The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-04
piee0losnint.
From The Pbll.dslphis Pres

"a pile OF money, ~ now IN view j Ofk, hnp
made her debut at the Academy Of Music
there last night. As she IL singer OF I'M
doubted ability. one would have thought that
the Manager who has imported her would
have eschewed that preliminary BarnnmiziDg
which raised Jenny iind--"tbat angel" AZ
the exhibitor Of the woody horse admiringly
called her---tO the seventh heaven OF popu
larity. On the contrary, the puff, direct and
indirect, has been freely employed, and the
result must be notoricty and newspaper fame,
which may have the expected effect upon the
multitude. One Of the New York papers
declares that her expected appearance hal
created "gcnuinc excitement" We admit
the (urors, but doubt whether il is legit
mate.
Complaints have been largely made,
through the press that though intending
purchasers were early at the box Office OF
the Academy, they were unable 10 ATTAIN
some Of the new private boxes and parqad
seats which were in the hands Of spectators
who demanded very high premiums. The
Manager replies that these premiums were
exacted by an organized body Of dealers in
opera tickets, who buy up a great many
n ~
and In which "they are aided by the servants
and bar keepers Of nearly all the principal
hotels, who are in the habit Of selling tickets
10 strangers at nm advance upon the regular
prices. 10 remedy this the Manager pro
mi@s, Lencciorth TO "sell only half on the
day preceding the opera, and the balance
on the day Of performance, retaining, at the
same time, d sufficient number for the even
ing sales
As Signora Piccolomni will certainly np-
pear before Philadelphia audience, we may
M well CRAFTY some Of our readers by telling
them who shc is, and on what qualifications,
M a dramatic vocalist, she rests her claim to
their applnuse--oDd dollars.
Maria PiccolonIni, born at Sienna in
1885. IL now only twenty three years old,
and has been fully six years before the pub.
lie. having first appeared at Florence, in
1852. in Donzctti's opera OF "lncrczia
| Horga"
Her family rank among the most ancient
| IN Tuscany. Two Of them have occupied the
Papal Chair. (i'ins II and Plus ILL., and
| her uncle, venerable gentleman well known
| 10 Rome Tor hs appreciation OF fine arts,
aud biz enthusiasm for music, is the we'll
| known Cardinal riccolomin Ga the ltal.
inn principle of children and grand children
participating in the family honors Maria
| l'iccolomini mny claim the honorary title Of
| Princess. Asa professional singer, she ia
content with the humber and more appro-
pirate rank OF SigDOra, AZ IA private gentle
woman.
While yet child the Piccolomiui had 40
much promise. that IT was pretty evident
the bias OF her mind was towards dramatic
expression whether IA an actress or n sing.
| cr When she entered her tcens IL was
clear that her ability was likely to be de-
velopcd in the latter capacity. Her parents
had the good sense not to discourage her cv-
ident prediction. and placed her under The
| tuition of Rom II. who. among the singing.
masters in Italy, holds the same superiority
as has been gained by Garcia, in Paris,
| Her voice was No fine and her aptitude 80
| great that she made her first appearance,
| in her seventeenth year. M "lhcreza Bor.
gia. at a second class theatre in Florence,
called the tnrignan. Her success was
great immediate. and assured. The die was
| thrown and was winning cast. Hence
| forth Maria i'iccoomlui wasa public singer
From Florence she started, in 1852, on u
professional tour through Italy, performing
at Rome. Palermo, Verona and Turin At
this last place, she appeared IN II la Ira
| viata, and threw herself into the character
! (rcy0,ing ~ IL must be 10 yir,uons mind)
with an lntuItlyc perception Of the effects
which in the acting Va we'll as the singing,
ARE required to make il impressive
These four years Of practice were ot i'm
mense advantage to the young singer just
ny, on the dramatic stage, that probation
called roughing is in the provinces " is OF
| usc 10 eq actor. she learned the manage
mont of her voice she had constant pra,.
ticc IN singing, under the criticism OF audi.
cuccs to whom music is second nature. a. II
were; she acquired the htd OF acting
which singers 81 much ncglcc,--as in the
casc Of lirignoli, Tor example, who cannot
walk the stage without being laughed at for
| his clumsy awkwafdncss-- and she became
mistress of many OF the numerous methods
by which judlcious bye play gives etftc, TO
vocal expression Al last. IN $50, a, the
age Of twenty one, she was engaged by Mr..
I.umlcy actually by lorci Ward. the actual
lesscc) 10 appear nj her Majcstys Theatre.
in London.
At that opera house, To be merely Gu
gagged rs leading P,nad donna, Is IA much
presumption Of ability, "a to be entered
for one Of the great raos ON the English
turf is Of the blood and speed of horse.
Success nj the Opra house TO carry out
the comparison) wins honor and money. jus,
as the horse which comes in ahead for the
Derby. ut Epson. obtains tor his own large
stakes and what plsmel calls {" the blue
ribbaud Of the turf
Il was in la Travia,a" tina, Maria Pic
colomIni made her debut in London. IL is
character which she sings and acts admir-.
ably, and she made decidedly ,riumphan,
impression. In one evening, her reputation
az u first class dramatic vocalis, was estab-
lished. beyond doubt. This pre-eminence
she maintained during the whole season.
Esfrspnully alS, she VIVA very rnptlar an,,,,,,