The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-10
DE VINO A MANAGER 0 R
so HE BELIETED AT THE END OF
HIS FIhsT TEARS EXPERIENCE.

wv WIZ 'SN@eSa ~ NHN
Artists Grand italian Opera Company, I was
very proud OF my work. I realized that IS an
advance agent had CONGREGATIONAL Car
ried out the instructions given me by
Jacob Grau, to his great subtraction. and
also that Of the artists. Then I felt with POSI-
~tiveness that I was born TO DO a manager. I felt
that with experience. j~udicious work. and
the knowledge I had acquired In nv former
years in Eurpoc-throueh having been In
friendly contact with some Of the greatest
artists Of ire age. on tho dramatic and tho
lyric stage. and through having witnessed their
performancos for moro than ten years-I would
become skilled in my profession. II I should
have o chance TO manage great singers. Hap
PLY opportunities came to me.
intended to pass the summer at my favor.
ito hunting and fishing ground at Ellsworth,
Conn. tn have q good rest and TO enjoy myself.
Before leaving tho city I called two or three
times on my good friends, j. Grau and Max
Strakosch, who, at each visit. told me that II
I would continue to work in the manner I had
dono during the previous season I would be-
come n successful manager. and their proph-
ecy. TO their delight, was verified. They both
promised TO engage mo for tho next season.
as they were going TO have a good company,
and said that in September they would notify
me by letter. On June 10 l left the city. very
well contcntcd. and hopeful In their promises.
/ had provided myself with the best map OF tho
United States and Canada and n railroad guide.
30 as to get well acquainted with the most I'M
portsnt cities. their population. and the dis
tances from one to another. During three
months l arranged. different routes from New
York TO the cast. north. south. and. west,
with tho proper railroad connections. which,
on M return TO New YORK. I submitted to
Grau and Strakosch. who complimented me
A.. --n ---f T. $500
which is the most Important business arrange
ment for . manager TO learn. in order to save
lime and money. During tho same time I
also found out By mail and kilograms the names
and the capacity OF the principal theatres
and halls in the cities on my routes. and copied
all the particulars and details In a large
pocketbook. which was my constant rompan-
ion for the first three seasons.
Here / should state that for the first three
seasons I kept o small diary OF my doings, but
on account OF my constant work and the press
OF business gave IL up a~fterward. for / knew
tho country like my own house. having trav-
elled over all parts Of It except the far west,
which was at that time not DO pulated enough
to support nv high class OF Entertainment
Since 1854 l have managed o great many COM
panies Of opera and concert, besides Ristorl
and SalvinI's companies, bot l have never
kept a memorandum concerning the artists
and tho operas performed. not even n pro-
gramme. as I never thourht.that at some future
day ! should write my memoirs. SO that In
all the articles I have written 10 far l have re-
lied absolutely upon my memory. q faculty
which l have priced since l was n child. and
preserved up to nv old age. II may be hare
to believe that l have not kept 4 little scrap
OF paper TO refer to, and have only my mem
DRY to turn to. In proof OF my assertion l
| l.,..l a.. ii, -. u,.lIa-n..ll,. .t.,.l -
my cventful life since | WAS born. which will
contain an account OF my boyhood, passed In
n seminary for eight years, whore I was to DO
educated for n priest: OF my asst )nishing feAts
OF memory in my school examinations: OF my
running away from the seminary: Of my ex-
animation to become u Carmelite mock; of my
e~nlistlng as n volunteer for loves sake in tho
army OF King Bomba ferdinand H. OF
the two Sicilies; OF my enlistment in q bat
talon Of volunteers to aid the Insurgents Of
Lombardy and Venice In lS4S. against the Aus
trlan army which occupied those PROVINCES: OF
my exile from nv native city to Piedmont
OF my life ther. for Ave years. and OF my exile
To this country on account of my republican
opinions. II will be a recital like n little 70.
nance. full OF vcrv interesting Incidents.
on Sept. II | received n letter from Grau
and one from Strakosch telling me to come To
New York rs soon as possible on important
business. M they were going to organize ono
or two companies. Truly | was delighted to re-
celvc such good news, though Lexpccted 1t, us
both had promised me before | left the city "a
engage me. Two days later | came to New
York. and went directly TO Grau's residence,
where met Strakoych. They both invited
ne to breakfast with them at tho Everett
House. and thither We went. During the
breakfast they discussed their arrangements
o., Oh. c,p,In1 saaann and I xvaS n lutnh lIst-
ener. not knowing anything about their dis
cussion. AZ soon rs the breakfast was over
Grau said:
Come along. Do Vivo, let us go to my room
and We will tell you all our plans for next sen.
son. and see what you think OF them, rs We
know now that YOU are wide awake and have
good ideas"
l felt very much fiatttered by these words. to
which Strakosch added:
YES, DE Vivv Is n very SIN art fellow. and
lucky. and We must retain him as long AS he
wishes to remain with US. lie will be ouI
most Trustworthy ad ance agent. energetic,
economical. and clear headed. Besides that. he
can get along. Will, his smooth way aud his
patience. with our artists u great deal better
than we can. as they all like him."
On arriving homo Grau said:
"Cdr0 DE Vivo. we have been In negotia.
tion with the great American pianist, Mr.. l.,
NJ. Gottschalk. who Is now in Havana. and Il,
Is anxious TO come Tor 81 900 II month for sis
or seven months. and he will play Ave or sil
times n week. We want 10 know what vol
thin K OF this engagement and OF its probabl,
rrsults. You know him well. and have heard
him play. What do you think OF him2'
As was II very enthusiastic admlrer Of
Gottschalk's wonderful playing and his tech
niquc. and also OF his COMPOSITIONS. then en-
tirely new to the American public. / replied
to Grau that he should not lose u day In en
gaging him. and to make sure OF the engage
ment that no should send him q draft fol
s 1000 as u months salary In advance.
knew that no WAS out Of money, having heart
from BrignolI. who had heen corresponding
with him in tho spring. In his last letter h,
had written to IIriguoli that one night he hat
lost Sc. 800. all that he possessed. On hearinG
that, Grau aud Strakosch took my advice, re
marking; de Viyo has u square head. Lc
us do Just what he says at once" As Graz
was the moneyod man Of the two. no took
carriage and went down town the same after
- - 1..T, TO-. c 4 mn NI.l 4.