Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-25

and yellow Leaf-PIceOlOminf as
an ething about
Titiens and ParePa.
London Correspondent Boston Adyortiser.l
The elderly gentleman who tells us his
Musical Recollections Of the Last Hall
Century" in two expensive volumes, is
positive in his structures and the re-
verse of considerate in some Of his ref
erences to the living; but we may be
sure that in his profession there are
plenty who will be equally confident in
contradicting him. He states that the
drudgery which the dowager countess Of
Essex had to pass through under her
Italian master was so severe that il very
nearly broke her spirit, but she never
showed any signs Of any such distress.
This lady still displays her sympathy
with her old profession, and occasion
ally sings ballad in her family circle.
Some of the authors remarks upon
the glorious singer, Braham, OF whom !
have faint recollection, are not in ac-
cordance with the opinions of others OF
his cotemporaries Costa tells the story
that when he first heard Braham, the
latter sang Handels accompanied reci-
tatiye from "Jeptha, Deeper and
Deeper STILL - in which no singer ever
approached him. He sat just behind
Malibran, on the front Of the orchestra,
and, with open mouth, indicative of the
most earnest attention, lost not note
of that most Incompatible performance.
When Braham concluded with that burst
of agony on the words care no
more with which all who ever heard
him were completely carried away,
Costa, not understanding word OF the
text, asked Malibran in whisper and
in Italian, What does the man say2 ="
to which that versatile creature replied,
in the same language, on the instant,
Poor devil, it's sail upwith him Not
till long afterward did Costa understand
the information he asked for.
Henry Phillips was once the first Of
English bass singers, and for a long Sc
ries of years held his way, but on his
return from America he found it impos-
sible to maintain his popularity. He is
still living in London, and four or FIVE
years ago was actively engaged in bring
ing two daughters before the public.
One of these ladies has married and
retired from the profession; the other
remains on the stage.
Surprising to say, this author assures
us that Grisi was no musician, though
he allows that no artistic was ever more
conscientious in mastering the details OF
any part she undertook to play, and when
once she got the notes and words by
heart, and had impressed upon her mind
the necessities of the scenes, she
never forgot them. Her memory was as
prodigious as her study was rapid. At
the Crystal Palace, in July, 1861, the
author of these Minstrel Recollection"
heard Grisi sing. On retiring from the
orchestra, after peculiarly cold recep-
ton, there was not single person at
the foot of the orchestra to receive her
or to accompany her to her retiring
room II could imagine" he says,
what her feelings at the moment must
have been, she who had in former years
been accustomed to be thronged wher-
ever she appeared, aud to be the reoipi-
ent of adulation, often exaggerated as it
was fulsome, but was now literally de-
serted" He adds that, though he had
no personal acquaintance with her, he
could not resist the impulse of preced-
ing her and opening the door of the re-
tiring-room for her. Her look" he
says, as / did this and she passed out
of sight, is amongst the most painful Of
my recolleotions
Titiens, though her voice is approach
ing its decadence, surpasses in this
writer's opinion every other living ar
tiste.
Mile Parepa, when she went away to
the United States, left the post of first
English operatic and concert singer un-
occupied, and no one has yet stepped
into it.
With his estimate of Piccolomini, l
cordially concur. She was the greatest
imposter that ever presumed to present
herself before an Intelligent musical
audience as prima donua. She had
not an idea of the meaning of singing.
She could no more sing a scale than she
could move the monument. If it had
not been an insult to common sense,
whenever she came in contact with a
difficulty, the manner of her shaking
her little head, making dash at it,
and then scrambling helter skelter
through it, would have been amusing.
There was one thing, however, very
much to her credit--that she never de-
MED her incapacity, but rather honestly
and conscientiously admitted the fact,
On one occasion she was known indeed
to have said, They call me little impos-
ter, and they give me bouquets, and ap-
plauses and moneys; and why not be a
little imp osterT