The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-05
EXPERIENCE WITH R|)SS|N|
MANAGER DOMINGO BARBAJA's
SORE TRIAEs WITH THE
GREAT MAESTRO
WRITING THE OPERA "oTELLo"
Old but Sensational Was the Ulti-
mate Revenge of the Patient
Victim In NapIes-In Har-
mOny'ss Realm.


a great reputation. The first person he
encountered descending from the coach
was the presario of San Carlo. Barbaja
advanced to the composer, stretched out
his hand, and, giving him neither time to
move step nor speak a word, addressed
! him thus: Il come to make you three Of
fers, and 1 expect you will refuse none ="
'Let me hear" said Rossinf. II offer you
my house for yourself and people. L
| accept it." II offer my table to you and
all your friends" IT accept" Il offer you
to write an opera for our theater. L
| do not accept it." How! do you refuse
to write for me?' Neither for you nor
anybody else. do not intend to compose
al : more you are mad It's as
told you" "And why come to Naples?'
ITO eat maccaroni and ices. They are
my passion" my confectioner shall pre-
pare your ices, and 1 myself will look
after your maccaroni." 1.-The devil! That
will be excellent But you will write
me an opera?'' 1--WE shall see." Take
one month. two months, six months-as
long as you please Let 1T be six
MONTHS Agreed" Come to supper"
From that day Barbajas house was
put entirely at Rossinis disposal All
his friends and acquaintance were re-
morselessly invited to his table, without
In the least consulting the poor manager,
and Rossini did the honors with the most
perfect ease. AS for Barbaja, true to the
character of cuisinier he had imposed
upon himself, he daily invented new
dishes, brought forth the oldest bottles
from his cellar and Toasted everybody,
known and unknown, whom Rossini
pleased to invite, as though they We're
; the best friends of his father.
Only toward the end of the repast, with
degage air, with Infinite address, and
smiling all the time he would introduce,
| while slipping his wine OR eating an olive,
few words concerning the opera and
the immense success which would arise
from 1t. Rossini took no notice of this
| till, after repeated hints and suggestions
! OF the same kind the maestro politely or
| dered poor Barbaja to absent himself
| from the dessert in future.
Meanwhile the months rolled on, the
| hbretto was finished q long time, and
| nothing occurred to show that the COM
poser was likely to set himself to work.
| To the dinners succeeded promenades, to
! promenadeS parties in the country. The
| chase, fishing, horsemanship occupied the
| leisure hours of the noble master, but not
| word of music. Barbaja experienced
| twenty times a day a fit of frenzy and
/ 1OlI d SITOuS 1I1ClIndllOI. TO raise d SIOTIu-
He restrained himself, nevertheless, for
. 40 one had greater faith in the incom-
| parable genius of Rossini glss
| Barbaja preserved his temper and kept
| silent during five months with, the most
exemplary patience. But the morning of
the first day of the sixth month, seeing
he had no time ito lose, he broke forth:
| "Ha, my friendi Do you know there are
but five and twenty days remaining to
the appointedJ time2S?1!'s ~ What. time r.
1.-THE Goth Of May .nAh, the Both of May.
Well what of that?P2 ,'Have you not
promised me anew opera against that
day?" az promise you!" There's nc
need to show or pretend establishment,
said the impressaFio, whose patience was
well nigh exhausted.9l.sI have waited
with the greatest patience koning
upon your great genius and the facility
God has given you. Now it is impossible
to wait any longer. l must have my op-
era" could we not arrange some opera
and change the title?" DO You think
1t? And the artists expressly. engaged
: to perform in new opera?" "You car
fine them And the public?" you will
I close the theater.' And the king?,
Send in your resignation ''All thai
may be practicable to a certain extent
but If neither the artists nor the public
nor the king himself can force me tt
hold my promise have given my word
signor, and Domenico Barbaja has never
failed In his word of honor" "Oh, that's
! another affair."" e,Then you promise t.
commence tomorrow" Tomorrow! Il
, is impossible; 1 am going to fish" VERY
well" said the manager; II find l mus
take some other mode and he departed
The same evening Rossini went through
the honors of the table, seeming perfect
t ly forgetful of the morning discuss. on
} Upon going to bed ihe ordered his servan
To call him q break of md
asleep.
The midday hour sounded from so
clocks Of Naples, land Rossini's servan
had not yet entered his room The moo
sun darted his rays through the blinds
, Rossini, starting from his sleep, rose upol
the bed rubbed his eyes and rang tn
3 bell The bell cord remained in his hand
He called from the window which over
looked the court. The manson was a
, silent as a seraglio.
, He tried the door of his chamber I
resisted all his efforts. He was enclose,
) within.
Returning to the window he began t
call loudly for assistance, and alarmed
the whole neighb0rhood with vehemen
. vociferations. The only answer he receiv
ed was the echo from the court beneath
There remained but one resource-tha
| was to jump from the fourth story Blu
, we must do Rossini the justice to &C
knowledge this method never entered hi
head.
At the end of full hour Barbaja show
ed his nightcap from window on tn
third floor Rossini, who had not quit
; ted the window, had a great mind to fin,
! tile at him, but contented himself, a
he had no tile, with hurting the mos
dreadful imprecations at his head.
do you want anything?'' demanded tn
impresarto in quiet tone. Il must g
out this instant You shall go wher
you please when the opera is finished
This is arbitrary imprisonment" Jus
so; but must have my opera ST shall
complain to all the artists, and we sha!
see." Il shall fine Them At shall inform
the public" II shall close the theater'
ct shall go to the king" st shall send il
my resignation"
Rossini perceived he was taken in his
own tolls and changing his tones on q
sudden, he replied In calm voice, 'I ac-
cept your pleasantly and am not angry
but when shall L obtain my liberty?'
when the last scene of the opera is
finished" exclaimed the manager, taking
off his cap. Good! Send this evening
for the overture"
Barbaja received punctually that even
ing a paper of music sen which was in
scribed in large letters, 1.-THE Overture
to Otello."
The saloon of Barbaja was filled with
celebrated musicians at the moment he
received his first transmission from his
prisoner 1t was tried and pronounced
new chef d'oeuvFe, and Rossini was de-
clared a deity, ratheri than man, who