New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-12
BRIGNOLI, THE TENOR.
SOME OF HIS ODD CHARACTERISTICS
ANECDOTES OF HIS LIFE GATHERED FROM MEN
WHO KNEW HIM WELL-HIS ANGER
AND HIS ECCENTHCITfES

n
Pa>quae Brignoli the great Tenor, or =" Don Pa'qua
ino, EriCnc AS he liked to be called. PaNquac"
sounded harsh to him, whereas there was sentiment
and refinement in Don Pasquaino.' In MS h'er
years he took offence when addressed ny the lorH'r
name. He came Of an excellent Nenpoh'nh Hh"i'. ;
was n gentleman by birth and education, ana IN AMER
ca was a welcome guest I'm the homes OF people OF ish
social influence. Some anecdotes are contributed mere
BY men who knew him Intimately. and they VIII give
an idea of what manner OF man he was
sIcnor Ardavan well remembered in New-Yorls as
n barytonc Of considerable merit and capable eac''r
OF vocal music had bad temper and jealous d'Spo-
,ition that could see nothing good I'm rival lie conin
not like Rrgnoli. and never was known 10 say Nil"
word Of him. Erignol in his proud way always
looked over Ariavans head which only widehed 'he
breach bet wccn them The baIyt finding himself i
reduced circumstances, was forced to borrow @'o VII"
which 10 pay tn" rent of his house several frienos
f,cd him and in n moment OF desperation he called
on Brlgroli for the Loan
.you must have this money to-day" said the tenor
" You have no friend who will lend to you"
Ardavanl assured him that he had tried several Win
out Success and only to him as last resort.
"But.7 urged Brgmoi, "you must try again. You
will find some one who will lend 10 you
"Nou are the only man in the city whom could ask
now said ArlayanL
But go is great deal OF money Are you sure
Won have no friend who will lend You 4"
have none" said Ardavani. III DO not get inc
money Try wife and my child will be turned out OF
doors
Then Brignoli returned. IL will lend you. but on
one condition. Here is P5O. Takc It. But remem-
Der YOU must continue talk about me rs you have
lone in the past, You must never say good WORD OF
me 20 long rs You live. and you must never return the
money. There take It, Got Get out at once. IL you
please Coz
Ardavan promised took the money and departed.
In Philadelphia. Nilsson, on certain occasion when
II Trovatore" to be sung. disappointed the mana
ger who was none other than dear old Max straRech
and after much persuasion Brgnoi was induced to go
To the front and make an explanation 10 'he auue"ec
lie began thus
ladies and gentlemen, Madame Nilsson Is little
hoarsc this pronouncng hoarse ms II 1t we're
HORSE The audience began to laugh. whcrcupon he
stopped what Is the matter with you ~ he cried.
filling with anger. The laughter Increased with ms
discontinue and muttcrlng under his breath, he
s,akcd of the stage.
ON another occasion Blanc. the noted teacher, went
on the stage to So, Brno, whom he found pacing up
and down like madman humming over his part.
why. Brig, what Is The matter With your Are you
nervous - he asked.
YES. am ncryous." was tho reply. as he walked
harder and faster than ever.
Bat, Brig you caght rot 10 be EcrvoiS I've heard
Won sing the part 200 times. | heard you sing it
thirty years ago
| Thirty years ago! Who you that should know
so much -
who am /, You know who am, and know
who You are"
| VERY well you know what am, but am sure you
do not know what you and II YOU wish Will tell
you. II on are "A fool.'
No man could have been more sensitive about MS
age IT, tried by every means in his power to conceal
IT, lie could not bear TO think that he was considered
old A sweet Young woman thinking 10 say some
| uirg complimentary, remarked
"signor Brignol. | have known you ever since /
| was a little girl
Turning upon her In fury he replied
"Yc., and | have known you ever since was Il
| little boy!7
she conld think OF nothing else TO say and walked
| away leaving him to nurse his wrath.
| Clara Louise Keogg's company, OF which Brignoli
| was leading member. billed for Rochester
| Major Pond was the manager. The house was packed
| to the doors At the last moment dispatch was TO-
ccivcd from Miss Kellogg announcing her ndlsposition
Major Pond almost in despair, but decided to 90 on
with the concert II tho other artists would support him.
All willingly agreed except BrgnOi, who pranced up
| and down the stage trying his song. Mr. POnd urged
him and argued with him, but TO no purpose Brignoli
was obdurate he had cold. his voice was bad and lie
could not possibly sing that evening At last threats
| were tried.
|
mad but when do am dangerous man. l insist
| that you sing tonight an extra song
Brgnoll walked up to him ana looked IN ms race
| "Nou say YOU are a dangerous man, Mr. Pond!' he
| said Very well then, II you be dangerous man
90 away And but0ning up his coat he left The thea
ire and went to his hotel. Tagliapietra. Adnmowsky.
Miss Clara Poole and Others were willing TO go on with
the performance, 70 Major Pond did not despair Tag
liapIetra after singing song went TO tho hote ana
persuaded BignOli TO return. Tic tenor was sun IN
! a rngc and his selection proved IT, for he sang La
Mia Lctlzia Infondere." which In English means u
would like TO transmit my happiness giving very
| broad translation.
Though one OF the most nervous singers that ever
went before audience, Brignoh In his way was one
~ the most conscientious lie refused to sing II he
did not feel that his voice was in condition to do
Justice to the song and 10 himself
He was Il firm believer In homeopathy, ard
was never without two small Walls. one con
tanning bryonia and the other sponga. which he USED
alternately His body servant, Barbagclata. usually
administered the drug. on one occasion II happened
tina, Darbageata gave him larger quantity Of bryonia
than he had asked for but, like the foithfu servant
that he WAS he informed his master OF the mistake
Rricnoli was furious. He thought he was dead man
| H., raved and sormed and swOrc. only he could
| swcar I,arbag eaia, thinking TO relieve his mind
| swallowed the entire contents of the vial.
You see, signor Brignoli there is no harm In the
| medicine he SAID
An my God" cried Brignoli. forgetting his OWL
| danger at once, you dead man. What have you
done!
| An The doctors in the neghborhood were sent for
and all had to testify that the drug harmless before
Ercnoli would believe that Barbagelata could survive
lie was intensely Jealous OF all other tenors, never
admitting for instant that any one OF them could
sing even passably we'll When the handsome tai
| ,n,,d Tom Karl burst upon the New-York stage Brig
| noli turned up his nose.
| What do you think OF Tom knrl'' TuSliapictra
| asked him one night.
| oh he is a very nice little boy he replied with
| a shruc. &c like him very much. but he has missed
his vocation. think he born TO be policeman !!
Kari was tall and Of fine proportions, and sing
Ing At the ume with Iilens IN - ysvesths'