The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-06
BRIGNoLTS DEATH.
RecoIlectiOns of the Great TenOr-Fus Pride
in His Profession.
Philadelphia Press.


Philadelphia Press.
A dispatch from New York says that the body
of SignOr Brignoli, the greatest of all tenors,
yesterday lay in Room 80, of the Everett House,
lncased IN a temporary easket. Many OF the
renowned singers most intimate friends and
former associates on the stage came to view the
remains. Among them were several ladies, who
wept freely and showed every sign of heartfelt
sorrow. Beside the body sat young Meyer, the
tenor, who came from the West to study with
Brignoli and assist him in his musical work.
The dead singers friends were busy yesterday,
pertectlng arrangements for the funeral, which
will probably take place on Monday.
The death of Signor Pasqualino Brignoli was
the chief topic of conversation in musical and
theatrical circles in Philadelphia yesterday.
Brignoi was very much attached to this city,
and had a great many friends and admirers here.
His earliest appearance in the Quaker City
was made at the opening Of the Academy
of Music on January IA, 1856. He was at that
time approaching the height of his fame. One of
Phladelphias oldestloverso of the opera. said yes
terday, In describing the occasion: The opera
was "Trovatore;' Brignoli appeared in his favor
lite part, Manrico. In the cast with him were
such celebrated people as LaGranGe, Nantier,
Didiee and Amodio. The house was packed,
and the occasion was regarded as one of the
greatest musical events of years. You of this
later and faster generation remember Brignoli
as big and bulky of frame. In those days he
had only just started on the course OF high liv-
ing that caused him to accumulate such a sur
plus of adipose tissue. ] can see him yet. He
was tall and handsome as a God, with blonde
mustache, fair curling hair, and the ruddy color
of health and vigor. TIL heart of MANY a Phil
adelphia beauty 1uttered and showed danger of
breaking its allegiance to the gallant at her side
when the full. p~laintive tones of BrignoliS pa
thetic voice in the Miserere' foated out in soft
waves of perfect melody throughout the vast
hall. | cannot remember now how often he was
encored, but there were many recalls.
HE was very proud of his voice, yes, even
extra VA pnnflV vain of IT The STORY told Of that
memorable night of flowers, applause and sue
cess is that, after the greatest ovation of the
evening, he STROBE up to one of the attaches
Of the Academy, who was standing in the
wings, and, humping his breast proudly,
cried: Where is the tenor who can sing like
thatP l never saw a much more awkward
man on the stage, however. His elumsiness,
which increased as he grew heavier and older,
was partly natural and partly due to what you
might call his crankiness. When told of his
failing he invariably replied that he was a
singer and not an actor, and apparently made
no effort to improve his stage action. | think
in no city N the country will Brignolis death
be felt more keenly than in Philadelphia, be-
cause from the time of his first appearance
here he has always been the greatest kind of a
favorite."
Mr.. Fischer, the music dealer, is one of those
who have the most vivid recollection of the
great tenor: Il never knew of any one who took
greater delight in his own voice than Brignoli
did. He loved to hear himself sing. His voice
was of fine timbre. He seldom gave an audience
an exhibition of its full force and volume. But
at rehearsals he was very fond of testing and ex-
ercising it. We have heard of one time when
he sang so loud at a rehearsal that he drowned
the chorus and it became necessary to hold him
self in a trifie. / saw him some years ago. l can
not now remember just how long since, and with
his old pride and conceit he remarked: My
voice is just as good as it ever was To tell the
truth, his voice did hold out remarkably well,
and up to the last time l saw him, it was a pleas-
ure to hear him sing"
Il believe Brignoli was paid at the rateof $500
a month for that first appearance at the Acad-
envy" remarked Professor EtUore Barili, who
came to this country with him in 1855. That
was small pay in comparison to what he received
later have known him to be paid as high as
$l,5O0 for engagements. / never knew
a man so thoroughly saturated with
egotfsm. He cared for no one save
Brignoli, whom he considered the greatest Great
ure living. l do not believe he ever fell deeply
in love. He was too fond of himself to permit
of such a thing being possible. He was de-
lighted, however, with the hattery and attention
of women, and while he was hero he used to be
deluged each day with tender, scented missives
from love-sick maidens. Brignoh made a great
deal of money, but he spent it most lavishly.
He was renowned among Philadelphia epicures
for the dinners he gave. These banquets-for
that is what they generally amounted to-always
took place after the operas. He was the terror
of stage managers. Always accustomed to hav-
ing his own way, he stamped and tore about like
a mad ball when thwarted in the slightest par
ticular. His vanity could not stand the slight
est applause that was frequently given to other
singers in the companies to which he was at
tached. One time while he was singing in Troy
atore' in Philadelphia, ne abruptly left the stage
before he had finished his part, because the audi
ence was going wild over Amodio."