Adelina Patti: Bier Early Life and Subsequent Career.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 25

Adelina Patti: Bier Early Life and Subsequent Career.

Adelina Patti, this spoilt child of the century, who 8368 at her feet whomsoover shß chooeeß, called diva and adored as «ucb, who is paid in gold weight for nvery note sho utters, accustomod to reoaivo iivo hundred pounds a night in England and doublo that amount in America — Adelina Patti, that realised fairy dream of Scheherezade's thousand and one nights, ths adored of everybody, the idol of all countries, of Europe and America — Adelina Patti is an enigma, a question unsolvable by the sphinx, who will not or cannot answer ifc. The enigma begins at her birth. _ So far as I have been able to ascertain in Spain, where she was born of Italian parents, the year that gave her daylight was 1843, Adeline's voice was naturally so flexible and execution came to her so easily that when eight years old she began making shakes of half and whole tones all through a Boale up and down. Ib wa3 about that time that her father was not too prosperous, and to whom should they look for support but to little Adeline? So aho took le&eoua, and lam glad here to atata the true f«cfc f from Eotore Barili, her brrother — that ia to say, tho son of tbe Bame mother but by a previous husband. It has baen so ofi.pu stated that Maurice Strakosch was her master became he it wafc who brought hor out heie, that the allegation has somehow become historical ; but it is not bo. " Norma '' wan the firet opera in which Adelina Patti sang— a Nonrta eight years old, a Norma repudiating hor faithless lovor, crushing him in her jealousy with tha

sight of her children, and she eight years old i Adelioa's other great tfl'.e in her tender age was Rorina in "II Barbiere di Siviglia." How uhe knew the whole part, holh words and music by heart, without learning it ; how she tiang flnriturea aa it seemed improvised on the spot, nobody ever could say, and it therefore is only to be explained, a3 phe Hftid horself, by her master being It bon Dieu I She went on Binging until she was twelve and a half years old, making money wherever sbs went, and naturally oreatiug a sensation which made her the town's talk from city fco city. When aha was twelve and a half years old her career waa interrupted, and she remained without singing for two years. After theie two years without any publio performance, Patti, having now become a young lady artist from a mere child, although evefcf now she was but fourteen and a half years old, was engaged to sing, only no longer on a table, but on a regular atage. Strakoaoh, her brother in-law, travelled with her through the States down to New Orleans, gave concerts with various results, but always most successfully, artistically speaking, until, after three years had elapsed, he thought the moment had arrived for le grand coup — to take her to Europe. She arrived in London with her brother-in-law Maurice Strackosch, who had married her sister Amelia secretly. PATH'S DEBOT IN LONDON, When Adelina Patti first arrived in London she took two rooms in Norfolk street, Strand, firatly beoause it waa near-fche opera houses, and above all because it was cheap. Her first offer was made to the then manoger of' Her Majesty's Theatre, Mr Smith. Lumley had had his great dayo with Jenny Lind ; the big company, Mario, Orisi, with the conductor Costa, had left him to establish themselves at Covfnt Garden, Mr Smith was oupposed to be the very man to bring cut Mademoiselle Patti, and to make her fortune and recoup his own. But oh, misfortune 1 when Mademoiselle Fatti arrived, Mr Smith's career as manager ■was at an end, and tfcoro waß nothing to be done but to bos Mr Gye (I spoak of course not of the preeent one, but ot his father), who was the only man to be appealed to. Now Mr Gye — who had by the merest accident been choaen by tho revolutionary committee of the singera, who had thrown overboard Mr Lumloy to establish themselves in opposition to him, because they wanted somebody to take care of the mechanical business for them — was, if I may say ao, a self- educated man, a long sightod, energetic, intelligent man, but obstinate as a mule, having only one creed, tho came that Prince Windischgratz, the Austrian FieldMarshal, is credited with — "Humanity begins only with the barona." Nobility was all Mr Gye cared for j no benefactor of humanity was in his eyes anybody when compared to a peer. With this view he had got the utmost possible aristocratic patronage for his opera house ; he bad succeeded in making it what in reality afterwards kept it alive — tho fashion ; and ho was the man to make tbe fortune of a young Binger like Adelina Patti, because one thiag wa3 certain - brf ore the best Bociety she could be beard only in bia theatre.

