albani singing "Lohengrin" at the morning performance
of the next day, whilst Mdlle. Dotti closed the season by singing
"Margherita" in _Faust_ the same evening.
I was naturally very anxious about my singers. We had to leave by
special train at one o'clock in the morning in order to reach
Cincinnati; and as it was now some 40 degrees below freezing point, I
left the ballet, chorus, and orchestra to sleep in the railway
carriages, which were shunted up a siding. Those who went to the hotel
had the greatest difficulty in reaching it.
On ascertaining that nearly every place had been sold for the whole of
the Festival week, I entered at once into arrangements for giving two
additional nights in the succeeding week, on which I arranged that Patti
should sing "Aida" and Albani "Margherita" in _Faust_.
The first performance at the great Festival was _La Traviata_, followed
by _L'Africaine_, magnificently placed upon the stage. On the Wednesday
afternoon Mdme. Albani appeared as "Amina" in _La Sonnambula_, and in
the evening _William Tell_ was given, with Mierzwinski, Galassi, and
Dotti. This drew the largest number of people of any night during the
week, the great choruses of the Gathering of the Cantons eliciting the
loudest expressions of admiration. On the Thursday evening we performed
Rossini's _Semiramide_, Patti and Scalchi surpassing themselves. On the
following evening Wagner's _Flying Dutchman_ was produced, with Ravelli,
Galassi, and Albani. The next morning came _Don Giovanni_; with
Fursch-Madi as "Donna Anna;" Dotti as "Elvira;" and Patti as "Zerlina."
The first week was brought to a fitting close by a splendid performance
of _Lohengrin_; Mierzwinski performing the "Knight of the Swan;"
Galassi, "Telramund;" Monti, the "King;" Scalchi, "Ortruda;" and Albani,
"Elsa."
This Festival, without going into details, surpassed the two preceding
ones.
Everyone, I believe, made money. All the spring fashions were introduced
in the leading stores of the city, whilst visitors came in from many
hundreds of miles. The hotels were crowded, and people were sleeping
even in the corridors. The railways were making money, and the cabmen
making fortunes, from the high charges they taxed the public with.
The Music Hall was nightly crowded to its utmost limit, there being
never less than 7,000 people present; and one representation surpassed
the other till all ended in one great excitement. The newspapers in the
city were taken up almost exclusively with the Festival. Nothing was
thought of but the Festival, and all business appeared to be suspended.
The toilettes of the ladies were something to be remembered.
On February 18, 1882, prior to my leaving Cincinnati, a meeting was held
at the Mayor's Office, when my attendance was requested. To my
astonishment and delight the highest possible compliment was now paid
me; for I was presented with the freedom of the city, which was given to
me in a valuable casket, Mayor Means explaining that since the history
of the city no similar compliment had been paid even to one of their own
citizens, much less to an Englishman. This was followed by a grand
banquet at the Club, where, amongst others, I had the honour of making
the acquaintance of Mr. Reuben Springer, the donor of the magnificent
hall in which the Festival had been held.
I omitted, however, to mention that my friend Abbey was determined, if
possible, to injure this Festival, for which purpose he brought Madame
Nilsson into the town, and kept her there during the whole of the week,
with a Company of artists, who sang at some small theatre. I need hardly
say that no harm whatever was done to the receipts, which totalled up to
40,000 dollars more than any of the preceding Festivals had brought.