Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-16

Scenes I'm the Great Singers Chamber
He sings WhiIa DYING.


Now that Pasauale BrignOli is dead.
says the New York Morning Journal, it
will hardly be denied that the marvellous
sweet quality and purity of tone of his
voice was not only unsurpassed, but un-
equaled by any tenorwho ever sang to the
American public, and it is worthy Of
record that even up to the hour OF his
death, being within a few weeks Of 81
years old, it retained the peculiar charm
which characterized it, as an incident
which occurred three days before his
death illustrates.
He was not aware of the approach OF
death, as DIR. Carnochan loved him too
tenderly to tell him the serious nature OF
his illness. BriglOli had written a duet
Tor two voices, which was to be sung at a
school concert, and he asked Sig. Albltes,
husband Of Nine. G~aZzaniga, 10 a K MS
place at the piano and play the accom-
panlment over, in which he wished 10
make some alterations. While Abilities
was playing, the dying tenor, who was
propped up in bed, became so interested
in his own competition that he began to
hum and then 10 sing the tenor part, his
voice ringing out with all his old-tlme
~fervOr, to the intense surprise but sad
pleasure of those who were present.
Even V minutes before his death,
after Dr.. CarnOchan had given him a mix
ture OF ammonia and c0gnac, his eyes
sparkled, and after trying his voice to see
thatIt had not impaired during his illness,
he exclaimed with great animation:
"Ah! BrignOli will be on his feet again
tomorrow"
Tue only persons present when he
expired were his faithful friend, DR.. Car
nochan; mis- devoted and sOrrOwing Ger
man pupil, Miller, and Sig. G.. A. ChlZ-
zOla.
Although attacked by a complication of
diseases, among which a complaint of the
kidneys was the most aggravatIng, his
dying hours We're comparatively free
from pain, and he passed away quite I'M
conscious of his own dissolution.
He leaves no relatives in Naples, but a
brother and sister who reside in Paris.
A cablegram was drawn up to his sister
apprlsIng her of his death and asking her
wishes concerning the disposition of the
body, but at the advice of Sig. ChiZZOl&
1t was not sent, because she is much older
than the deceased and not in good health,
and it was feared the shock would be too
much for her; and also because BrignOli
himself had resided so long in this coun-
try that he considered himself an Ameri-
can, and it has been resolved by his
friends to purchase a lot in WOOdlaWn
n erect a memorial over his
remains.
Many amusing anecdotes are now
recalled of the peculiarties of the de-
ceased, one of which Is IN connection
with the very church of st. Agnes, in
which his requiem was sung, and from
which his body was carried to the tomb.
He had agreed upon a certain occasion,
at the request of Father Mcdonald, to be
present and sing a solo at the 1920 a. m.
mass. He came into the choir, and after
diVesting himself of thrOat-cOverings,
tumbling over music-stands, and nearly
setting the choir crazy by trying his
voice and delaying the service, he finally
concluded that he was sin voice." BY
the time Brignoli got ready Father
Mcdonald had begun his sermon, but
BrignOli eaned over the chOir-railings
and tried to attract his attention by Shak-
ing his head, g~esticulatIng with his
hands, and saying in a voice audible
enough to be heard in the choir:
"Me ready for re sing! StOppa re
preach! StOppa re preachl"
And the good priest actually did cut his
sermon short to accommodate the i'm
patient tenor, whose voice rang out with
such teFvOr as to thrill the deYOut wOr-
SbinarG