The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-01-25
THE |MPRESSAR|O BASED
ON HISTORY
Comic Opera Coming TO Skomhegan
on February IL. Characters
Represented from Real Life

Skowhegan is big town because 1t
has formed the habit of doing big
things in big way. The next big
thing that Skowhegan is going to
tackle is THE Impresario," a comic
opera composed by the immortal Mo-
Fart. In this production William
Wade Hinshaw, president and general
manager OF the Society of American
Singers of New York, presents the
celebrated American baritone, Percy
Hemus, supported by an exceptional
all-artist cast
The story of The Impresario," or
"Hoodwinking the Manager Is based
upon an historical episode, and the
characters represented are from real
life.
In 1886 Emanuel Schickaneder, erst-
while poet. dramatist, librettist, must
clan, singer. actor and also the gene
raj manager of the Vienna Opera
House, engaged Mozart, the great com
poser, to compose the music for
new fantastic opera, THE Magic
Flute" which he, Schickaneder, as I'D
rettst, was writing, and winch, al
though the opera was not yet finish
ed, the company was already rehear-
sing on the stage of the opera house.
Mozart's sister-in-law, Madam Ho-
fer, was engaged as the Prima Donna
Assoluta at the opera and feeling
her position secure on account of her
relation to Mozart, she amused her
self NY making life miserable for
Shickaneder, through her prima donna
tantrums. There were two prima
donna roles in the new opera, Queen
of the Night" and "Pamina," both
requiring coloratura sopranos of the
first water. which made it necessary
for Schickanede to engage second
prima donna to sing the role of PA
NINA" to which Madam Refer SER
iously objected. Since the Empress
had set the fashion to favor Italian
singers and the Italian language,
Shickaneder determined upon making
a clever business stroke by engaging
an Italian for the role, and set about
corresponding with Signorina Caval
lier, of Milan, for the post
Philip Shickaneder nephew, and
second baritone of\t the Opera House,
had sweetheart who was the leading
soprano of the opera at the little town
of Linz, but who refused to marry
min until she could make a career,
and in order to hasten it, Philip sought
TO get his uncle engage her at Vienna.
This Schiekaneder would not do, as
lie would not have prima donna
niece n-law in his pay. He had
troubles enough without that. Phil
lip, however, enlisted the assistance
of Mozart, who was always ready to
come to the aid of a pretty girl, and
by passing off his fiancee as the Ca
valleri" from Milan, secured an au-
dence for her with his uncle. who
delighted with her singing, fastened
to get her name to contract, not
dreaming, until it was too late, that
he had been hoodwinked into sign
ing a hard and fast contract with
Phillips fiancee, Mile Dorothea Uh-
lie, singer of Linz.
CAS- is the usual case with the So
prano roles of Mozart's operas. all
of the soprano arias sung in the I'm
presario" are of bravura character,
taking The voices to high e numerous
times, as we'll as to all intermediate
notes while in the trio. Il am the
Prima Donna in which Madam Ho-
fer and Nile Uhlic contest with each
other rs to who Is the best singer,
they are sent slIyrocketing in a great
flash of brillancy to f in Altissimo.
IF above Nigh c. }.