New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-11
MARIA MALlBRAN
An Anecdotic Biography of the
Famous Singer.
Paris, March 4.

The personality Of Maria Malibran mas
in a measure, become legendary. Her
sublime voice, her marvellous artistic
talents, her brief career and her tragic
death are related By VI. Arthur Pougin
in Marie Malibran, Historic dune can
tatrice." lust published by Pon. Among
contemporary artists Nine. Sarah Bern
nardt is proba bly, the only one whose In
defatigable industry and devotion 10
work can bear comparison with the pro-
digious activity OF Maria Malibran y
daughter Of Spanish parents, born In
Paris, first known to fame in the United
States, married in New York, queen OF
the lyric stage in France and in Eng
land, she died, almost before the foot
lights, in Manchester, and was buried In
Belgium. There is no lack Of pictu-
rescue contrasts in her life
In New York, where she had come
when young girl with her father, Man
uel Garcia, she sang at the Park Theatre
in the first regularly organized italian
opera company founded in the United
States. She unwisely married in New
York o rather shaky banker named NAL
ibran. whose subsequent failure swal-
lowed up a large portion Of her scant
property. Returning TO Paris, she soon
achieved brilliant success at the Italian
opera She divorced her cumbersome
husband She was for a short time tho
intimate companion Of Lafayette. " vas
II ~ of,,tfn ~ .Iot III
first met the great friend OF Washington.
There was a representation Of Tan
credi" al the opera. lafayette, acclaimed
by the audience. was standing In large
proscenium box. Msibran came upon the
stage IS Tancred. I'm dazzling armOr. sill
yer helmet and drawn sword. She adj
vanced toward the box where Lafayette
stood and, before singing, saluted tho
veteran soldier with her sword. The
public burst into ecstasies Of enthusi-
asm, and an ovation ensued for Lafay-
cite The revolution soon attained food
tide and swept away Charles Y.
Malibran afterward married Charles
d. Beriot. the talented viollnist. once.
when singing in London, huge bouquet
was thrown and fell at her feet on the
stage a slip OF paper dropped from the
flowers. The public imperatively called
upon her u read the missive. She COM
piled with a smile, and read: PAY 10 the
bearer 1000 guineas." Nalibran did not
read the signature. which was the name
Of a we'll known London banker and one
49,. OIL t,rt 81,
mirers. She merely added Endorsed
with my signature to the Lord Mayor.
to be distributed among the poor Of this
parish"
She was an intrepid horscwoman. and
imprudently rode cross country when
the condition Of her health really for
badc the exertion. During d syncope
she fell from her horse. and. her foot
being caught in the stirrup, she was Sc
verely injured. Shortly afterward size
sang at "A musical festival at Manches-
ter. Although suffering terribly her rem
dering Of the duet in "Andronico' clio
tied such enthusiasm that the public
demanded an encore. Turning 10 the
Smart, she said: Il feel that II sing it
again the effort will kill me" Sir
George replied: For heavens sake.
madam. retire. and VIII make excuses
to the audience" Malibran took this as
an affront. She exclaimed. NO. viii
sing. but am a dead woman" a trc-
mcndous burst Of applause greeted tho
end OF the song, and she fell fainting on
the stage. She was carried 10 the Mos
ley Arms Inn, where she died four days
later. IL Is singular TO note that the
quatrain that Lamartine wrote after her
death. and which is inscribed on her
tombstone at Laekon. near Brussels. Is
not published i'm the poets works. The
epitaph runs:
Beauty, Genius and Love composed
her name Of woman, and are craven IN
her look, her heart and her voice, Thus,
-------s-s----