Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-01

She tired to beg OFT. but 1t was useless
Conried had his way He had it though every
one about the opera house from callbovs to
conductors. pronounced HIM lunatic for risk
ing an unknown and untried singer in the prin
cipal role of his biggest production for the sea-
son.
Five weeks after her addition Madam Rap
pold made her operate debut and Conried had
the satisfaction to use his own words. of TAX
ing hard fall out of the unpatr1otic prejudice
against home talent minus foreign import
stamp"
George Bottoms Debut
WHILE the directing hand of an exterior in
telligence is visible through Madam
Rappold's fortunate experience. nothing but
sheer luck governed the operate advent of
George Bolton. well known English singer of
the last generation. Bottoms name fingers in
operate history more through the circum-
stances of his debut than the memory of his
talents.
Colonel Henry Mapleson was in the midst
of a successful season some forty years
ago. when word came to him at five o'clock
one evening that his tenor Guiglni could not
sing in the nights performance of Martha"
Messengers were sent in all directions to bring
in a tenor who could sing the role of Plunkett.
but all came back empty handed 1t was
impossible to change the bill and nothing
remained but to close the doors and return a
heavy advance sale Sick at heart Colonel
Mapleson jumped into cab to call person
ally on his great prima donnas Trebelli and
Tietjens and announce that there would be no
performance.
Dashing through the Haymarket the cab
horse struck man and knocked him down.
The man was not badly hurt. and Colonel
Mapleson invited him to enter the cab. He
made himself known as a singer. just returned
from study in Italy.
Know Plunkettl" asked Mapleson with breath
less haste.
Bolton was very anxious to make debut:
he did not know the role of Plunkett: but he
had sung Plunkett's big aria and the quintet in
concert. However. he knew only the English
words. mo matter" said Mapleson: you
make your debut as Plunkett tonight"
Not If | can leap out of this cab and es-
son ss mad But Mapesen the held hm fase
and assured him that he was taking him to
rehearsal with Tietjens and Trebelli The
prrna donnas agreed heartily with Bottoms
estimate of Mapleson's sanity: but the i'm
presario with the big door receipts IN mind.
was full of argument and resource. He set the
stage with the aid of Trebeli's furniture and
put Bolton through hurried rehearsal. Just
laugh your way through and sing any kind of
lingo but English was his final injunction.
Bolton actually carried off the impresario's
mad scheme His big aria M'appari'' was re-
demanded by the audience. though he knew
not a word of the text beyond the opening
ton. Before the night was over Bolton estab-
lished himself firmly with the London public.
Another Mapleson Discovery
THE older generation of operagoers will re-
call the tenor Ravelli who once tried to
carve Minnie Hauk during Carmen" per-
Torrance in Chicago. Ravelli was one of Ma
pleson's accidental discoveries. After singing
in some obscure opera house in Italy he had
drlfted to London and lived there from hand
to mouth. as no one knew him or would trouble
to listen to him. One afternoon Colonel Maple.
son was starting home to dine. with comforta-
BILE assurance of the receipts for the nights per-
Torrance of Lucia" Word came that Cam
panini was i'll. Nc substitute could be found:
no change could be made. 1t looked certain
that the audience would have to be sent home.
When the doorman was told to prepare the an
nouncements. he mentioned that dark little
fellow had been hanging around for several
weeks. who claimed he could sing all the big
tenor roles as we'll as Campanini. No one
knew his name or address.
"Scour the neighborhood for him!" said
Mapleson. going back to his Office.
Within an hour Ravelli was brought in Ill
fed and shabby. Could he sing Edgardof He
proved it at once. The delicate question of
terms was preached.
Give me food and a bottle of wine and III
sing. Tomorrow we will talk terms" he said.
While he ate the costumers made hasty job
of cutting down garments to fit him.
Ravelli had the big ringing top notes the pub