The Mapleson Memoirs, 1848-1888 Volume Ii Part 1

The Mapleson Memoirs.

vol II.

by James H. Mapleson.

CHAPTER I

MY CONNECTION SEVERED--MUSICAL PROTECTION UNION--AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS--RIVAL OPERA-HOUSES--OPERATIC TRIAL BY JURY--ST. CECILIA'S DAY--THE FEAST OF FATHER FLATTERY.

Shortly after my return to London I had various meetings with the Directors of the Royal Italian Opera Company, Limited, when, to my astonishment, they informed me they would not ratify the contract I had made with Mdme. Patti. In fact, they repudiated the engagement altogether, although it had been concluded by me conjointly with Mr.

Ernest Gye, the General Manager of the Company. I was therefore left with about 15,000 worth of authorized contracts which the Company had made with other artists, in addition to Mdme. Patti's contract for 250,000 dollars (50,000).

I represented to the Directors that the only way to get out of the difficulty was to release me entirely from all connection with the Company, as I could then carry out the contracts I had made in the name of myself and of their representative with Mdme. Patti and with several other artists.

The matter, however, ended by the Directors giving me my _conge_, refusing at the same time to pay me any of the money that was then owing to me.

I had now seriously to consider my position, which was this: I had parted with my lease of Her Majesty's Theatre to the Royal Italian Opera Company, Ltd., a lease for which I had paid Lord Dudley 30,000. I had parted with a large quant.i.ty of scenery and dresses, of which a full inventory was attached to my agreement, and which were valued at many thousands of pounds. In addition to this, during my absence in America, Her Majesty's Theatre had been entirely dismantled and many thousand pounds worth of property not in the inventory taken and removed to Covent Garden. The amount of salary owing to me was absolutely refused.

My 10,000 worth of shares (being the consideration for the purchase) I could not obtain; and the Company further gave me notice that I owed them some 10,000 for losses incurred whilst in America.

In fact, all I had left to me was my liability for the 50,000 payable to Mdme. Patti, and for over 15,000 on the authorized contracts made with other artists on behalf of the Company; whilst on the other side of the ocean I should have to face Abbey's new Metropolitan Opera-house, for which all the seats had been sold, and the following artists engaged--all with but one or two exceptions taken from me:--Mdme.

Christine Nilsson, Mdlle. Valleria, Mdme. Sembrich, Mdme. Scalchi, Mdme. Trebelli, Signor Campanini, etc., etc. My scene painter had been tampered with and taken away, together with many of the leading orchestral performers and the chorus--indeed, the whole Company, even to the call-boy.

[FROM THE _Times_ OF NEW YORK, JULY 4, 1883.]

"MR. MAPLESON'S PARTNERS.

"HIS TROUBLE WITH THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA COMPANY.

"THE ACADEMY STOCKHOLDERS PREPARING FOR HIM, HOWEVER, AND CONFIDENT OF A BRILLIANT SEASON.

"Every mail from England brings papers containing some discussion of the trouble in the operatic camp; and it is evident that a serious misunderstanding has arisen between the Royal Italian Opera Company (Limited)--princ.i.p.ally Mr. Gye--and Col. Mapleson. The substance of this misunderstanding appears to be that Mr. Gye and his Company have decided to repudiate certain contracts made by Col. Mapleson as their accredited agent. The princ.i.p.al trouble is in regard to the contract by which the Colonel agrees to pay Mdme. Patti 5,000 dollars per night. It will be readily remembered by readers of the _Times_ that a great struggle took place at the close of last season between Mr. Abbey and Col. Mapleson for the possession of the great singer's services. For a long time it was impossible to tell to which house she was going, and public curiosity was aroused to such an extent that everyone felt like addressing her in the language of Ancient Pistol: 'Under which King, Bezonian? Speak, or die!' Mr. Abbey offered her more money than any singer had ever before received, whereupon Mr. Mapleson, knowing that he must have Patti to fight the strong attraction of a new Opera-house, saw Mr. Abbey and went him a few hundreds better. Then Mr. Abbey threw down his hand and Mr. Mapleson gathered in the prima donna. It will also be remembered that subsequently the stockholders of the Academy met in secret conclave and generously voted to support the manager who established Italian Opera in this country as a permanent source of amus.e.m.e.nt and art-cultivation by a.s.sessing themselves. They decided to raise a subsidy of 40,000 dollars to guarantee the Patti contract and secure the coming season at the Academy. Mdme. Patti subsequently ratified the contract made by Signor Franchi, her agent, with Col.

