The New York herald., 1870-08-14
Qneens Of the Lyric Stage and Their
American Experience.
A Leaf from the Book Of an
Impresario.
Nalibran, Bishop, Lind, Sontag, Grisi, Parodi,
La Grange Patti, PiccolcmiEi, k,llcgg.
TEE PAST AND PRESENT OF OPERA.


the prisnd donna, which old Lnn9us would proba-
oily classify under the head OF cansara1 raita0ats
or Ieyafa c0ntrdrfa. Tins species OF lyric horicul-
ture demands such unrcmitting care, attention and
fOrbearance from the managerial gardener that few
are willing or competent 10 undertake the superin
tendence OF such tender, wayward charge. Yet
we are content to forget and forgive the imperous-
ness nckleness ana thousand ana faults of the
pT,saa donna in reverence and admiration OF the
nobility and grandeur OF her mission. Music is the
highest form OF expression that man Is capable OF,
and is ever pure and elevated. No matter what the
subject NAV be that it Illustrates music always en-
MOBILES it, Be in the church. In the parlor, before
the footghts or at the concerr, music never loses
lis claim TO the title OF the divine art. Bat
its chief exponent is the human voice, with
which no instrument ever designed by the
skill OF stand comparison. In fact all other
instruments OF music endeayor 10 initiate this won
derfu organ supplied by nature and are subservient
10 It. And the various kinds OF voices the soprano
stands preeminent. The tenor ana bass have their
charms and the deep, sympathetic tones OF the con-
talto touch the heart but the soprano alone eectri
hes cDthuses, carries away in triumph heart Judg-
ment and cold reasoning. In view OF the approach
Ing visit Of one who is acknowledged the queen OF
songstresses at present. ana who In two or three
short seasons sprang from obscurity into the fun
blaze OF lyrical sovereignty, it viii be Interesting for
the readers OF the HERALD learn few facts about
her predecessors in this country. The life OF a
pr-ifna dOn1a and the career OF Italian opera In
America abound III strange vicissitudes and events
MALIBRAN.
II we cannot claim America az the birthplace OF
Maria Felicia Garcia, better known hy the name
which brief ana nl-starred union conferred upon
-Mahbran-we can congratulate ourselves on
being the first to applaud and encourage her In her
CARRIER steps towards the temple Of fame AT seven
teen years OF age the walls of Castle Garden Opera
House resounded with the thrilling voice OF the
most glorious Desdemona that the world heard,
while her father appeared as the jealous Moor. She
made her first appearance in the fall OF 1926. OF
her wondrous voice 1t was said 'to great heXIbiiity
she adds delicacy of expression We have never
heard equaled and her lower tones are
as soft and melodous as the upper notes OF her
voice. nor is there any apparent effort or strain in
producing that articulation by which every OF
them Is distinctly heard. When 10 perfections
we add great feeling, think we have said
enough" Her visit 10 the United States, notwith-
standing the deep-seated admiration and wild en-
thusiasm OF the public tor her, was sadGened by her
1nckless marriage, which the cause OF mucn sur
1ering to her, and probably had no little share in
limiting her life to the brief span OF twenty yeght
years. Her career was not one Of undislurbed SOW
reignty on the stage for she had TO enter lists
with ScDtag, Grisi and other deatbless artists.
She was a remarkable linguist, for which she gave
on one occasion the following naive explanation:-
"I was born at Paris; my father was a Spaniard;
therefore French and Spanish learned as every
child learns a language. Early went to England
and after residing there years, where stndied
Your language closely went to the United states;
there my English was kept up-n0t, i believe. I'm.
proved The Italian Opera House has been the
dIe in wi wa I how
acquired that might grasp and enjoy its musical
wealth. There that Is the history OF my being so
learned" Many great singers have warbled to de-
lighted audiences within the past fory-6ve years,
but none can ever remove nom the minds Of those
who heard her. the memory Of the voice OF Maria
Felicia Garcia.
A significant proof OF the precarious life which
Italian opera leads in this country may be seen In
the fact that when Manuel Garcia, the father OF
Malibran and manager OF the company, made up his
accounts a, the end OF the season lie found himself
exactly five dollars loser. II take into account
that he was tenor and his daughter priqld donna
and the the most brilliant and artis-
ticaly successful ever known in New York, we can
form an idea Of the desperate nature OF an impre-
sarios occupation.
ANNA BISHOP.
II is now over thlrty-one years since young
aspirant after lyric honors ventured for the first
time to essay her powers in pubic, In company with
such artists as Grsi, VarlOt Garcia, PerstanI.
Rubini, Tamburlni and Lablache. Thalberg and
Dohler sat at the pianos, and Bochsa, the King OF
harpists, there with his iavorte instrument
1t was his own benefit concert anu he determined
TO Introduce the rising star, in whom he took
. great interest," this occasion to the
public. Not the MONDAY spiendor Of
the artists 10y whom she was surrounded could
dim the luslre of Anna RshOD's talents and she
won the favor OF the public at She came to
this country III 1S47 and made concert tour through
the States. As baladist she her way at once
into the iavor of the American public, and her
turn twelve years later, after conceruzng around
the world, signalized by hearty welcome show
ing what firm hold she had taken on the American
public. Probably no pytDta donna ever lived before
whose career was so full OF romance and adventure
as that of Madame Bishop AS an exponent OF
classical music OF the most severe and elevated
sch ools, she has always held a foremost place on
tne stage. Then she has The facility OF descending
~ the level oI the simplest ballad which she
ders with chdlike tenderness and grace. she Is
once more among MS not having found III all her
travels over the word home 10 compare with Ia
07unde repubiiQue.
sTEfFANoGE, BosIo TEDEsco.
In the summer OF 1850 ScnOr Marty brought 10 this
country an Italian opera troupe which was probably,
in the number OF great artists 1t comprised the best
ever heard here. Three prime donfe, stefanone,
BosIo and Teoesco; the wonderful tenOrs, saiv ana
Bettini, tie less famed baritone and bassO, Badl
All and Marini were III this extraordinary company
New YORK was taken by storm; but, rs usual, the
season was pecuniary loss, the price OF ADMISSION
NJ Castle Garden beng fixed at only nifty cents Ste1
fanOne was an admirable artlst, with draw
10 her undOubted value, being subject tn Its and
commissions These OF course, caused her to be un-
able to appear before the pubic often at a time when
the manager had no provision made Tor substitute
The chef qualities OF TeGescO's voice were power,
grandeur ana argeness. Angelina Bosio became d
reignIng favorlte III New YORK aud had no superior
as true artist. But company, as might be eX-
pected with three such PRIME doh'te IN 1t, was
serious responsibility 10 any manager. They led the
lives which popularity ascribed to lelines OF the
Kilkenny persuasion, and after three months the
management found the alarming deficit OF ST. 900 III
his treasury. Thus the best operate company ever
collected III the United States failed at the lowest
prices ever asked Tor admission 10 such style or