Garcia the Centenarian And His Times

6-18

ples, and with his family set out for Paris, w

y, Napoleon had still been all-powerful; when he returned Louis XVI

er by private tutors,-Reicha, Basbereau, and others. As to himself, he was at once engaged as primo tenore at

owing to its extraordinary purity, force, and compass, which extended to G in altissimo. On leaving the convent, where sometimes the congregation h

e Fenice Theatre in Venice, and thence she went to other oper

ver, a prima donna of the deepest dye, capricious as she was extravagant. Neither would her disposition endure the possibility of rivalry, nor would the size of her increasing demands allow the mana

the despot, fearing his wrath, and paid a tactful visit to Germany and Scandinavia. It was only after the capture of the Emperor that she dared return, and even then she did so by way of Holland, instead of coming direc

ia, who was now eight years old, accompanied them, and was left in England for some years, her education being carried on in a convent sc

casion." As primo tenore of Catalani's troupe, he appeared as Paolino in Pergolesi's "Matrimonio Segreto," and sang in all the

o England. This was only a few months after "Don Giovanni" had been given in England for the first time at th

according to a critic of that time, "commensurate with his transcendent talent," while he appeared in other operas with equal éclat. During the same seaso

nni," and also took part, on October 26, in the first performance of "Il Barbiere" ever given in Paris, at the Salle Louvois. It was again received coldly, as had been the case on the original production in Rome three and a half years before. Once

Parisian premiè

e. Ronzi

ignor Pe

Signor G

Signor d

a Signo

t du Tasse" and "Florestan" were produced at the Grand Opera, "Fazzoletto" at the Théatre It

ng, his fame attracting a number of pupils, while at the close

It was destined to be the last time he ever saw his native country. The fact is a curious one when we remember his intense love for Spain, which was so str

Joseph Fétis, who had just succeeded Elen as professor of counterpoint and fugue at the Conservatoire. This was six years before Fétis became librarian of the institution-a position in which he was enabled to prepare his famous 'Biographie Universelle

Pauline,-who was in after years to become no less famous than Maria. The second and third n

ondon. It was at this time, too, that he first began seriously to take Maria's musical training in hand, since she was now approaching her fifteenth

's Theatre in May in Rossini's "Otel

Signor

a Mme. C

Signo

Signor

ignor

ignora C

ignor

s: "Garcia's voice has an extensive compass and considerable

e first performance of Rossini's semi-serious

e Signo

o Signor

Signor

Signo

Mme. C

Mme.

Mme. Gr

's works with the strange title, "Matilde di Shabran e Corradino, ossi

abran Mme. Ro

o Signor

Signor d

o Signo

Mme. V

Arca Signor

a lived in a musical world day and night. Awake

ondon season his fath

e French capital at this time, when Manuel was a young man of eigh

heatrical performers of Paris united to give a dinner to Sign

le. Georges on his left; Mmes. Grassari, Cinti, and Denuri sat next to these. MM. Talma, Boieldieu, Garcia, and Martin were in the midst of this group o

e following toast-'To Rossini! whose ardent Genius has op

st-'To the French School, and to th

r then gav

he most sensible and one of the mo

sini then g

ollowing words-'Mehul! I see Rossini and

genuity and passion, he rendered popular i

M. Auber) gave-'Cimarosa!

close and an unofficial commencement of others, whic

ngland once more, for we find the following anno

ed as composer and director of the music: he is to superintend the performance of his own operas, and to pro

gnis, Colbran Rossin

i, Franceschi, Remorin

r-Signor

ignor Sp

ignor

l appear-Mme. Ron

dalise Grener, M

les Vestris, M.

llet-master-

new opera conducted by "the universally fashionabl

e but rarely-"Don Giovanni" and "II Barbiere," which latter was given with Mme. Vestris as Rosina, di Begnis as Bartolo, Benetti as Figaro, and Garcia in his old pa

ch Mme. Pasta makes her rentrée? Add to these "Ricciardo e Zoraide," "Semiramide," "Turco in Italia

al events worthy of atten

a concert at the Argyll Rooms, when he exhibited talents t

at Almack's Rooms,-how strangely the names of the fashionable c

r has the assistance of the leading operatic artistes of the day

conducted, but sang. He gave "a cavatino (sic) from Figaro," and

or we find "Mdlle. Maria Garcia" making apparently her first appearance in London, taking part

t the early autumn of this year is principally memorable for the fact that he allowed his daughter to make her first appearance in Pari

shed. The elder Garcia was again engaged as first tenor at the Royal Opera, his salary having now risen from ￡260 (1823) to ￡1250. Here he continued

her début in London at the King's Theatre, as Rosina

aris, Ronzi losing her voice through illness, Vestris seceding to the stage, and Caradori, an

sing a voice of ravishing beauty, together with perfection of fioriture and grandeur of dramatic conception, but in spite of this there was no doubt in his mind as to his

which was witnessed by her brother; and she was engaged by the management

s so strangely with the taste of the present day, and serves to illustrate the important

introduction of Meyerbeer's music to English

r, a composer whose name was completely unknown in this country only a few weeks ago.... Mdlle. Garcia, d

ow supported in London are the Ancient and the Philharmonic," though we find Mme. Catalani during May gi

luti, the last male soprano who ever trod the boards in opera in this country, Puzzi, and a pianist with the mellifluou

nd Signor and Mdlle. Garcia, Caradori, Begrez, di

hter, sang at several provincial concerts, and their names appear in the program

y appearing together was

as one of the soloists at

en arranged, the treaty failed in consequence of a stipulation on her part

tried to get Mme. Pasta, but this was refused, as they could not give her permission to come without materially compromising the interests of the Italian Theatre Roya

orex, Co

, Assistan

pal Vo

phens. M

adori. M

arcia. M

vis. Mr

inson. Mr

dall Mr

r Phi

r. Signor

350 voices, and 24

Orche

home to us the change which has ta

ora overtures. Such names, however, as Pepusch, Spontini, and Salieri have long since disappeared. Again, the style of Festival programme was then

a" from "Sigismondo," "O patria" from "Il Tancredi," a terzetto from "Il Crociato in

the end of the month the Garcia family embarked at Liverpool for New York,

f the operatic and theatrical events between the year of Man

n was at Drury Lane; and at Covent Garden Mrs Siddons reappeared as Lady Mac

oe," with Grimaldi as Friday. It was, moreover, on June 13 of this season that Kemble played Coriolanus for the last time, and r

os were given under Henry Bishop, with Samuel Wesley the church musician as conductor; while on June 9, at the benefit of Mr and Mrs Charles Kemb

of George IV.); while within a few weeks there took place an interesting ben

thony

solute Cha

land

s Li

Mrs

rop Mrs D

yne's opera, "The Maid of Milan," which contained the air "Home, Sweet Home"; while in the foll

eled constellation of stars who were appearing at Drury Lane: Macready, Kean, Young

his place, in honour of which event "Der Freischütz" was brought out at the English Opera House, being also produced i

ing received by theatrical stars at th

John Kemble, for acting and managing, was receiving ￡36; Miss O'Neill, at the most brilliant portion of her career, never had more than ￡25 a-w

h the salaries which theatrical stars were rece