The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-28
An Operatic CoIlapse.
TIE STORY AS TOLD BY ONE OF THE suRv
yORS

4
TIE STORY AS TOLD BY ONE OF THE SURvI-
y0RS.
NEW York. December 26.-Signor Talto,
late OF "The Tagliapietra Grand Italian
Opera Company" relates TO Herdtd re-
porter the history Of perhaps the most dis
astrous operate enterprise that was ever
launched on the road in this or probably
any other country. One would naturally
| think, he says, that with a company COM
| priSing Mile. Ltta and Mile. RoSsetti, as
prime donna; Miss Mathide Phillips, con-
traIto; BaldanZa and himself. tenor; Tag
liapietra and GOttschalk, baritonI; and
the celebrated buffo, Signor PapinI. not to
mention auXi!iaries. fifty in number. that
sufficient money would be realized to at
least pay current expenses, If not TO insure
all the professionals engaged receiving their
stipulated salaries. But such was not the
case. Signor Talto then proceeds:
Although | have performed work du-
ring this tour that would make Giuglini
shudder or Mario fall into convuSions,
you NAV take 1t as fact that since the 21St
OF SeDteiuber have not received a weeks
salary from the disciple OF a maccaroni diet
under whose auspices the company started
out. The incapable and rogusb vagabond
took Us 10 Halifax for our initial perform
ance, aDd the appreciation or the frigid iu-
habitants of this delightful place signlted
their appreciation OF Italian opera by de-
posting in the bOX-ofice upward Of $1,000
during the week. In the course OF our tour
we visited the following places: From Hall
fax To st. Johns, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit.
Toledo, indianapolis, Columbus. Nash
| willie, Montgomery, New Orleans. Houston,
San Antonio, Galveston, Austin, Dallas,
Sherman, Paris, Shreveport, Marshall, Lit
I . 10 Mpmnhio apd ~ Mpmnhis
am bound to confess that | turned tail.
There is limit to human endurance, and
though in the face Of my brother tenor Bal
danza's desertion, the decentralization OF the
orchestra, including the hight OF the con-
ductOr and the hurried departure OF the first
flute, passing over with mere reference the
swaIIow.like departure Of Mile. Lltta and
Mile. Rossetti, acted Oh a conclusion that
my few remaining mental faculties had en-
abled me to arrive at-that the singing OF
three operas within twenty-fOur hours
would inevitably end in the destruction Of
a voice that, whatever its operate value
might be, had entailed upon myself years of
careful study in assisting 10 its maturiiy!"
"4}ut to what do you attribute the failure
OF the enterprise, SignorY" said the re-
porter.
"Well, now you ask me delicate qucs-
ton" was the reply. But shall answer
il If only i'm the interest OF my sister and
brother professionally. was given TO un-
derstand that the management possessed the
necessary capital TO run an expensive and
large company, as ours was, Independent OF
the first weeks receipts. As matter of
fact. we only got away from Halifax by the
skin OF our teeth. In Toronto SignOr
Tagliapietra, the responsible and actual
manager, was arrested by Mile. Rossetti for
her salary, which was compromised by his
giving bill at three months for
Sl0G upon New York. To leave De-
trOit the young Grau mortgaged the
costumes. unknown TO the costumer, to pay
our railway fares to Toledo. Money was
advanced by Bidwell, Of the st. Charles
Theatre, New Orleans, to carry us from
Toledo to New Orleans. In the mean time,
the several members OF the company suffered
many humllations, but each heart beat high
in view OF the glorious visions OF generous
audiences which the advance agent, by let
ter aud telegram, assured us were eagerly
awaiting our arrival. Nor could we doubt
the golden story, for we were assured that
$4,000 was guaranteed, be our success little
or great in New Orleans; but at the end OF
one week in that city there was no money
for the company, and our baggage was
ruthlessly seized by the proprietor OF the
ST. Charles Hotel, whose faith In the sweet
singers Of the South was extremely limited.
Tagliapetra, however, succeeded IN per-
suading victim after vctim-for In view OF
subsequent events can call them nothing
else-in pushing us from town to town,
until finally at Memphis we came to dead
lock. Here we played for two nights under
the most depressing cI cumstanees, and with
the most contemplate receipts. The mar
velous acquisitye powers of our gifted
baritone manager being exhausted, he left
us all to do the best we could. On behalf
OF my unfortunate cOnfrereS l organized
concert under the auspices OF the Memphis
CluD, and the few remaining principal
artists sang at this 'lpoSt-mOrtem festival.
About $500 was realized and distributed
among my good but unfortunate c0ntre1S,
and having received an offer by telegram to
assume the principal tenor part in Lougfel-
lows Mask of Pandora it dawned upon
my mind that charity begins at home, and
/ booked myself for your hOsptable city,"