A SINGER DIES ON THE STAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10413, 10 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SINGER DIES ON THE STAGE.

A TRAGEDY WHILE PERFORMING "MARTHA." As the curtain fell at the end of|the firsb act of " .Vlartha" at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on February 10, and a tumult of applause swelled and rolled through tho great house, demanding that it bo rnisudagain, Count Armand de Castan, known to opera-goers as Mr. Caetelmary sank down on the stage dying. His Lord Tristan had been the feature of the fair scene, which closes tho act The applause was a tri'bute to the unusual fire with which he seemtici endowed. And while the boisterous sliouts of the play peasants mocked tho player and the audience volleyed its plaudits for the man, Lord Tristan died in Jean do Reszko's arms, his overtaxed liearb stilled for ever by the acting which had pleased so well. The audience did not know. Laughing (indcbacl ing, and criticising, too, the fashionables sat or sauntered till the dead player hail been borno to Jean do Roazko'e dressingroom, till lihey had hoard with languid interest the stage manager's announcement that M. Ciistelmary was too ill to sing more, still tlte curtain rose again, and the bravo singera—double players now—began tho secoud aefc. And so to the end. True, there was an excited group of pale men at the entranc* to the dressing-rooms, in which tho bnnso lay dead, and there waa a whisper spreading here and there in box and orchestra, which made men start ami gout the bloo<! from women's cheoke. But for the most part the audience only know that the opera swung along smoothly and was very enjoyable to the end, when the swelling chorus, " The Last Rose of Summer," sent them home with pleasing memories. Never had M. Castelmary's friends seen him act as ho did when tho chorus eurrounder! him as he vainly tried to pursue his " fair cousin," the Lady Henrietta. This wny und that he ran among the boisterous merrymakers. Then, fatigued by their strength and numbers and jjoodnaturod violence—so the aiidionce saw ithe wavered and leaned againsb those nearest him for u moinonc, as if glad of support. It was only a second. Then ho was wringing his liiuids ami pulling at his wig, all awry as it was. "I never saw anything like Castolmary to-night," Stage Manager Parry waa saying to M. do Ueszke. " Magnjitiuoirt!" the tenor ropliod, plemsed yet anxious. " But he's doing too much." As ho spoko tho curtain fell. The fatigue of Lord Tristan, feigueil at iiret, had suddenly becomo real. His logs gave way beneath him, and for a momorit ho rested on one knuo and ewayed as if he would fall. All oblivious of his plight and intent upon keeping the stage picture intact, tho chorus surrounded the singer. Ha roso by a supreme effort and forced his way through them, half I ailing, and staggered toward a table near the bank of tho stage. The house rang with approbation, and the curtain was raised. As it went up M, Castelroary reached tho tablo and fell forward upon it like a man swooning. Ho swayed there for a moment, and the curtain was dropped. Jean do Reszkc bounded from !iis place in the wings, and, crossing the stage at a stride or two, lifted bin old friend in his arm?, crying in alarm, "Caste!! Castel I What is it?" The old man sighed like ono who ia weary and closed his eyoa, and when tho tenor rnised him and carried him from the stage Lord Tristan waa dead—and in his harness, as he had wished it. In the silonco which followod the murmurs of t.ho greaD audiuuee —the hum of huppinei-s—and the wailing oi the violins in tho orchestra reached them. Miss Engle was told, and Mmo. Mnntelli and M. Kdouard do Reszke and the other men singers counselled calmness, and eaid all would do thuir boat to proceod with the opera. Lord Tristan waa dead, but ho musb live on the stage for an hour yet, and he did— in the person of M. Cernusco. Stasre Manager Parry stopped boforo the ourtain at ten minutes after nine—the doath occurred at nine—and addressed the audloncq. "I ro|;reb to announce that M. CaatoN mary Inn* fallon ill," ho said, " and will bo iinablo to sing during tho remaining acts. M. CertMUco will replace him, 1 »sk tho indulgence of tho audience."