Mapleson, and the Colonel wrote to the stockholders here thanking them for their generous support, and saying that he would return their kindness by bringing to America next Fall a Company of superior strength. An early evidence of the earnestness of his purpose was the engagement of Mdme. Gerster, an artist who is a firm favourite with this public, and whose great merits are unquestionable. Mr. Gye was in this city, it will also be remembered, during the latter part of last season, and was fully aware of Mr. Mapleson's movement. Therefore the stockholders of the Academy have learned with surprise, not to say disgust, the action of the Royal Italian Opera Company (Limited). It has transpired that the princ.i.p.al cause of dissatisfaction was a belief that there could be little or no profit in an American Opera season with Patti at 5,000 dollars per night. The _Times_, in an article published just after the close of the last season, showed that Col. Mapleson had been unfortunate. While the good people of the West, who are popularly supposed to possess but a t.i.the of the culture that animates the East, flocked to the Opera as if they really knew that they were not likely, as the Boston Theatre stage carpenter expressed it, to hear any better singing than that of Patti and Scalchi this side of heaven, the people of New York and Philadelphia failed to regard the entertainment in the same light. The result was serious for Col. Mapleson, and he left this country financially embarra.s.sed. The Royal Italian Opera Company (Limited) knew this, and decided that it did not care to embark in another American season, especially with increased salaries and an opposition of respectable strength. The London _World_, in a long article on the condition of these operatic affairs, has said that another cause of dissatisfaction was Mr. Gye's earnest conviction that, if Mdme. Patti's salary was to be increased, the salary of his wife, Mdme. Albani, ought also to be raised.

"However all these things may be, it is certain that the great question now is whether Col. Mapleson will come over next season as a representative, or rather a part, of the Royal Italian Opera Company (Limited)."

Despite obstacles of all kinds, I felt happy at being rid of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, and I set vigorously to work to complete the company with a view to the operatic battle which was to be fought the following autumn in New York.

During the month of June I was fortunate enough to conclude an engagement with Mdme. Etelka Gerster, also with Mdme. Pappenheim, who was a great favourite in America. For my contraltos I engaged Miss Josephine Yorke, and also Mdlle. Vianelli. Gala.s.si, my princ.i.p.al baritone of the previous years, remained with me, despite the large offers that had been made to him by Abbey.

Prior to the commencement of my season, I found on perusing Mr. Abbey's list the names of Signor Del Puente, of Mdme. Lablache, of my stage-manager, Mr. Parry, and a good many of the choristers, all of whom were under formal engagement to me.

It is true I did not care much for the services of these people, but I could not allow them to defy me by breaking their contracts. I consequently applied for an injunction against each, which was duly granted, restraining them from giving their services in any other place than where by writing I directed. Arguments were heard the following day before Judge O'Gorman, on my motion to confirm the injunction which I had obtained against Signor Del Puente and Mdme. Lablache, who were announced to sing the opening night at the new Metropolitan Opera House.

The injunction, as in the case of all operatic injunctions, was ultimately dissolved by the Court, and I agreed to accept a payment from Del Puente of 15,000 francs, Mr. Parry and the choristers being at the same time handed over to me.

Shortly after my arrival in New York I was honoured with a serenade in which no less than five hundred musicians took part. The sight alone was a remarkable one. I was at my hotel, on the point of going to bed, when suddenly I heard beneath my window a loud burst of music. The immense orchestra had taken possession of the street. The musicians were all in evening dress; they had brought their music stands with them, also electric or calcium lights; and, as I have before said, they occupied the road in front of the hotel.

I was extremely gratified, and when after the performance I went down into the street to thank the conductor, I begged that he would allow me to make a donation of 100 towards the funds of the Musical Protective Union. But he would not hear of such a thing, and was so earnest on the subject that I felt sorry at having in a moment of impulse ventured upon such an offer.

The Musical Protective Union is an a.s.sociation extending over the whole of the United States, to which all the capable instrumental players of the country belong. There may be, and probably are, a very few who stand outside it; and I remember that Mr. Abbey, unwilling to be bound by its rules, resolved to do without it altogether, and to import his musicians from abroad. Soon, however, this determination placed him in a very awkward predicament: his first oboe fell ill, and for some time it was found impossible to replace him.

I have nothing but good to say of the Musical Union. The very slight disagreement which I once had with those of its members who played in my orchestra was arranged as soon as we had an opportunity of talking the matter over. If I have every reason to be satisfied with the Musical Union, I can equally say that this a.s.sociation showed itself well content with me.

While on the subject of American orchestras, I may add that their excellence is scarcely suspected by English amateurs. In England we have certainly an abundance of good orchestral players, but we have not so many musical centres; and, above all, we have not in London what New York has long possessed, a permanent orchestra of high merit under a first-rate conductor. Our orchestras in London are nearly always "scratch" affairs. The players are brought together anyhow, and not one of our concert societies gives more than eight concerts in the course of the year. Being paid so much a performance, our piece-work musicians make a great fuss about attending rehearsals; and they are always ready, if they can make a few shillings profit by it, to have themselves replaced by subst.i.tutes.

All really good orchestras must from the nature of the case be permanent ones, composed of players in receipt of regular salaries. Attendance at rehearsals is then taken as a matter of course, and no question of replacement by subst.i.tutes can be raised. The only English orchestra in which the conditions essential to a perfect _ensemble_ are to be found is the Manchester orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Halle.

A larger and better orchestra than the excellent one of Sir Charles Halle is that of M. Lamoureux.

Better even than the orchestra of M. Lamoureux is that of M. Colonne.

But I have no hesitation in saying that M. Colonne's orchestra is surpa.s.sed in fineness and fulness of tone, as also in force and delicacy of expression, by the American orchestra of 150 players conducted by Mr.

