قراءة كتاب The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I

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The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I

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المؤلف:

Mapleson James Henry

دار النشر: Project Gutenberg

الصفحة رقم: 1

THE MAPLESON MEMOIRS

1848-1888

IN TWO VOLUMES

WITH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR

VOL I

CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND SAN FRANCISCO
BELFORD, CLARKE & CO.,
PUBLISHERS.
1888
[All rights reserved].

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 Lane	pp. 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 Lyceum	pp. 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 Conspirators	pp. 40-57
CHAPTER V.
Running over a Tenor—Titiens in Italy—Cashing a Cheque at Naples—A Neapolitan Ball—Approaching a Minister—Return to London	pp. 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 Portmanteau	pp. 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 Tenor	pp. 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 Philanthropist	pp. 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 Husbands	pp. 118-135
CHAPTER X.
Gye's Fraternal

قراءة كتاب The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I