Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-04
ROSSINI.
How He Was Induced To Write The
Opera of -.OtheIlO.''

Rossini had just arrived in Naples. preceded
by great reputation. The first person whom
he met as he alighted from his carriage was.
as one may well believe, the impressariO of
San Carlo. BaTbaia came before the maeSta
his arms and his heart open, and, without Civ
Ing him time totake step or to speak word,
said:
"Ihave three propositions to make. and
hope that you will not object to one of them"
Il listen" replied ROsSini with his peculiarly
characteristic smile.
Il offer You my house for you and yours"
" i accept
81 offer my table for you and your friends"
" accept"
81 propose that you shall write me new
opera for my theatre"
a. do not accept that"
"What, you refuse to work for me?''
Neither for you nor for any one else. do
not wish To work any more at music
You are a fool. my dear"
sit is just as have the honor to tell YOU
And what are you going To do in Naples?"
81 am going to eat maccarOni and ices.
These are my passion"
..YOu shall have ices made by my lemona-
der. who was the best i'm Toledo, and myself
will make the maccaroni If you will tell me
Diable; this is getting seriousr'
But you will give HE an opera in ex-
Change"
I'VE shall seer
"Say in a month. two months, six months
any time Won like"
Let it be for six months
agreed"
I" Let's to supper"
baia was placed AT the disposition of ROSsin !;
the proprietor quite eclipsed himself, and the
celebrated maestro felt himself at home in the
fullest sense of the word. All friends, or even
Simple acquaintance, whom he met were in
yited without hesitation To the table OF Bar
baia, where ROssini did the honOrs with per-
feet ease. Sometimes even the latter com
planned that he could not find enough friends
TO bid to the festivities provided by his host,
scarcely could he assemble a dozen in spite of
all the advances made by society. The time
As to Barbaia, faithful to the role of cook
which he had imposed upon himself, he in
vented new dishes every day, emptied the bot
Ties of the oldest wines in his cellars, and
sasts LASTED a; al the strsngerS whom HON It PLEASED
his best friends Only, towards the close of the
repast with casual air and a delicate tact,
fruit and the cheese a few words about the
promised opera and the undOubted success of
But this oratorieal preeaution which the
honest impresSariO employed to remind his
guest of the debt he had contracted. these few
words fell from his lips without effect upon the
maeStro-llke the three terrible words at the
least OF BalthaZzar. Therefore Barbaa- whose
presence had been tolerated until then, was
politely requested by ROssini not to appear at
Meanwhile the months ran on the librettO
was long ago finished, but nothing more an
h h;Gnnesd tnad the composer was about to put
by champagne parties: hunting. fishing. rid
ing. were interchanged with promenades in
host, but there was not the least indication of
a note of music. Barbaia felt his chOler rising
twenty times day, became nervous. and had
an almost irresistible inclination to have a
scene. But he restrained himself for no one
more than he believed in the Incompatible ge-
Mus of ROSsini.
Barbaia kept silence for five months with
most exemplary resignation. But the morn
ing of the first day of the sixth month"; seeing
that he had no more time 10 lose nor discre-
lion to maintain, he drew the maestro inside
and he yentured on the following entreaty:
Now, my dear. do you know that it wants
but twenty-nine days of the time agreed
what time:" said Rossini, with the be-
wilderment of a man Ia whom one has adj
dressed an incomprehensible question in mis-
taking him for another.
The thirtieth of May
The thirtieth Of May?" with the same PAN
tomime)
Did you not promise me a new opera to be
sung on that day.
:. All, prOmiSeds''
"There is no question that YOU are PLAYING
establishment" cried the impresSario. come to
the end of his patience. Il have calmly en-
dured the delay. relying on the genius and ex-
dOwed you Now il is impossible to wait any
longer. must have my opera"
Gould We not re- arrange some old opera by
What are you thinking Of? The artists are
all engaged to sing In new opera.
.. You can can p pay them the penalty.
You can close the theatre
"YOu can send in your resignation"
"AD that is true up TO a certain point. But,
IL neither the artists, nor the public, nor the
king himself can force me to keep my prom
Use, have given my word. sir, and DOmenicO
Barbaia' word of honor has never failed.'
All. well. that II different"
And you promise to commence tO-mOr-
row"
Tomorrow il is impossible have an en-
gagement To fish at Fusaro."
Very well. said Barbaia. putting his hands
in hi- E.sf~ .xtsa'n rsnrS Il
Will see what part ii remains for me to take"
That evening Rossini dined with good appe-
fite, and did the honOrs at the table of the i'm
pressaTiO like a man who had utterly forgotten
The discussion of the morning. On retiring he
Particularly commanded his servant to awake
him at daybTeak, and TO prepare the boat for
Fusaro-after which he slept the sleep of the
Just.
five hundred bells which the fortunate city of
Naples possessed, and ROsSiniS servant had
not Yet gone To his master: the sun forced his
rays through the shutters Rossini awoke with
start. sat up, rubbed his eyes. aud pulled the
bell: the cord fell into his hands. He called
from the windows which looked into the court,
but the palace remained as mute as sera-
Clio. He tried the door Of his chamber, but the
door resisted all his endeay0rs: IL was bolted
from without. Then Rossini, returning TO the
court windows, set himself TO crying help,
treason. murder.'' He had not even the conso-
]ation of an echo Tor the response TO his COM
plants, the Palais of Barbaia being the deaf
est ediice on the globe.
There remained but one resource. which
was to jump from the fourth story but, be it
said to the praise Of Rossini, such an idea
never entered his head.
AT the end of a good hour. Barbaia showed
his cotton bonnet from a window of the third
floor: Rossini. who had not left the easement,
felt inclined to hurl tile al him. but con
tented himself with the delivery Of impreca-
lions.
"Doyou desire anything." asked the impress
sarlo, In a wheedling tone.
must be rele ased this Instant"
You Will be released when your opera Is
finished"
But this is an arbitrary sequestration."
Arbitrary as much as yon wish: but must
have that opera"
81 viii complain to all the artists, and we
shall seer'
Il will pay the penalty
Il will inform the public
a. will close the theatre
Il will go To the king HIMSELF
al will send In my resignation"
ROssini perceived that he was taken in his
own net. Therefore, like superior being,
changing his tone, his manners and his voice,
he Asked CALMLY. accent this DpaSaQtry