The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-07-15
A NAL|BRAN VICTORY
The Great Singers Lively Debut
In an English City.
SHE DEFIED THE DIRECTORS.

Considering That She Had Been Shah
billy Treated, MaIibran Sang as Long
as She Wanted to and Had Most
Satisfactory Revenge.
QuarrelS between opera singers and
managers call to mind an incident in
the life of Malibran. 1t WAS in 1929.
when Malibran returned to England
from New York and made her debut
ut Birmingham ut the music festival
as Malibran Garcia. Miss Patton had
already become Il favorite there and
was allowed to choose her own songs
and sing as many as she pleased,
whereas Malibran was compelled to
slug only what was assigned to her.
Garcia bore the indignity with such
patience as she could command until
one morning she saw the announce
ment that Miss Patton would sing six
songs that evening and that she
would sing but two. Then it was
that, realizing that much ,of her sue
cess for the season in England depend
ed on her having II better place in the
program. she stormed the directors.
In vain the directors endeavored to
avoid receiving her, but she made
short work Of ceremony. and while
they were framing an excuse to pacify
her she broke in upon them in IL mag
niicent rage. In jiffy she asked the
chairnlau:
Sir, have you sanctioned this pro-
gram And. receiving Il nod in the
affirmative, she sailed along further.
Il had hoped" she said. 1T had
been issued without your sanction, for
it assigns me two songs. both of which
are hackneyed. while it gives my RI
val, Miss Patton. six. She has an es-
tablished reputation here. Mine is
yet to make. ut least with your Eng
lish audiences. and therefore if any
preference should be given to any one
it should be to me- On my success
here depends all chance of my sue
cess in London You forget this or
do not care You give me no chance
of success. whereas all | want is JUS
tice. want the same opportunity for
displaying my ability as you allow
Miss Patton. Here you advertise me
for Romeo. But l performed that last
night, and the public will say, Romeo
on Monday. Romeo on Tuesday. Ro-
meo on Wednesday-Romeo. Romeo,
she can do nothing but Romeo |
want fair play-no more, no less
Well. it was a great fuss. The direct
ors endeavored to soothe her. for she
had talked herself into great pas
sion, but they made their mistake in
| was printed and could not be changed
In vain Malibran argued that she
should sing six or an equal number Of
songs with Miss Patton. and finally she
went off in great huff, declaring if
they would not right her she would
right herself.
The evening advertised came. and
the thcater was crowded with the
rank. beauty and fashion of Birlning-
ham, rs every one familiar with Eng
| lish music festivals would expect The
| performance commenced. Some one
ly came Miss Patton. AS usual. she
was heartily received. Then MaIibran
came forward amid many plaudits. un-
doubleday agitated at the applause,
and stood for a minute With her arms
folded aud her eyes on the ground.
There was piano near the foot
lights. and the music stool stood at
the back of the stage. Malibran stood
near the piano. but did not touch Il
key. while in manner until then un-
known in England she warbied the
we'll known aria Una vOce poce fa.'
Peal followed peal of applause. and
when the conductor came to lead Mali
bran away the cries of encore were so
loud as to make him retreat, and again
Malibran was in the hands of the au.
dieuce
For some time the applause contin-
ued and finally died away. When all
was silence Maiibran started up sud
denly, made a pretty obeisance. hastily
ran to the back part of the stage and
brought out piano stool Then. mo-
tioning to the orchestra not to play.
she played a preludio and then an ac-
compartment to the song she had just
given. But that was not all When
she came within note or two of the
conclusion she paused, cast look at
the wings, where the mystifed direct.
or stood. laugbingly shook her head
and to the delight of the audience and
the amazement of the directors com
menced Il new song. She had been
singing Italian; now she sang Spanish
and when this had been applauded she
started to retire. The audience, how.
ever, would not part with her. and
when the conductor came to lead her
off pit. gallery and boxes actually
Kissed the poor fellow.
There never was more enthusiasts
tic ovation to singer in birmingham
and, thus encouraged, Malibran grace
fully waved the conductor off and
again sat down to play She passed
from Spanish to German. German te
French and finally from French tc
English. and the result was that she
occupied so much time that the nerv
ousy waiting Miss Patton sang onl,
two songs instead of six!
There was lively scene behind the
curtain when Malibran at length re
tired. But to the acting director. wht
fumed and cried. Madam, you have
played us an astonishing trick she
only smiled and said. Il told you thai
! would right myself if Won wrnnoaf
me-and | did."-New York Post
L Knew Her WeaknAse