Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-13
ITALIAN OPERA.
MapIesOn's Company for the Coming
SeasOn-His Prospects.

New YORK, October III. H. Mapleson
the director Of the Italian opera, arrived in
this city Sunday by the steamer City oil
Chester, with the following members of his
company: Signor Arditi, Angelo, Cledio,
Francesca, Gslassi, Isaie, Menti, w. Mierz-
whisky, Rinsldini and Zesrini, and Mile
Berghi, Mad. Cavalszzi, Nine. Galsssi and
Mile. Savio.
"Do you anticipate successful season this
year?" Tribune reported asked him to-
night.
u am not going TO say anything about n.
| have made promises to the public in times
gone by, and then the press has found fault
with me; the result of this is that ! am like
the boy who cried wolf so often that when
the wolf did come his cries were of no avail
L am simply going to do what you Ameri-
cans call my level best to give good opera.
/ hope that The critics will not be hypercrit-
zeal. 1t seems 10 me that they might con-
slider the general musical work of perform
ance rather than lie in wait all the evening
for false note in the tenor's voice or q
single ragged passage in the orchestral work,
and then PRONOUNCE upon that. it seems 10
me, too, that the critics in America are COM
pairing the performances of opera with
standard imaginary and unattainable. They
do not compare our performances with those
of the best houses abroad, principally be-
cause they do not know anything about how
opera is given in Vienna, Dresden, Berlin,
St. Petersburg and Paris. 1t would be ad-
vsntsgeous for some of them TO visit some of
these places. OF course they cant do il at
their own expense, but i would gladly con-
tribute $1,000 toward fund for the purpose
OF paying their expenses. II would be good
thing for me, for then they would find out
how good my performances are, and i assure
you hat nowhere on the continent of Europe
are better performances OF Italian opera
given than in the Academy of Music in this
city"
at is understood that with the exception
of Patti you have no great stagers with You
this season."
mo; have no 'stagers,' if that is what
you mean, but my fingers are excellent
They must be, TO sing with Patti and not be
eclipsed. Patti is diamond, but the public
will find her set among other jewels / in
tend 10 give good general performances this
year, with a good ballet, good chorus and
a good orchestra" i
"What about the new tenor?"
"Mierzwinski? Oh, be is an excellent
Tenor; he has splendid voice; be can give
The American public big chest notes 10 their |
hearts content, and he can sing tenor pas
sages with quite as much expression as Cam
psnini. He is fine actor, too, and a thor
ough gentleman, whom / should be proud TO |
introduce In the best society. Campanini, |
by the way, is resting and will do ne more |
work until he has recovered from the effects |
IF the severe strain of last seasons labor. |
He will always be under my management,
ind has refused several good offers to leave |
ne. The new contralto, Nine. Sofia Scalchi, |
has been a reigning favoriie in London for |
org time 1 have no doubt that she will |
become great tavorite here. l prefer not |
o say anything about my other people, but /
wish to wait, and let the public judge for |
tselfn
Are you going to produce any new OPP
rss?'' ~
Nothing new, but some that have not |
'een done for so long that they will look as
,ood as new. ! shall present Meyerbeer's
pEtoile du Nord, with Patti as tCatsrina;'
he same composers lie Rfophtte, Donizefti's
.gcreziG BOrgiq, and Rossiniis Sezairamids
These are all grand works, with plenty of /
opportunities for stage effects. There are
% new operas 10 produce. There were one
r wo tried in London last season, but they
'ere failures. Gouled has half promised
o write me a new opers, and Verdi ia ready
D go TO work on one If can find him the
COX. / hope, on the whole, 10 have a sea-
on satisfactory TO myself and to The public"