Morris tribune., 1898-02-09
A MUSICAL FIAsCo.
The First Performance of Rossini's Ose1
~ svrl, Z, nc rI,n,.l NJ GRILLE y .W

The First Performance of ,Rossini's Oae,g
"The Barber of Seville" IN
THE eventful first night arrived
at last, and throughout my artistic
career I have never experienced q
more stormy evening. 1t was not
the hostile party alone, but a whole
series of mishaps which contributed
to the great fasco of my opera. The
overture was completely drowned,
as well as the first chorus, by the
kissing and whistling of tho public.
At this act Of injustice Garcia, be,
side himself with langer grew Sd
excited that he broke several strings
of his glitaaJwhiles accom- pam wing
the serenade. This caused such a
disturbance, that nothing more of
the music ft6dfd be- HEARD Poor
Rassllid 9rffe|b}Ytapt b fsgfT9m 80
alarmed at the upToar thatsh6 tf0d
ohIlAHIslao4gi oleaf and fell fiat c9n the
sstage. When he got up, his nose was
bleeding so profusely that it was
sppe m mi n fP99foff5e7 IherYYas able BQ
sing, The noise then grew terrific.
Finally, just as the public was
eesplefing., ,dps1ns sat suddsRlKsaR-
Epssgs9on The Bta8Sand eS5sg dafS
driven OFT again with much trouble
and loss of tine9 Thuss was the gu
sf91ttRlate seYepingS brougb i FfA
max %IIh6 tiftrtakn fell IAN d.tKa per-
Torrance was stopped.
Although it was a fat1ure, / was
none fhe.less talnl and satfshedA bra
I had the d CONVICTION that l had
worked conscientiously, and Irecog-
nized the injustice OF, an audienge3
IN 4 it's blind prejudice, had
not listened to a single bar of my
music. It is the custom, in Italy for
every composer to conduct his opera
for the first three nights, but the
next morning begged the manager
to release me from this obligations Il
and he very gladly granted my re-
quest.
Soon after this unfortunate per-
formance, however, a reaction set
in among the frequenters of the
opera, some praising the overture,
others remembering the melody Of
the first tipale, otherst again think
ing the air Of Figaro original, and
SO forth. This was sufficient to intI
dues. the greater part~.ofp the public.
to give, some attention. to the second
performance. This time l remained
at home alone, trying to write and |
to read, but could not collect my
thoughts. | then took my watch in |
my hand, and mentally sang the
overture and right through the first |
act Suddenly I was seized with an
uncomfortable curiosity. I wanted /
to know what reception my music
was. meeting with On this second |
hearing, and sFesoived8 to go to the
theater, when an extraordinary noise
called me to the window. There IF
saw thousands of people, with
torches in their hands, coming to-
ward my house, and before | had
realized what was happening I was
being carried in triumph to the the
ater, amid the enthusiastic cries OF
Eviva Rossini!' Ihad..had no time
to exchange my dressing gown for
a coat, and. thus was obliged to con
duct the 'Barbiere' from the begin
ming of the second act. The audience
that had been so antagonistic on the
previous occasion now became wild
ly enthusiastic, and at, the end Of
the performance carried me home
in triumph. Such was. the Baptism
Of my Barbiere - - &c NJ arefesi and
Music .. .=. .t,s II .s
A Smart Actor.