The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04
DE WHO'S JOLLY SEASON.
MS TorR WITH GoTTSCHALK AND
BRIG NOLI IN IS63-6f.
unfatuRted women CInmoring for tho Atton-
tion OF tho FavorItca-A Maine Girl who
WAS Determined to Corner DrIEnoIi-

tion OF tho fnVOrItcH-A Mnino Girl who
was Determined to Corner BriEnoii-
A Rivalry In COMMUNICATIONS Successes.
The second season Of Gottschalk's concert
company and his reCitals up to Aug. 10, 1863,
had been highly successful, artistically and
financially. At n meeting we had with Grau
and Max Strakosch the day after l arrived here
Grau asked me what l thought about engaging
0ottschalk for another season.
"Mief carl dmici," / answered, "do not lose a
day; he has become a greater favOrito than he
was last season. The ladies run wild after him
md they compose two-thirds generally OF his
audiences. At tho same timc you can Judge his
drawing power more than / by looking at your
accounts OF the profits Of the season. 1 judge
you must have made rather n large sum this
season from the two attractions"
"Yes," replied Max, Two arc perfectly salts
fed with our profits, but VIC wish TO know II you
think In n third season we will make good
profits and the public will not get tired of piano
playing"
mo" said, "Gottschalk has the public un-
der his finger now. He Is the hero Of the piano;
the more he plays the greater is the desire OF his
audiences to listen TO him and, besides that, he
has II personal magnetism that captivates old
and young, males and females, and to this / can
swear owing 10 the expressions of enthusiasm I
have heard from the people coming out after the
concerts and in the hotels, in music stores and in
the street. There is no other artist SO popular
except the sweet silver-voiccd tenor Brignoli,
who has been the idol of the public for the last
eight years, and will be for many years to come.
Why, then, should the public get tired of Gott-
schalk. the new and adored idol, after only two
seasons When the public become infatuated
with an artist all round the world, the infatua-
tion lasts until the artist loses his power"
This opinion of mine decided Grau and
atralnsrh IN onnuo,n EDttSrbnlly TI,n cro,,
said to Max:
"De vivo is clear headed and speaks from cx-
perience; let us take his advice, for so far he
has been our mascot and all his ideas have been
very good. You call on Gottschalk now and in
vito him to dinner tomorrow with us Mt the
Everett House at q o'clock and there we will
conclude the engagement after dinner. And
you, De Vivo, go to see Brignoli and tell him to
dine with us tomorrow at o and not to fail, as
Gottschalk and yourself will be there"
At O sharp we were all at the Everett House,
md there was prepared IA sumptuous table for
five, and under the table were a half dozen bottles
of wine. The dinner was most excellent. and we
enjoyed it immensely. as we all were hilarious
for the last seasons success and the prospects
for the future. After the dinner we all went to
the apartments of BriGnoli, who lived at the
hotel. 1 entertained Brignoli for a while, and
Grau and Max concluded the engagement OF
Gottschalk in less that IA quarter of an hour in
Brignoli's bedchamber. Soon after Grau came
In the parlor and announced the rcengage.
ment. Brignoli, who was the most init
mate friend md n great admirer of Colt
schalk, acknowledged his great pleasure
Mt the engagement by Enthusiastically en-
bracing Gottschalk and kissing him. ] did tho
same, and after n general embracing Brignoli
ordered two bottles of champagne, and we all
drank to the health and the success OF the next
season. During the evening Grau said to me:
Now. DE Vivo, what artists must we engage
for Gottschalk's company Have you in your
mind some good ones Intend to have a new
opera company, and 1 leave the choice of the
artists to you and Max, who have more leisure
during the next month"
Max answered:
Lot us hear first what is De Vivo's choice and
his idea about tho artists he prefers; then will
give my choice
Thanks" | said. for the preference you
give me. but l prefer that you, as one of the di-
rectors and. partners and n more experienced
man in this business than I. do the proposing.
true that l am older in The business than you,
and have more experience. but ever since you
most successful. hence i wish to hear You first
gtxe n yonr opinion"
j will candidly tell you that / have u very good
mind since the season ended, and l ,only hope
sou hHu 'lau "ii liIioE I. .hN s'utIit Il u
make a grand combination with Gottschalk and
the Don Pasqpale' Opera Company. This or
artist to sing NoriHa."" The role had :" been sung
previous season. bIt She had died on July 6.
.. BFiE mol on ar hSafing my p Pan got mp from his
pleased to hear Of such a combination. and I mo
doubt MgncGsi and susini will consent If Colt
HCertainiy." replied Gottschalk. 81 will he
very happy indeed to pass the season thus"
Naturally Grnu and Max were highly pleased.
and Strakosch were Whispering to each other.
who will replace Miss Hinkeley,f' They did
That same day | met Nine. Elem d'Angri, the
most celebrated ontraito Of that TING, after the
matchless Marietta Alboni. with whom l was
"oh! cgrissimo omico, DE vivo;" she said. 81
ann ana y stFaE El@e 10 VIII hies senST o1 on Hn the ask roS SGT the ~ " .6an
will replace poor Isabella Hinkcley :"
A present j cannot tell you," / replied,
"b9t 1t will be decided Today or tomorrow"
an so,' she said, please do propose me to
"Certainly,"I said. with great pleasure. and
no doubt they will engage YOU at once II ,thcy de-
be rather a bic Norimo."' VIII
She laughed and continued:
Mia cara, Elena, You can sing that part bet
tor th9 an any other primo donng know OF and
s sGt II play axe R & y%"nf in Eli Fl B 81 81; i as gsT sS SsP 1 %s +
have seen y?n Dc 1t at the Academy, you will be
q great Norma
Bho heartily thanked me for the compliment
and said:
"De Vivo, remember that the part is com-
posed for u soprano and ! will sing 1t one note
lower"
81 know, that, mia, cara Elena" I replied.
"thnt will be all right
With n cordial handshakc we parted. On hear
ing the whispering of Grau and Max. ] said:
"Mief cari dmici, | have got the hest Morning
You can find in America with II big name, and
"Who is she . Tell MS quick!" they said.
1T is Elena d'Angri.' / replied, whom ! met
a little while ago, and who told me to tell you
mat she was willing TO sing Norma"
On hearing this good news Gottschnlk. Brig
noii. Max, and Grau became enthusiastic and
exclaimed In chorus:
" Bravol bravissimo! Don Diego! we have got
the, company now, Then Grau told me to 20
and engage d'Angri to IN her contract
on or about Sept. 1s. In less than twenty min.
ntes ! engaged her, and In acknowledgment of
this quick engagement / received an embrace
with q kiss then and $500 at tho end of the sea-
son. That was pretty quick work and most sat
i%sfectory to all parties, particularly to myself.
Elena dAngri was n renowned prima donna
In Europe. having sung in all the principal opera
honses, and was q special fnYOrite Of the Oar Of