The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-08
MELBA WHEN AT MILAN
Artists RidicuIed the Idea of
Her Singing.
HOW SHE TRIUMPHED
The Hiss Giving Way to the
Admiration of the Audience

documentary evidence when collected
needs 70 apology for being brought for
ward. No further introduction is neces-
sary. I think, 10 the tale which follows.
except mention, perhaps, that it is be-
ing told now for the first time. and that
/ intimate acquaintance with its peculiar
details is due TO the position occupied oy
the writer just at the moment Of Nine.
Melbas Italian debut. This was the time
namely. when permanent journalistic du
( ties made me settle at Milan, and wheE
! or a period Of three years l was the only
/ representative of the foreign press be-
tween Turin and Rome. Quite apart from
immunities resulting from 50 favored a
! situation there was TO my credit account
yet the fact OF having been in years gone
/ by a fellow student OF Mascagnis and
Puccint-s and OF having freely partaken
/ Of the commodity known as the ''enraged
cow in company with these and many
/ others Altogether, I was in a way il
+ feodated in the place known by every
body from chorus singer to famous i'm
presarri and publishers, and from tram
/ conductors TO local authorities. Also /
/ had become a kind Of receptacle for the
I outpourings of grievances. hopes plans.
and what not of that crowd of big ba-
( bies known as lyric artists.
( We had an exciting season at Scala
thatye ar QsS3). There was the premiere
! of 'Falstaf' in February, a couple Of
/ PATHS extra nights in January, half
dozen rows inside the theater, many
/ pitched battles around a silly ballet; and
around every event there hung an atmos-
phere of gossip and anecdote not easily
matched for quaintness. Some will bear
being registered here. Italy being coun-
/ try where the dimensions of a theatrical
success are still measured by the num-
Der of encores obtained. it is quite patent
which bend the efforts of every artist
performing in the land OF harmony take
Their devices are as various as they are
peculiar, but none so monumental as that
imagined by a singer. but who feared
that, if a passing opportunity were lost
he might have TO go through the whole
"Falstaff" without getting as much a a
hand. So he had arranged with mara
ger of enthusiasm that the passing op-
portunity' be underlined by cries OF wi
va Verdi" proceeding from the logione:
and they were. one can easily imagine
with what result.
Another singer. who shall remain also
nameless, and who had made a somewhat
tardy temperance in .-Traviata," was
greeted, not without courtesy, by the La
Scala audience; but, when in the last act
she sang out How Changed l Am the
whole house answered. L should Smile.
in best menegtine accents. Such trifes.
and whatever borders on stageland, form
the chief food Of conversational gather
ings in and out of the gaueria; and
theatrical yarn is of more Importance to
the genuine Milanese than news of
treaty of commerce or of a conquest.
1t can be imagined what the commotion
became when it was lumored that La
Media" would appear a, the Scala. The
news spread with lightning rapidly
throughout the place. and whoever could
give any details concerning the famous
diva was sure fan audience wherever
he went Some Of the inTormants were
enthusiasm itself; others wagged their
heads: others yet. those representing mo-
mentsry vocal vested interests, as TO say.
began to show signs Of alarm. Now the
Milanese are very jealous. and rightly so,
of the independence Of their opinion. They
will accept leniently q beginner. and be
as generous as they are usually rowdy;
but woe TO the celebrity counting their
verdict especially if the artists crown Of
laurels is pucked without Italy.
Be it as it may. q current hostile 10
Nine MeIba soon prevailed: and then
began a farce, unparalleled. / believe in
the career OF any artist l. al least. can
not recall to mind anything similar with
IN an experience extending over goOJly
number OF years. IN due time Milan was
graced with the presence of divine Mel
lie. and your obe1isnt servant was adj
vised himself OF the arrival a. follows:
i arrived in Milan on Tuesday. and
hope to see you; for know no one Their.
and as you can ina gi,r-. am very uer-
vous
Though the apprehensions were soon 10
be dispelled. how well rounded were they
for the moment As in duty bound I
called on Nine. Melba reassured her
as best l could and promised 20 introduce
10 her my friends and colleagues: but on
this last count was reckoning without
my host he musical critics q Milan
frightened by the hostile rumors. refuse5
Quaintance. Excuse me. amico. vas ,le
stereotyped answer, we would rather
know her after the 6ebgt-" OF friends
Arrigo Boito alone. asked when he would
be at home 70 receive the iva and ny
ser. answer by calling on Nine Meiba
without delay and paying a spontaneous
tribute OF respect to ana admired ART ste
ard a lady
Bchesrsals Of Lucia" began presently,
and word went round tna caCes and sing
ers' hauu's thas The professor d'orchcs-
ira scream With the laughter AZ the mere
sound Of AiCluas voice whica they COM
pared piayfully 10 a steam whistle.
= ia soiiJl cavata Ane-icana was
informed one evening az th1 Msnzoni ~
10 less q iuntnary than Anintore CAL
Of the Secoio and later On At the Club
-tsmislis Artistlca. thar IL was feared
there would be a repitition OF the famous
AibanI scandal n fact everybody autici-
pated q prodisiaus failure simultanscus-
b With all this. seemingly well info-n1e5
people went about telling there was a
cabal gct up against Melba amongst thc
artistes and the very personnel q the
Scala. ard that it Would r. as vel II the
idea Of he debut wee given up Even
Mr. Someone. then a, Venice. wrote 70
Melhs 10 leave Milan and come ever =
Venice 20 sing The ~Rantzan-
OF course an these rUTnors aers rot al
lowed 10 rcachour diva ears. and for
tire The absence n sny wide rcic y zc-
0uaintsnces enabled she few frseads she
had 70 keep her uasolled - intrEue Eat
this did not Sui, n al the promoters q
the worthy enterprise. ard without losing