The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888, vol I   By: James H. Mapleson (1830-1901)

VOL. I.

[Illustration: J H Mapleson]

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 ].

COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY

JAMES H. MAPLESON

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.