The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-06
BY THE AUTHOR OF "QUEENs OF soNG.'

Of q fort,ine of one hundred thousand pounds.
He was, il unfortunately happened, totally lgno,
rant of even the mot ordinary Pr"cLlcat aGta.lso
the management of an oDeratic estaDllshment
and was obliged to depend on others Tor ADVICE
in the commonest matters connected with the
theatre.
the ROYAL italian Opera was commenced with
view to 1.-The effective representation OF operas
by the most eminent composers, without dts
tinction OF country" There was certain
anomaly involved in the title of the Royal
Italian Opera-but the works we're sung in
Italian so it passed unquestoned,
Everything was done on scale of almost un-
pa1alleled splendor and truly reckless prodigal'
ity. The young manager spared no expense in the
plans which he laid out for the production OF
the various ODeras-scenery, orchestra, decora-
tions, all we're magnificent. MN. Gr1eve and
Telbin we're the scene painters. The celebrated
Chef d'orchestra, Signor Costa, and his accom-
pshed artists we're retained, strengthened by
the assistance OF some OF IN the = most brilliant IAN
musicians of Italy, France, ana Germany. God
frey's military band was al'o engaged. Mr..
Alfred Mellon was leader OF the ballet. Every
department was well hued: 10 nearly every
singer in Europe Mr.. Delafeld offered engage
ments. The vocalists who accepted mis-
proposals were Mesdames Persiani Al
bonf, CASTELAR,, Grisi. and vardot; signori
dancers we're Mademoiselle Fabbri and Lucille
GRAIN.
The general management of the business
affairs of the theatre was entrusted to Mr..
Frederick Gye; and it could not have fallen into
better hands; for this gentleman had had great
experience, and he was well adapted, by his
practical knowledge, urbane and courteous man.
ners, and unfailing determination to preserve
discipline to conduct the affairs of an establish
ment like the Royal Italian Opera Mr.. Ponteau
was his subordinate looking to matters in front
of the house. The stage manager was Mr..
Alfred Harris.
One of the primary mistakes was the over
whelming expense entered into. With the hope
of retrenching the director was induced to
,.Nh 11v,a.v Toto A.
dismiss large number of servants and stage
upernumeraries-thus materially injuriug the
beauty of the groupings in some Of the operas
where numbers were Indispensable for effect,
such as the scene of the gathering of the clans
IN the Donna del Ldgo and the riot scene IN
the Hugue1OtS. The consequence was, that
when Mr.. Bum brought out the Lady Of
The Lake at Drury Lane, comparisons un-
favorable to the Royal Italian Opera were made
between the snlendOr of his scene representing
the gathering of tn1 clans, and the scanty
grouping on the stage representing the same
scene in the Donna del Ldgo.
The performances, however, were, as a whole,
of magnidcence which almost eclipsed those
of the older house, although Mr.. Lumley not
only had secured the great singer who had tie
preceding season driven London out of its
senses but had besides drawn together a most
excellent company, and brilliant daucers-Narie
Taglioni, Cerito, Rosati, Carlotta Grisi, and NJ.
ST. Leon. BY the production of La FdCOrItd,
Les HuguenOts, and other works, on scale OF
splendors never attempted before, the Royal
italian Opera was raised to the position OF being
OF the very first operate establishments in
Europe.
The announcement of Pauline Garcia's first
appearance created an immense sensation in
musical circles. Nine years before, when a girl
of eighteen, she made her debut in England
at Her Majesty's Theatre. She had then, In the
character of "Desdemona," achieved vertable
triumph. The girl of eighteen was, by universal
acclamation, placed in the same rank
with her ssier Maria Malbran, with
Pasta, and with all the famous voca.
lists who had preceded her. She had
appeared again the year subsequent to hel
marriage, lS4l. By lS4S her genius had matured
she had passed from triumph to triumph in all
the leading continental cities. So much had
been predicted of her before she appeared, thai
the house was crowded on her first night. She
came before the public trammelled by circum
stances which would have entaied irretreyable
ruin on an Interior singer; her marvellous genius
alone enabled her to surmount these cruel dis
advantages So agitated was she when she
stepped on the stage, that her trembling
was apparent to all parts of the house. II
was not until she had been heard in the Hugte
nots that she gained her right position. At the
end of the season GuiAQunle Tell was pro
duced. There was an intense excitement IN the
musical world when this opera was annouced
Nothing was neglected by the manager which
could render the performance irreproachable
The band and chorus were faultless, the mise el
scene magnificent, the singers admirable-but
from variety OF causes, the opera was failure
the Chief reason perhaps being that 1t was
brought out at the very close o the season.
The expenses had been almost reckless. In
the vocal department, f33, $40 had been lai(
out: on the ballet, fSl05. One dancer alone
Lucille Grain, had received fll20. The orches
ira had cost fl0,04S.
When the ason terminated rumors were Gil
culated speaking of utter ruin as certain. Fo
once, rumor was correct in Its surmlses.
Mr.. Lumley had strained every nerve to carr
his establishment successfully through the sef
son. The command of the orchestra was cor
fded to MIR. Balfe-an appointment which me
with The unanimous appreciation of the sui
scIibers and of the general public. Mr.. Sim
Reeves essayed the Italian stage as Carlo, i
for mis- favorite part of "Edgardo" having bee
taken by Signor Gardoni, he threw up his engag,
ment in anger. The trial was of unusual diff
Guilty, as it was then of rare occurrence that a
English singer ventured on the boards of th
Italian stage. The season closed with ever
outward signs oil prosperity; yet embarras
ments were harassing the Director on all sides
Mr.. Delaheld renewed his experiment In tn
following year, wisely determining TO reduC
his expenses. At the very outset he committe
an error, in allowing Alboni to 90 over to He
Majesty's Theatre. The great interest of th
season, in London as well as in Paris was ceI
tired in lie PrOphete. Madame Viardot perorme
She had taken the character when ID
work was brought out in Paris Th
day after the first representation Meye
beer wrote deeply grateful and graf
lying letter to the prima donna. 81 ceased lC
an instant 10 remember that was the author
the WORK." ne SAID. You had transformed m
into GREATNESS and excited auditor OF yoI
impassioned and truthful accents" What pTaii
this was, coming from Meyerbeer need not
suggested TO those who knew ANYTHING OF Il
fastdious disposition of the great conpose
After the fourth representation Mr.. Harris we