The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I

THE MAPLESON MEMOIRS

Reading edition

1848-1888

IN TWO VOLUMES

WITH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR

VOL I

TROW'S PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY, NEW YORK.

PREFACE.

HAVING been repeatedly urged by numerous friends on both sides of the Atlantic to set forth a few of the difficulties attending the career of an impresario, who, during the last thirty years, has fought many operatic battles, I have undertaken the task, having at the present moment for the first time in my recollection a few weeks of comparative repose before again renewing my lyrical campaigns.

I willingly sat down to the work, trusting that an account of the few partial defeats and the many brilliant victories incident to my life may be found interesting.

This being my first appearance as an author, I am naturally unpractised in the artifices of style familiar to more experienced hands.

Some of my plain statements of facts will not, I fear, be fully appreciated by the personages to whom they refer; and in case they should feel offended by my frankness, I ask their pardon beforehand, convinced that they will readily accord it.

J. H. MAPLESON.

Junior Carlton Club, 21st September, 1888.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Qualifications for the Career of Impresario—My First Appearance as Violinist—Début as a Vocalist—Difficulties as a Critic—Engaged at Lodi and Verona—Radical Operation on my Throat—I start as Musical Agent—Meeting with Mr. E. T. Smith—Management of Drury Lanepp. 1-12

CHAPTER II.

Injunction against the Birds on the Trees—Drury Lane Season of 1859—Débuts of Victoire Balfe, Mongini, and Guarducci—My Contralto Marries a Duke—The Duke and Duchess at Naples pp. 13-22

CHAPTER III.

Nocturnal Negotiations—Reopening of Her Majesty's Theatre—Sayers and Heenan Patronize the Opera—English and Italian Opera Combined—Smith and his Speculations—Discovery of Adelina Patti—My Management of the Lyceumpp. 23-39

CHAPTER IV.

At Her Majesty's Theatre—Verdi's Cantata—Ginglini at the Seaside—Pollio and the Drum-stick—An Operatic Conspiracy—Confusion of the Conspiratorspp. 40-57

CHAPTER V.

Running over a Tenor—Titiens in Italy—Cashing a Cheque at Naples—A Neapolitan Ball—Approaching a Minister—Return to Londonpp. 58-65

CHAPTER VI.

Production of Gounod's Faust—Apathy of the British Public—A Managerial Device—Damask Crumb Cloth and Chintz Hangings—Heroic Attitude of a Dying Tenor—Prayers to a Portmanteaupp. 66-80

CHAPTER VII.

Garibaldi Visits the Opera—Giuglini's Trouble at St. Petersburg—Giuglini Visited by Titiens—Alarm of Fire—Production of Medea—Grisi's Last Appearance—An Enraged Tenorpp. 81-98

CHAPTER VIII.

Payment after Performance—Discovery of Madge Robertson—Mario and the Sheriff—Generosity of the Great Tenor—Début of Christine Nilsson—Destruction of Her Majesty's Theatre—A Great Philanthropistpp. 99-117

CHAPTER IX.

Proposal for an Operatic Union—Titiens in Dublin—Her Services as a Pacificator—Autumn Season at Covent Garden—The Combination Season—Immense Success—Costa's Despotism—An Operatic Conspiracy—Lucca and her Husbandspp. 118-135

CHAPTER X.

Gye's Fraternal Embrace—Law-suits Interminable—Dissolution of Partnership—Return to Drury Lane—Arrival of Albani—Début of Cainpanini—The Annual Onslaughts of Mr. Gyepp. 136-149

CHAPTER XI.

Adelina's Successor—A Prima Donna's Marriage Negotiations—Pounds v. Guineas—Nilsson and the Shah—Production of Lohengrin—Salvini's Performances and Profits—Marguerite Chapuy—Irony of an Earlpp. 150-174

CHAPTER XII.

The National Opera-house—Foundation Difficulties—Primæval Remains—Titiens Lays the First Brick—The Duke of Edinburgh the First Stone—The Opera and Parliament—Our Recreation Roomspp. 175-183

CHAPTER XIII.

First Visit to America—Making Money out of Shakespeare—Chatterton's Secret Agents—Bidding for Her Majesty's Theatre—Illness of Titiens—Gerster's Success—Production of Carmenpp. 184-198

CHAPTER XIV.

First American Campaign—Difficulties of Embarkation—Concert on Board—Dangerous Illness of Gerster—Opera on Wheels—The "Dressing-room Row"—A Learned Throat Doctor—Gerster Sings before her Judge—The Pianoforte War—Our Hurried Departurepp. 199-219

CHAPTER XV.

Reception of a Tenor—Belocca and Lady Spencer—Marimon's Superstitions—Her Lovesick Maid—An Encouraging Telegram—Marimon in the Cathedral—Disappearance of a Tenorpp. 220-236

CHAPTER XVI.

Sir Michael and his Cheque—Six Minutes' Bankruptcy—Success of Lohengrin—Production of Mefistofele—Return to New York—Lohengrin under Difficulties—Elsa's Tails—Cincinnati Opera Festivalpp. 237-253

CHAPTER XVII.

Production of Il Rinnegato—Ravelli's Operatic Theory Negotiations with Covent Garden, "Limited"—A Search for a Prima Donna—Failure of Patti's Concerts—Cincinnati Opera Festival of '82—Patti's Indispositionpp. 254-272

CHAPTER XVIII.

I Engage Patti—My Military Experience—Influencing Electors—Operatic Joint Stock Company—Objections to English Monopoly—Patti in New Yorkpp. 273-291

CHAPTER XIX.

Non-Arrival of Scalchi—General Indisposition—King Kalakau Ennobles Patti—Ravelli Consults his Dog—The Company Vaccinated—Patti Eaten by Mice—Arrival of Albani—Cincinnati Opera Festival of '83—Freedom of the Citypp. 292-308

CHAPTER XX.

Galassi Distinguishes Himself—Politeness of Prime Donne—English Welcome to Canada—Concert at the White House—Value of Patti's Notes—Phantom Ship Wrecked—Nilsson's Contract—Patti's Contract—Return to Englandpp. 309-327

Index to Volumes I and II