Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-01
SICNOR RRlGNOLI,S DEATH.
His Inst Song the ssHEiscrcre..
A LIFE OF OPERATE ADVENTURE AND TRruNrI

His Last Song the s.ss,.crcre.,
A LIFE OF OPERATE ADVENTURE AND TRIUMPH
From the New York Herald.
signor Pasquale Brignoli, the famous tenor,
viii sing no more. Unattended save by his ply
| slc'an, pupil and one old friend, he died at ten
minutes before FIVE O'Clock yesterday afternoon,
at the Everett house. For three weeks he had
been confined to his bed, suffering from hemor.
rhage of the liver and disease Of the kidneys
and although he never lost hope he grew gradu-
ally weaker until his death. He passed away
without struggle and looked so natural that
friend who came in when he had breathed his
last approached the bed and addressed to him
some words of cheer.
Mr. Charles A. Chizzola. Ristori's manager. ar
rived at the death bed of his old friend too late
to bid him last farewell and he was overcome
win grief. Mr.. Chizzola had seen Signor Brig
noll In the morning, but at that time there was
no ihtimation OF the approaching end.
BY THE DEAD SINGERS SIDE.
Last evening the remains of the great singer
reposed in an icehoX i'm his little room on one of
the upper floors of the hotel. The surround
ings were painfully plain. and In sad disconso-
nance with the solemnity of the scene sat an up
right piano against the wall upon which the
deceased tenor had frequently practised before
he was confined to his bed Those who heard
of Brisnoiis death called to pay their respects
to his remains, but few apparently had heard of
it. Among those who called were Mr. George
Law, Mr. f. &. Dale, sheldon Stephens, George
Wetherell, the manager Of the Emma Abbott
company, Signor Ferranti and Major Pond. No
arrangements have yet been made for the
funeral. son and daughter in Paris are the
only relatives OF Signor Brignoli. and they were
cabied the news of their fathers death
The last public appearance of Signor Brignoll
was with the Brignoli Midsummer Night Con-
cert company in ST. Paul. Mimi, last August,
when he sang the .'Miserere" from the opera
in which he made his first appearance, I'll Trova-
tore" Manager Wetherell, of the Emma Alb
bOtt company, wanted SignOr Brignol to sing
at the opening of new opera house in WASH
ington on the 9th Of November next.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
Signor Brgnoli was born at Naples on the LIST
of January 1924 and was for years great IA
vorite in the United States. He came to New
York in 1855. having been engaged by Max
Maretzek. He made his first appearance In
Lucrezia Borgia and achieved an immediate sue
cess. He was the idol ofthe town for years Young.
handsome and fascinating he made friends in
every quarter. He wrote an opera at the age
of Is. He achieved reputation in his own
country. and his fame flew over the seas Maret-
eek thought he would be a good investment
and made him favorable Offer which he ac-
cepted. The good city of Gotham went into
ecstasies over his arias. He became the rage
After sojourn of ten years among US, during
which be amassed much treasure. he returned
to Europe to sing with Patti. Returning two
years after with Bateman and Parepa he re-
manned until 1869 His next appearance was
with the Christine Nilsson troupe in 1873 and
again with Titiens in 1915. 1t has been esti-
mated that he made half million dollars in this
country. He left us in February 1879, to go to
sing In Europe under Mr.. Mapheson's manage
ment. rumor was abroad at that time which
had it that the great tenor had been unlucky in
financial way and that but little Of his for
tune remained. If his money had ESCAPED him
the loss of it did not cause him much uneas-
ness. Light hearted and jovial always, he
waved his adieus from the steamer with as
much en,preSsement as if he were Cgser about
to conquer new world. 1t was thought that
he had abandoned us for good, but 1T was evil
dent that he preferred the American atmos-
phere to that of Europe. He was absent only
a few months, and, longing for his old haunts,
returned to this city. This was by no means
strange. Here were his friends, and here was
the scene of his early trumphs. 1t was here
that he met Miss Mccullough. who became his
wife in 1870 and who, unable to tolerate the
peccadllloes of her husband, procured divorce
after nine years of welded life. She was a
charming young lady and singer with sweet
voice when she was married. BrignoH was
liked by the great singers with whom he ap-
peared.
Personal. TRAITS.
He was fond of exhibiting a pair of sleeve
buttons with the letter ''B" in blazing diamonds,
gift from Nilsson, and a scarf pin of pearls of
different coiors, present from Patti. He was
very superstitious, having horror Of the num-
Der thirteen. To such an extent did he carry
out his hatred of this number that he would not
commence journey. sign a contract or take
the prime step in any business on the 18th of
the month. Friday he regarded with great sus-
picion, nor would he make his first appearance
on that day in any place. He also made it
point of running against any hunchback he hap
pened to meet and rubbing his hump tor good
luck. In his day he was known as Brignoli the
silver voiced. He took great care of his voice
and maintained its power and sweetness far
beyond the age when tenors as a rule succumb.
In New York he was a well known figure a
delightful companion and a genial bon riudnt.
Preserving his jaunty air almost to the last and
his inimitable walk, no man had more friends
than he.