The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-04
ONE T~AMBERbIK, A TENOR.
now HE CAME TO LONDON, SANG
AND CONQUERED.

ErheTnldeus ON m NlHnt.O He Made UUfn
Debut-His Instant succesa-His Parts in the
V,rst London senson-TamberIIL,. Trnir,,.
and Italian ENperience-why nno Lert ntniy
-Por Eighteen Years Mt st. Peterabure.
Eli you great tenors Of this golden age. do
pleaso listen 10 tho following narrative about
the greatest dramatic tenor In the third quarter
OF tho present century, his achievements and
tho highest payment that he ever received.
1t was in tho carly spring Of 1850, tho com.
mencemcnt OF tho fashionable London season
when the two rival Italian opera companies were
pitting all their lyric strength against each other
IN kccncst emulation, bidding for public favor.
that a new tenor of dazzling brilliancy suddenly
appeared in tho operate armament. That future
great musical light was Henrico Tamberlik,
He came unheralded and imputed; there uas
no preliminary flourish Of managerial trumpets.
Tho announcement on the programme Of tho
Royal Italian Opera Mt Covent Garden. now
lying before nc, was simply this: Signor Tam
bcrlik. from the Theatre San Carlo at Naples
and the Grand Opera at Barcelona, will make
his first appearance in England on Thursday
next, April A." Let 1t be remembered that in
those days little was known in London of ouer-
attic successes achieved in Naples, or any other
city OF Europe; but the critical stamp of Paris
fan success and approval was deemed essential
toa London success. and in that capital the
newcomer was then unknown.
Again: 1t must DO borne In mind that this sea-
son London possessed a host OF leading tepors.
recognized as Of the highest ability. At Covent
Garden, Mario. then in tho pride and glory OF
his voice and attractivencss, was In possession
ofall the leading roles OF his repertory, and no
was backed by Maralti. a renowned tenorc di
Jorsd, Luigi Mel. Soldi. and LAWN, while at tho
rival opera house were Calzolari and Sims
Reeves both then in their zenith) and Bcucarde.
&c. Hence there appeared to be but little pros
pect for u newcomer of yet unassured fame.
- II was under these circumstances that Signor
TOmbcrlik made his London debut. In one
night. at one hearing, he achieved ono Of tho
most brilliant successes on record. and the next
morning the operatic world OF London woke up
to a new sensation.
No new opera was placed on the bills for him,
nor was the tenor role of any established popu-
lar one awarded him; on the contrary tho old
and hackneyed opera OF "Masanicllo" lin which
Mario had sung the previous season. was
deemed good enough for the occasion. The cast,
with the exception of Nine. Castellan as Elpira
and the splendid French baritone Massol as Pic
fro, was Indifferent. Moreover, in place of de-
voting one Of the special extra nights to the
debut OF the new tenor, as was the invariablo
custom when some great attraction was to be
produced. the management appeared to think so
little of Tamberlik that, the Easter recess Of the
"oAAu ooihk oh hdhus tnG n1knL WAS
made u regular subscription one, and the result,
As far as rank and fashion were concerned, was
q half empty house. How then was it that,
with nothing done for bin, no effort made in
placing him properly before the public, so
marked and brilliant a success was achieved I
Simply by the irresistible force of intrinsic merit.
which had an electric effect upon the sympathy
5fthe audience, all the greater. perhaps, because
was totally unpreparsd 70 expect II:
me grandeur and effulgence of Tamberlik's
maXnlnCent voice, so unlike that Of Ayary nthnr
tenor that had preceded limits immense power.
volume, extent Of register, intensely thrilling and
lowest note to c in alt, which he took with facile
ease a. IL Il were a mere baGatelle-at once
apathy and startled the ear OF the general public.
But when his perfect vocal method and thorough.
became evident that the new light which had
appeared hat evening, was one OF dazzling brill
On his entrance Tamberiik exhibited some ner-
yousness. as was natural under the circum-
edge Of the fact that on himself alone he fn4T to
rely Tor success; but, at once warming TO his
Act II with such a vim and electric effect thatit
oompletely brought down the house" and
!. ..m wAI 1s ssdsI ,aiid%ss With in ;sSSlsmation; III
Ptstro, but the greatest triumph of that
SSssutiiSi e@yfen niiaSby vas in his tbs 55 render nst Of d, Il, The
tku,issm, and on the insl f %3' Of the these Curtain eh,
eseive the reclamation Of all present for the bril-
liant and unprecedented success he had achieved.
summing up Tambsrlitsy London fI,atI D' d aaSs a"f yhia hn
tsrsely describes tho leading features and char
usually powerful one. thoroughly even through
pun and he makes use with the greatest effect OF
s tsff2itsp 9ssis fsef Is 9 s9asI ~ tb to h of &c G; m The quality naisy
Is round. full and perfectly flexible; he has a
grad voice. is a great artist and viii un.
pure Italian opera than he does even In an
I.aliSnized version Of a French one. Al an actor
Roger and the deciamatory French school He
r mss shtausiasticaiiy sapPlapded and has great
On Tuesday. April 16. Tamberlik made his first
London appearance in true italian opera, in
The opera was Norma The role Of PoHions
pas been steadily, ignored since tho days of
IL E9s al du ss ail tas dlfis t. anS ssa o hat but T + ansIS
p pc %see e S9,eq Titb y GrI PPwe ann and intensity intensity Of
In the first act he carried tho house by storm
yhls irresistible fire and energy. while in tho
scene. Tamberlik fairly divided the honors with
Uric stage. On the same evening he sang in
The second and third act OF MasaIiello "a Gig
e1hspstiblo power. On the Following Thursday,
nhptii ~. a grand extra night. Don Giovanni"
With Gris!y. 6astelian, Mario. Tain Ias ihhihPs ormes..
~: - the last moment Mario became ''indis-
possd. which indispositiop. T. was generally
Few tenor had achieved. Be that as It may,
lemperiik sang the role of Don Ottario In.
stead, Every musical reader is aware that Don
0aaeto has but comparatively little to do in the
opera. Mozart has written for him two solos,
nat one grand aria, but that is a gem Of tho
tmSooSSss brilliant water. the famous IN milo
.e house became hushed. the usual chatting
smohg the fashionable occupants of boxes
ceased and all present seemed intent 10 discover
Wh9at Iambcrlik would, do with this pet aria
AFTER Mario, who had been recognized as its
greatest interpreter since Rubini. The first
s,SsI bars deanitiyely settled the question, and
rose en- mnsse and greeted Tamberllk with the
greatest applause, the encore, being unanimous
ana enthusiastic. Mario had been eclipsed In
Ss most treasured nso,cedu. Tamberlik's sud
ven wei!'won reputation thoroughly established,
XIV ~ ,operatic fields OF promise were opened to
nm IN a succession of fresh roles. On April %
Snsw Hdaptation, OF Rossini's Biblical opera OF
Mose IN ,Egitto" was produced. with tho title
tSe Of Zorg .tvico Moses. out OF Difference TO
cdbm n religious feelings. tho scene being
.haieei from Egypt TO Assyria. This opera
role role effpTessIy put up for Tamherlik in the tenor
alAssO. ID That OF Tho HIM Rriest. Mme. CaaLol.