The record-union., 1894-02-10
MONEY IN A Voice.
Enormous Salaries of Some Famous
Singers.
AS Early as the Beginning of the Last
Century an English Vocalist
Received 500 Night.

The philosophers stone-that dream of
the old alchemists-takes many forms
nowadays, but none more beautiful than
that of the voice of the great singer-a
truly potent spell to opon the gold mines
of the earth! The amounts that have
been paid to the famous sopranos, tenors,
contraltos and basses that have appeared
from time to time above the musical
horizon sound well-nigh fabulous, says
Chambers journal, and are not a
little interesting to con slider. To 60 bake
to the early days of the last century, and
to the early days of the Italian opera in
this country, Mrs. Catherine Tofts, it's
first lady interpreter in England, claimed
high salaries at the theater in Lincoln's
Inn Fields. She drew considerably over
So, 900 for season, and at one time she
was singing for Sl00 night-high terms
in 170S.
At the same theater, twenty-siX years
later. the great singer FarinelI during
the three years he spent III London,
though his salary was but 81 800 a season,
earned at least S25,0 900 yearly; for at but
one OF his numerous appearances at court
the Prince OF Wales gave him "a fine
wrought gold snuff box, richly set with
diamonds and ruDies, in which was in
closed pair Of diamond knee buckles,
as also purse OF 100 guineas." Later in
life he accepted an engagement AT the
court OF Spain at a salary of $4,000 francs,
$4,000 per annum. Two years after tari-
nelli had left London, the other great
singer of the time. Cattarelli, appeared at
the Kings Theater, but did not fulfill the
expectations he had raised, though at
Venice he received 81 $40 and benefit Of
| 81, $40 for a season Of three months-higher
terms than had previously been paid to
any singer.
In 1868 Gabrielli, one Of the most beau
tiful of women and magnificent OF So
pranos, demanded 5000 ducats salary
from Catherine Ii. of Russia. The En-
press objected that it was larger than the
pay OF Field Marshal. "Then let your
Field Alarshals sing for you," retorted
Gabrielli, as Caftarelli had replied before
under like circumstances.
FROM AGUJARI TO soNTAG.
That phenomenal soprano, Agujari, was
in 1775 paid $500 a night for two songs at
the London Pantheon concertS-an i'm
mense salary in those days. About
thirty years later Catalani was receiving
some $4,000 for the season in Portugal;
and in 1906 she came 10 London for a
promise of $4,000 for the season from
S6pL6ul U6f 1OLQ 10 August, 1oOIi Will
further sum of $500 TO defray the cost Of
her journey to London, and one benefit
night free of expense. AS fact, how
ever, she drew from the Kings Theater
in the Haymarket S25, 900, including ben
etits; and her total profits in 1907, with
concerts and provincial tours. were $685.
800. She once received 81, 600 for singing
God Save the King" and "kule Britain
nia" and for her services at one festival
she was paid $4,000. Her charities, how
ever, were innumerable, and it is esti-
mated that she earned at least 100000 at
concerts Tor such purposes alone. AS an
instance of her reckless extravaganza it is
stated that the cost Of beer for her serv-
ants for single year amounted to S5l5.
Malibran was engaged by Alfred Bum
for nineteen nights at S625 per night, pay
able in advance! Singing at Drury Lane
in English opera in 1888, she received
5000 francs $4,000 for forty representa-
tions, with two benefits, which produced
not less than 81, 900 francs $4,000. Two
years later, at the opera in London, she