The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-09
CAMPANINI AND DE RESZKE.
"reminiscences Beginning When the
Latter Was q Baritone.

"reminiscences beginning when the
Latter Was u Baritone.
The death OF the celebrated tenor, Sig
nor Campanini, has given rise to many
notices, and comparisons with his great
successor, M. Jean Ge keszke, have been
plentiful; but no allusion hes peen made
1t the very interesting fact that the two
singers were at one time in the same
company and frequently sang in tho same
operas. This occurred % years ago, in
1915, when M. de Reszke was . bari
tone and was known professionally as
Signor di Reschi. Ie had bsen "discov-
cred" by Colonel Mapleson. and he sang
for a couple OF seasons at Eer Msjosty's
Opera in London; also in Dublin and
several British provincial cities.
London at that time supported two
grand opera companies, and while Patti,
Albani, Marimop, Scalchi, Nicolini. Fsure
and Maurel were singing at Covent
Garden, Tiejens, Nilsson, Irebslli, Fan
celli, Campanini and di Reschi apeared at
the opposition establishment in Drury
Lane. Signor di Reschi's greatest sue
cess was as Valentin, which he sang 10
the Faust OF Campsnini and the Mer-
guerite of Christine Nilsson. As Don Gio-
vanni, however. he by no means satisfied
the critics, who had long been accus-
toned TO the great impersonation OF
Faure. The Daily Telegraph Of July II,
1911, remarked: "Sigpor di Reschi Is
very young and inexperienced to under
tsIy inn nf ha
Don, but he has some natural qualifca-
tions. and his success, so far as IL went,
encouraged a hope that his chief faults
are those which time will cure
In tbe.fall OF 1874 Her Majesty's Opera
Company went on tour OF the provinces
opening In Dublin with Balfs's post
humous opera, "Il Talismano" In
this tine writer we'll remem bers Signor di
Reschi as King Richard: Campanini, as
Sir KENNETH Tietjens. as Edith Planta-
genet ana Marie Roze, as Berengaris. OF
course, "Faust" and "Don Giovanni
we're also given, and the young baritone
got rather better "notices than he had
received in London.
His ss,ociates in Mozart's masterpiece
were Tietjens, Trebelli, Brignolli, and
Beherns. There was also an American
singer with q wonderful bass voice,
named julius Perkins (known to the
stage as Signor Giuilo Perkin,) who wss
the Commentators. lie became the frat
husband OF Nine. Marie Koze, but died
not long after OF pneumonia in Man
chester.
During the early seventies Dublin en-
joyed about as fine op,ra as could be
heard anywhere In the world; ana the
great casts which appeared In II Flsuto
Magico, Robert le Diaple, and Oberon,
mako MIR. Graus's Hugenots seem rather
small by comparison. Even the little
tries OF the geeii ana the Qaeenis attcud-
ant, In Die zauberfote were sung by
such accomplished artists ss Trebelli.
Marie Roze, Demeric-Lablache, and
scaisni, ali OF whom ware then in their
two primi tenori ana her numerous
friends will he glad TO know that the
indispensable Mile. Baucrmeister. who
doesn't look a bit older todsy,was always
on hand as the Mermaid, with the beau
tiiul melody which Mendelssohn so hap
PLY introduced in his Midsummer
Night Dream. Lss Iueuenois wac al
ways given in it's entirety. that is TO say,
with the fine fif.h act, which our Met tro-
politan singers are too tired to undertake.
Signori di Rcscai aud Campsnini were
in London again in 1875, but ths former
soon after went into training for tenor
roles and nothing more was heard Of him
for long time. In 1859 and 1854, how
ever. "A certain Signor do Reszke was
singing in London such parts as Dsland
in The Flying Dutchmap, and Hagen In
Sigufd. the latter an opera by Reycr on
the Siogfried legend, which has not yet
been heard in New York, though It has
been given in New Orloans and Philadel-
phia. This was. OF course, the great
bassc whom wo now know as M.
EGouard oe Rcszko; and later came Mile.
Josephine dc keszke, a superb sin ger, who
had she lived, might have become fam
ous-ns Lee lde and Bfunhildc.
In 1857 Sir Augustus, then Mr.. Hsrris,
produced Faust aud Les lIugueuois ai
DfurY Lane. with NordicIa. the NJ. dc
Rosrkc. and Maurel. In meyerpcct's
opcra Miss Mnris Englo and Signor Fo!,
the Irish be n, also sprcired, the latter
as Mfrrtl. while NJ. EGouard de ReszKc
assumed the roie Of Saint Iris. a year
or two later Sir Augustus Harris moved
across th9 street TO Covtnt Garden, and
materially sirensi ihcnei bis company by
the erEsae ncnt ci Mines. Melbs.~ Eunos
and Calve. Ttii was the beGi ming of tue
famou, combinalioa Of artists which