Chapter I: 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 Embrace--Law-suits Interminable--Dissolution of Partnership--Return to Drury Lane--Arrival of Albani--_Début_ of Cainpanini--The Annual Onslaughts of Mr. Gye pp. 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 Earl pp. 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 Rooms pp. 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 _Carmen_ pp. 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 Departure pp. 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 Tenor pp. 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 Festival pp. 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 Indisposition pp. 254-272

CHAPTER XVIII.

I Engage Patti--My Military Experience--Influencing Electors--Operatic Joint Stock Company--Objections to English Monopoly--Patti in New York pp. 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 City pp. 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 England pp. 309-327