Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-02-02
PROFITABLE VOICES.
IMMENSE SUMS GREAT SINGERS
HAVE MADE.
Great Salaries That Have Been
Paid to Ancient and Modern
Prima DOnnas.

@oH souiiu Well-HiSii fabulous, anu are
not a little interesting to consider.
To 60 back to the early days Of the
last century, and to .hA-eAr1s=siays of
the Itaffan opera in this country, Mrs.
Catherine Toits, its first lady inter-
prefer in England, claimed high sala-
ries at the theater in Lincoln's Inn
Fields. She drew considerably over
$1,000 for season, and at one time
she was singing for 500 a night-high
! terms in l1OS. At the same theater,
twenty-six years later, the great singer
Farinelli, during the three years he
spent in London. though his salary
was but 81 800 season, earned at
least $23 600 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 rubies, in which was
inclosed pair Of diamond knee buck
les, as also purse OF 100 guineas."
Later in life he accepted an engage
ment at the Court OF Spain at a salary
of $4,000 francs (SlO,OOO) per annum.
Two years after Farinelli left London
the other great singer Of the time,
Caffarelli, appeared at the Kings The
ater, but did not fulfill the expecta-
tions he had raised, though at Venice
he received $l,94O and a benefit of
81 ,676 for a season of three months
higher terms than had previously paid
to any singer.
In 176S, Gabrielli, one of the most
beautiful OF women and magnificent Of
sopranos, demanded 5000 ducats sal
ary from Catherine III of Russia. The
Empress objected that it was larger
than the pay of Field Marshal.
"Then let your Field Marshals sing
for you," retorted Gabrielli, as Cafiar.
ELI had replied under like circum-
stances.
That phenomenal soprano, Agujari,
was, in IT'S, paid $500 night for two
songs at the London Pantheon con-
certs-an immense salary in those
Gays. About 30 years later Catalini
was receiving some $4,000 for the
season in Portugal; and in 1906 she
came to London for promise of $lO,-
600 for the season from September Is
to August, 1907, With further sum of
$500 to defray the cost of her journey
to London, and one benefit night free
of expense.
AS fact. however, she drew from
tine Kings Theater in the Haymarket
$25, 1000, including benefits; and her
total profits in 1907 with concerts and
provincial tours, we're $S3,5OO. She
once received $1,000 for singing God
Save the King" and Rule Britannia :"
and for her services at one festival she
was paid $4,000. Her charities, how
ever, were innumerable, and it is esti-
mated that size earned at least $780,
600 at concerts for such purposes
alone. As an instance of her reckless
extravaganza it is stated that the cost
of beer for her servants for q single
year amounted to $515.
Malibran was engaged by Mr.. Alfred
Bum for 10 nights at $625 per night,
payable in advance. Singing in Drury
Lane in English opera in 1888 she re-
ceived $1,000 francs C$l6,OOO) for forty
representations, with two benefits,
which produced not less than $4,000
francs $4,000. Two years later, at
the opera in London, she drew SIC, ,875
for "a performances. Such sums were
paid to her at the English provincial
festivals as had never before been heard
of; and at La Scala she received nearly
$50, 1000 for 1S5 performances.
In 1888 Mario was offered 1900 a
month for his first appearance, though
this was, of course, the result of his
romantic history. Albani's salary at
Covent Garden in 1S47 was raised from
50 500 to $4,000 the day after her first
appearance, singing, as she was, against
Jenny Lind at the opposition house.
Sontag was paid $4,000 for a season
OF six months at her Majesty's Theater
in 1849.
Rubini, who began his career at 13
years of age by singing, for five francs,
an air in a new drama by Lambeti,
made immense sums later in life, re-
allied $4,000 at one concert in st.
Petersburg. Unlike Mario and Mara,
who both died in comparative poverty,
Rubini saved large sums, and left be-
hind him one of the largest sums ever
amassed on the operatic stage.
Jenny Lind was naturally paid
enormous sums in the course of her
triumphant career. During tour Of
two years through the States, COM
mencing in 1850, she made 100000,
gaining husband as we'll.
These pecuniary traditions are ad-
equately preserved by at least two
present-day singers, to whom hum
dred or two for concert is an ordi-
nary sum-Mme. Patti and Nine. Al
bani. 1t is current knowledge that
the usual terms OF the former are ST.
600 per concert in London and $4,000
in the provinces. Nine. Patti lately
refused an offer OF a tour in Brazil at q
remuneration Of $1,000 per night.
Fairly handsome salaries are paid
also to leading artists of the Vienna
opera. Herr Winkelman, q tenor who
appeared in London, in German opera