THE CHORUS SINGER AND THE THEATRE FIRE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 25, 18 June 1892, Page 622

THE CHORUS SINGER AND THE THEATRE FIRE.

A GROUP of girls stood at the stage door of the Grand Opera House in Vienna, talking or exchanging words with the other employes who passed in, keeping the while a sharp look out for the manager. One of these chorus singers, a young and beautiful Italian girl, standing just within the extreme entrance, with her mantle wrapt closely about her throat, suddenly remarked : ‘ We must sing our best to-night, for the Emperor is coming.’

‘ls he ? How do you know ’ Who told you, Anna Carolla?’

‘ One of the band,’ answered Anna Carolla, quietly. ‘ Carl Rosenfeldt. There he comes, with his violin.’

With some others of the opera band there approached a tall, handsome, young Hungarian, who paused to answer the girls’ eager inquiry, ‘ Had he said the Emperor was coming ?’ ‘ Yes ; the Imperial Guards have just passed by to take up their place at the grand entrance. The house will be crowded.’

Then passing inside, he stooped to whisper to Anna Carolla, with a smile in his deep blue eyes, ‘ Anna, I lead the violins to-night; Stendgal is ill.’ She put her hand in his, with the sweet perfect trust of one who knows she is loved.

‘ I am sorry for him ; but for you, Carl, my heart must be glad.’ ‘ Here they come together !’ cried a girl outside. ‘ The manager and chef <1 orchestre. Away I’ The new leader of the band hurried away as the chorus trooped in, and Anna Carolla followed them into their dressing room. There she soon donned her stage dress ; and slipped away to watch the house filling, and above all to hear every note of the exquisite overture to ‘ Oberon.’ How fast every place was filling from floor to gallery ! The auditorium was one blaze of splendour ; and as she gazed, the poor, friendless chorus singer, whose dramatic talent and splendid voice ought, if she had only the fortune to get the first lift, to place her high in the lyric stage, wondered sadly if such chance would ever come to her ; if not, Carl’s father would never consent to their marriage. And now the whole house rose as the Emperor entered his box, splendidly dressed, glittering with jewels of rarest value, which flashed a thousand rays as he bowed right and left with his usual courteous grace. Then the band struck up the overture, and with the last bar the curtain drew up. Flitting here and there during the performance, with eyes and ears for everything, the manager noticed the Imperial visitor indicating to a gentleman beside him some one in the chorus. It was Anna Carolla, whose beauty had attracted his eye. The first act went splendidly, and the second act soon commenced ; but fate had decreed that it should never be played out that night. Half way through, as the manager, pleased and complacent, was quietly standing back in one of the wings, he suddenly felt his arm grasped, and turned sharply to see Anna Carolla’s lovely face, so full of determination and character, at his side. ‘ Hush,’ she said, very low and quietly, ‘ make no exclamations, but go and see to it before it gains or is discovered. The theatre is on fire somewhere back of the green room. The company can leave by the stage door. Go.’

‘ But, child, if there is the least hint of alarm, look at that house. They will be crushed to death in their terror and crowding to get out.’ ‘ Listen,’said the Italian, in the same calm, self-contained manner. ‘ Send the call-boy to tell the door-keeper to order each one as they pass out to depart quickly. I will clear the house quietly.’ ‘ You do that 1’

‘ Yes, here is the boy, send him, and clear out the company ; I will do my part.’ The manager blindly obeyed the strong will and steady purpose of the master-mind, as people in emergency generally do, whatever their relative positions in the world. Anna Carolla passed on to the stage, and advancing at once to the footlights, stood for one moment, her tall, commanding form and beautiful head drawn erect, unflinchingly facing that crowd, meeting full even the astonished gaze of the Emperor himself, and the wondering look of her lover. In a voice not loud, but clear as a bell, with coo), steady authority, in every measured accent, she said :— ‘ I am here by the manager’s orders. His Imperial Majesty has been robbed to-night of a rare diamond, and

the thief is in the house. Every one' and the speaker’s dark eyes swept the audience from gallery to pit, ‘is at once to withdraw quietly, and in order; anyone attempting to remain will be immediately arrested. The band will also retire at once.’ Even as she spoke, her ear, painfully strung for the sound, could hear the warm hum of flames from the hack, bnt unmoved, she stepped back, swept a deep obeisance to the audience and Emperor, and the curtain fell.

The Emperor instantly left his box, whispering to a gentleman to whom he had before pointed out Anna Carolla, ‘ There is something behind all this. lam not robbed. Send Colonel Bergmann round to summon the manager to our carriage door.’ Meanwhile the vast crowd filtered rapidly in quiet order and in safety out, only learning at the door, as they were hurried away, the awful death by fire or crushing from which the brave and quick witted girl had saved them. The last few to leave the auditorium smelt the fire and heard the crackling of flames, and hurried wildly, spreading the alarm. But the terrible cry of fire came too late to do mischief, and once outside, the police and the soldiery, under the cool directions of the Emperor himself, kept order. And though the flames mounted at last, Anna’s timely discovery and the energetic measures taken, forced the fire under. In less than an hour and a half it was completely out, and the mutilated Opera House left in charge of the police. Then, and not till then, did the Emperor dismount from the horse he had used and return to his carriage. As he did so he paused suddenly. ‘ Bergmann, see 1 there goes that Italian girl herself, leaning on the arm of the young fellow who led the band so splendidly to-night. Go, see who and what they are.' Colonel Bergmann departed to obey the order, and the Emperor drove off. The next day the whole story was in the Government organ, with an intimation, ‘ inspired ’ of course, that his Imperial Majesty had graciously caused inquiries to be made about the young chorus singer. A few days later old Herr Rosenfeldt received an official intimation that his gifted son Carl, and his fiance, Anna Carolla, were both under Imperial protection, and their marriage was desired to take place as soon as possible, the Emperor dowering the bride. The manager also received a similar intimation through Colonel Bergmann, that his late chorus singer was to be brought forward, and advertised for the re opening of the Opera as Madame Carolla-Rosenfeldt.

Once more the elite of gay Vienna crowded the Opera House to see the debut of the new singer as Agata in ‘ Der Freischiitz.’ The moment she came on she was received with a. furore which might well make Carl Rosenfeldt proud of his beautiful young wife, and if for Royalty was her grateful glance and sweeping salute, for him was the smile in the soft dark eyes that met his for one second. When the curtain fell the new star was called for and showered with bouquets from many a distinguished hand ; but from the Imperial box was flung one in which lay nestled a costly bracelet, in the centre of which blazed a diamond of rare value and beauty. ‘ That fire has made our fortune, Carl,’ his young wife said, smiling, as they drove home. ‘ Nay, Anna, your own courage and quickness,’ answered Carl Rosenfeldt. ‘ That was a diamond rarer than the Imperial gift.’ And he was right.