The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-18
Irrom tho philadelphia T;lmcs.l

opportunity is afforded to peep behind the
| scenes. To the connoisseur in Italian melc-
dies II Trovatore presents the greatest and
probably richest variety, while the
argument itself is overaowing with melt
ing pathos. The agonizing situations
| OF poor Azucena, the self-sacrifcing dero-
ton OF Leonora, the feats Of the bold, in
triguing Di Luna, and the heroism and ex-
| ecution Of Manrico are all encircled with
the fascination OF mystery, sympathy, and
despair. From the first to the ending Of
this brilliant masterpiece Of Verdi the In
tensest interest is experienced by those who
witness and listen to it from before the cur
tain. Especially Is this true of the pI otluc-
tions in which Signor Brignoli, the "night-
ingale Of tenors," takes part, and assisted
prima donne rs Palmieri and Henne. the
effect was doubly enchanting MS musical
tragedy.
To one behind the scenes, however, mat
ters assume q very extraordinary transpo-
sition. Long before the curtain rolls up on
the first act, disclosing troupe OF infuri-
ated soldicry listening with eagerness to the
tale of gypsy horror which is being re-
counted by the redoubtable Fernando, the
seli-Samc band, their chief included, was en-
gagged in peering through the apertures OF
the curtain, giggling at the assembling
auditors. Fernando would occasionally
run over the scales, and occupy the
interim with lemon-sucking. The stage
carpenters were busily engaged in
erecting platform upon which Manrico
was to appear and surprise his supposed
faithlesS Lconora ttte-a-ttte with the bearded
count, while the count himself stood by giv-
ing occasional directions in the matter.
Scores Of maidens, some young and pretty,
others in "tle serc and yellow leaf" ira
versed the stage, humming incongruous
choruses, and winking at the ferocious SOL
dicrs Of Fernando. Manrico was in the
ereen-room above, engaged in the laborious
task OF drawing on remarkably tight pair
OF tights and venting imprecati0ns upon
the heads Of hosiery dealers in general.
As the time drew near for the opening of
the opera the stage manager began to grow
excited. He is Il short, full-blooded man,
and seemed especially fitted by Providence
for the creation OF panics. Choleric in the
eNtrenic he seemed on the verge OF eXplo-
sion when the great tenore robusto prom
ised to keep the stage waiting. 'Nere ish
Signor Brignoli? ?" he cried, rushing hither
and yon, without the slightest appearance of
mental guidance; ''mine Gott in Himmel,
we're is he!" At length the old mans frenzy
was in some degree subsidized by musical
outburst from the region Of the "flies."
and in another moment the cloaked form OF
the famous tenor emerged from side en-
trance to the stage. "Tra, Ia, la, Ia! :"
shouted the latter. "Ah, Meester Brignoli,
you did most vosh scared me So" said the
manager, meekly. The former smiled,
Ira Ia la-laaed" once or twice, and stalk
ed over to the corner OF the stage, where
sl,o hat hn<- ri
all, at the piano. "You wash in goot voice
tonight, Signor,' said the latter. "Oui,
oui,' replied. the Signor. "My voice is
better than ever, and I'll sing better to-
night than I have for twenty years. Play
me bar or two" And in gentlest pianis-
simo Imaginable Brignoli warbled the sere-
made he was soon to "render to the au di-
cnce.'
The singers gathered round him and ap-
plauded, the manager slapped him on the
shoulder heartily and shrieked out, "Bra-
vissimo," and Brignoi himself took hop,
skip, and Jump across the stage to air his
own enthusiasm, and came near knocking
down sergeant Of supers. In nanother mo-
mcnt the gong was sounded, the orchestra
without " struck up" the opening bars OF
the brief overture, and everybody began
looking as savage as the inroads made upon
them by civilization permitted. Brisnoli
and the Count stood conversing in one OF
the exits, awaiting their proper time to APP
pear.
In rendering the serenade some time
afterwards Brlgnoli, who was shielded from
the view Of the audience by intervening
scenery, kept time with his own delicious
music by pounding Fernando on the back.
Palmieri stood opposite, waving to him
encouragements from her dainty fan, and
Azucena, who was so soon to melt her audi
tors with her tale Of sorrow, was giving
waiting-maid ga piece Of her mind'' for
not having her brush and looking-glass in
readiness. 8 It's positively shocking" said
she. "Just to think OF it is enough to set
one out OF ones head. A fine-looking gypsy
I'll make without chance to sec whether
my face has been painted copper-color or
| red, white, and blue"
"Whar'S them air anwils? 2" shouted an
elderly heavyweight, who turned out to be
the captain OF the supers and chief mogul Of
the royal armies. He said he wanted the
timated q lurking desire to ''put head on
somebody" if these instruments OF musical
torture didn't soon "turn up.''
In the scene where NIanrico has the af-
fecting parting with his supposed mother
he rushed from the stage with all the fury
of tragic determination, but didn't miss the
opportunity q moment afterwards to knock
the managers hat over his eyes.
Azucena lay down and tainted till the
curtain went down, and then walked Oft
the stage to put the finishing touch to the
ear.drums of her waiting-maid. Palmieri
went upstairs and gargled her throat for
the next act, and Fernando asked the ltmeS
representative how he thought Ohio would
20. The prison scene, which looks so dole
ful and threatening from without, was
quite Jolly behind the boards. Prior to
singing "Oh, how I sigh to rest me-"
Brignoli engaged in little exercise OF the
manly art with the prompter, in which the
latter was badly worsted; and when ne
struck the last high, glorious note, he bal
anced himself on one leg, and would proba-
bly, have attempted somersault but for the
crowding about him of the monks who had
chanted his death-knell. These monks wore
high hats, and had figured in various phases
of human character during the evening.
"If anybody calls for me-" said Miss
Henne (Azucena), as she bounced out OF the
Locust-Street stage door, "iust be good
enough to tell them 1've gone"
A KANSAS MAMMoTH.-The Wayerly IN.
" Enterprise prints letter from physi-
clan residing in HOLLYWOOD, Jewell county,
Kansas, which says: s' The bones OF mann
moth have been discovered in ravine about