Theodore Thomas. The members of this orchestra are for the most part Germans, and the eminent conductor is himself, by race at least, a German. Putting aside, however, all question of nationality, I simply say that the orchestra directed by Mr. Theodore Thomas is the best I am acquainted with; and its high merit is due in a great measure to the permanence of the body. Its members work together habitually and constantly; they take rehearsals as part of their regular work; and they look to their occupation as players in the Theodore Thomas orchestra as their sole source of income. As for subst.i.tutes, Mr. Thomas would no more accept one than a military commander would accept subst.i.tutes among his officers.

There has from time to time been some talk of Mr. Theodore Thomas's unrivalled orchestra paying a visit to London, where its presence, apart from all question of the musical delight it would afford, would show our public what a good orchestra is, and our musical societies how a good orchestra ought to be formed and maintained.

Before taking leave of Mr. Theodore Thomas and of American orchestras generally, let me mention one remarkable peculiarity in connection with them. So penetrated are they with the spirit of equality that no one player in an orchestra is allowed to receive more than another; the first violin and the big drum are, in this respect, on precisely the same footing. In England we give so much to a first clarinet and something less to a second clarinet, and a leader will always receive extra terms. In America one player is held to be, in a pecuniary point of view, as good as another.

My season at the Academy commenced on the 22nd October--the same night as my rival's at the New Metropolitan Opera, to which subscriptions had been extended on a most liberal scale. In fact the whole of New York flocked there, as much to see the new building as to hear the performance.

On my opening night I presented _La Sonnambula_, when Mdme. Etelka Gerster, after an absence of two years, renewed her triumphs in America.

The rival house presented Gounod's _Faust_, with Christine Nilsson as "Margherita," Scalchi as "Siebel," Novara as "Mephistopheles," Del Puente as "Valentine," and Campanini as "Faust;" a fine cast and perfectly trained, since all these artists had played under my direction and did not even require a rehearsal. After a few nights I began to discover that the counter attraction of the new house was telling considerably against me, and I informed the Academy Directors of my inability to contend against my rival with any degree of success, unless I could have a small amount of backing.

After consultation, several stockholders signed a paper, each for a different amount, which totalled up to something like 4,500, which I had previously calculated would be about the amount required to defeat the enemy. This was guaranteed by them to the Bank of the Metropolis on the understanding that I should never draw more than 600 a week from it, and then only in case of need.

The Manager of the rival Opera-house had fired off all his guns the first night; and after a few evenings, as soon as the public had seen the interior of the new building, the receipts gradually began to decline. In the meanwhile, I was anxiously expecting notice of Adelina Patti's approaching arrival. I, therefore, arranged to charter sixteen large tug boats, covered with bunting, to meet the _Diva_; eight of them to steam up the bay on each side of the arriving steamer, and to toot off their steam whistles all the way along, accompanied by military bands. All was in readiness, and I was only waiting for a telegraphic notification. Some of the pilots at Sandy Hook, moreover, had promised to improvise a salute of twenty-one guns; and Arditi had written a Cantata for the occasion, which the chorus were to sing immediately on Patti's arrival.

By some unfortunate mistake, either from fog or otherwise, the steamer pa.s.sed Fire Island and landed _la Diva_ un.o.bserved at the dock, where there was not even a carriage to meet her. She got hustled by the crowd, and eventually reached her hotel with difficulty in a four-wheeler. The military bands had pa.s.sed the night awaiting the signal which I was to give them to board the tugs.

On learning of Mdme. Patti's arrival, I hurried up to the Windsor Hotel, when I was at once received.

"Is it not too bad?" she exclaimed, with a comical expression of annoyance. "It is a wonder that I was not left till now on the steamer.

As it was, by the merest chance one of my friends happened to come down to the dock and luckily espied me as I was wandering about trying to keep my feet warm, and a.s.sisted me into a four-wheeler. However, here I am. It is all over now, and I am quite comfortable and as happy as though twenty boats had come down to meet me."

She then agreed to make her _debut_ three days afterwards in _La Gazza Ladra_.

On the second night of the opera we had a brilliant audience for _Rigoletto_, Mdme. Gerster undertaking the part of "Gilda," which she sang with rare delicacy and brilliancy of vocalization, so that "Brava's!" rang throughout the entire audience.

My new tenor, Bertini, who likewise made his _debut_ on this occasion, produced but little effect, either vocally or dramatically. In the "La Donna e Mobile" he cracked on each of the high notes, whilst in the "Bella Figlia" quartet his voice broke in a most distressing manner when ascending to the B flat, causing loud laughter amongst the audience.

I was therefore under the necessity of sending him the following letter the next morning:--

"TO SIGNOR BERTINI.

"In consequence of the lamentable failure you met with on Wednesday evening last, the 24th inst., it is my painful duty to notify you that by reason of your inability to perform your contract, I hereby put an end to it. At the same time I request that you will return me the balance of the money that I advanced to you, amounting to 1,000 dollars.

"Yours, truly,

"(Signed) J. H. MAPLESON."

Of course he did not return my thousand dollars, but fell into the hands of some attorneys, who at once issued process against me for 50,000 dollars damages!