I remember parfectly well tho day when she was announced foi- her dabufc at Covent Garden. .1 could not persuade a gentleman friend of mine, a banker, and who waa a mßmbßr of tfae same club as I belonged to, to come wilb me and bear her, although I told Mm she was expected to make a groat hit. But Bhe had no name, and it ia all very fine to quote Shakespeare and ask, what is in a name? As a designation, certainly a rose would smoll as Bweet if it was called blotting paper ; but if you should have to decorato a house for the reception of a dear friend, and tbe florist should propose any plants unknown to you, would you not order roaes, oleanders, anything the name of which ia advantageously known to yon ? Let anybody go on tbe stage and sing as well aa Patti, would the applause be tbo sauie? Abovrt all would the sale of tho tickets be the same ? On tho other hand, let an unknown Binger como out, and announce her under the name of Patti, and see the sale. Why ? On account of the name.

Wo)l then, Patti was anuoucced, and she sang for — nothing, It was agreed that, if she pleased, she ehould Bing twice a week for the sum of £150 a month, that is a little 1033 than £17 a night ; now she gets £500 a night here, and £1000 in America. The opera has "La SonnambuJa,"and tbe house was nofc full, of course. Forth aha came, not one band receiving her. Never eball I forget the unconcerned, simple way in which she walked forward, just Jike a child recitiog a lesson, pretty and graceful, but ia no way foreshadowiog what we were to have. But after she had 6UQg her first air, there waa not bo much admiration ao stupefaction in the house. Who was that little girl? How wa3 such a voice such a treasure, locked in such a chest ? What is really in her? Let ua wait for the second act. What will she do with " Ah non giunge," and bo on. I remember meeting Lord W. in the lobby after the first act", as brilliant an amateur as ii; ever was my luck to meet with, and he said " Do you know,.!, am ashamed to say so, but that little girl gives me more pleasure than the whole crowd of those old singers put together. What do you think of her?" I said, "My lord, all I have to say, is, that I advise you at once to secure your box for tbe remainder of tbe season, for I guarantee that you will pay dearly enough for it if you 1o not."

Act 11. Encouraged by th,e evident effect she bad created, Mr Gye came upon the stage, glowing with the congratulations he had received, and he immediately concluded that engagement, which resulted from a successful debut', whilst Patti, feeling her wings grow and her bold on the publio increasing as she went on, launched herself heart and soul into the brilliant finale, the effect of which was indescribable. The audience felt itself in the presence of a grand rising star.

WHAT FOLLOWED.

Having sung a Bsason in London and with such result, sbo was of course at ones engaged to Bing aux Italiens at Paris, the highest ambition of every great singer who demands the consecration de son talent, before which grand act of baptism tbe Parisians do not admit that any artist can be a celebrity. And yet Jenny Lind did without them, Les Italiens were then no more what they had been in Rossini's time, but from old habit the theatre still was the rendezvous of the nobility and the best society of Paris, Thoro still lived Grisi, Mario, Fraßohini, Tamberlik, Pedco, Boaio, Frezaolini, Badiali, and Tamburini, although the shadow of what he had been ; but all these singers wore, real Italians, not what Italian companiaH are now, formed of every possible nation except Italian. The curiosity was great, but great too was tho success. Tnere ware ministers, poets, tho fashionable benutieß, poaing before each other, eager to see, etill morn onger to be seen ; of course a predominant number of musicians Men of science, men of celebrity, men of title, offored to mnvry her ; she laughed at all of them, until ono came at whom she did not laugh. Tho Marquis da Caux, a very distinguished gentleman, who held the position of Equerry to the Empress Eugenic during the Second Empire, waa the happjr man accepted, and the wedding took place in London ; after which they wont to the

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the Continent. A curious incident of Madame* Patti's life was that Bhe lived nearly with every one of her professional colleagues on the beßfc possible tetttm. Thefe was, however, ona singer, his name wad Nicolini, a Frenchman (Nico'ae), who made auch an unfavourable, impression upon her, that not only did clio dislike him, but, abusing tbe excess, of poWef nt her command, she insisted on a .condition being put into her contract, stipulating that either this tenor was never to be engaged in the same troupe witb her, or, if previously engaged, abe must never bo obliged to sing with him. It was a Bad affair for Nicolini, who lived in that same atmosphere 0/ Admiration, and would have liked nothing so mucfi »s to appear before tbe public of Russia, of France, of England, anywhere, in a love duet with the young queen of song. But she would not hear of it, would not speak: to him, would not see him. In life Patti is or appears to bo the simplest creature born. She never affects a stupid prudery. She will tell yoti as she looks you straight in the face (which i 8 one of her great qualities), " I am tbo first singer in the world, all the others must costcede that."— Lewis Eugel, in Temple Bar.