, 1877-01-21
MUSIC.


BY great reputation. Tho first person who
lie met as he alightcd from his carriage was,
one may well believe, the impresario Of S.
Carlo Barbaia came before the maestro, i
arms and his heart open, and, without giyil
him time to take step or to speak word, sail
II liuye three propositions to make, and
hope that you will not object to one OF them
~ listcn," responded Rossini, with his .
culia-ly characteristic smile.
II offer you my house for you and yours"
| :" I accept.".
81 otrer my table for you aud your friends. y
~ accept''
"l propose that you shall write mo 4 ne
opera for my theatre"
! " do not accept that.''
"What! you refuse to work for me?''
" Neither for you nor for any one else. I d
not wish to work any more at music"
= You are fool, my dcar.''
"1t is just Us I have the honor to tell you.n
| land what are you going to do in Naples!"
! ~ am going to cat lnacaroni aud ices. Thcs
are mypassion."
-"You shall hare ices made by MIR limonadier
! who WAS the best in Toledo, and myself vii
make the macaroni it you will tell me now 70,
! like it.''
"Diable! this is getting serious"
''But you will give INC IN opera in exchange? =
"We shall scc.'
"Say III 4 month, two months, six months
any time you likc.n
"Let it be for SIX months"
"Agrccd"
''Lct's to supper"
From that same evening the mansion Of Bar
baia was placed at the disposition OF Rossini;
the proprietor quite cclipsed himself, and the
celebrated maestro felt himself At home in the
fullest sense Of the word. All the friends OF
even simple acQuaiutances whom he
met were invited without hesitancy
to the table of Barbaia, where Rossini
did the llonors with perfect ease. Sometimes
the latter even complained that lie could not
find enough friends to bid to the festivities pro-
vided BY his host, scarcely could he assemble
dozen in spite Of all the advances made by So
ciety. The time was unreasonable.
AS TO Barbaia, faithful to the role Of cook
which be had imposed upon himself, lle invented
ne* dishes every day, emptied the bottles OF
The oldest wines in his cellars, and feastcd all
the strangers whom it pleased Rossini to bring
in, though they had all been his best friends.
Only, towards the close of the rcpast, with "A
casual air, aud delicate tact and Smiling lips.
be slipped in between the fruit and the cheese i
few words about the promised opera and the un-
doubted SUCCESS OF it.
But this oratorica precaution which the hon.
est impresario employed to remind his r1,est' Of
the debt he had contracted, these few words fel1
from his lips without effect upon the maestro
like the thrce terrible words ct the feast of
Balthazzar Therefore Barbaia, whose presence
had been tolerated until then, was politely re-
questcd BY Rossini not to appear at destcrt.
Meanwhile the months ran on, the llbretto
was long ago finished, but nuth1pg more an
that the composer was about In mt
himself to work. The dinners we're s11cceeGed
by champagne parties; hunting, fishing, riding.
were iuterchanged with promcnades in tI1e widn
pleasure grounds of the generous I,ost.-bnt
there was not the least Indication of note Of
music. Barbaia felt his cholcr rising twenty
times day, became nervous, and had m al,nost
irresistible inclination to have scene, But hc
Festralned himself, Tor no one more than he
believed in the Incompatible genius of Rossini. |
Barbaia kept silence for five months with most |
Exemplary resignation. But the morning OF the |
10 more time to lose nor discretion tn ,no;"1
ain, he drew the maestro aside md hc ycntured
N the following entreaty:
Now, my dear, do you know that it wants
'ut twenty y-nine days OF the time agreed upopl, |
what times" said kossini, with the bcwil-
lerment OF man to whom one has addressed |
u 'nco!!Iptenens'ole question IN mtstaklng him
or another. az
Inc thlrt!eth OF May"
nc thlFticth OIL Alay:' with the same pan-
omlme)
" Did you not promise me a new opera to be |
ung on that days"
:. mAh! .;a lpromiscd!"
stonshment," cried the inprcsario, come to
le end Of his patience; " "Ihavc calmly endured
1c delay, relying on the genius aud extreme
'cfty for work with which God has endowed
ou. Now, it is impossible to wait any longer,
must have my opera"
"Conld VIC not rearrangc some old opera bv
hanging the ttle?''
What are you thinking Of? The artists are
engaged to sing in a new opcra!''
- on can pay them the penalty''
" And the public'''
You eau close the theatrc.''
~ And the king!''
" You can send in your resignation"
" II that is true up to certain point But.
neither the artists, nor the public, nor tho
ing himself cannot force me to keep NV
omisc, ! have given my word, sir. and ,
omenico Barbaia's word NJ honor hos ,a4,as -au
He'd"
- - AN, Wcll, that is different.''
y AND you promise to commence ro-morrow?n =
Tomorrow it is impossible; I have an en- :
cement to fish at Fusaro.''
: very well" sa!d Barbaia, putting his hands 2
his pockets, 4we'll not sneaE of i aga;n +
\ see what part it remains for me to take,, a