VERDI'S ‘ALZIRA’ AT NAPLES
1954; Oxford University Press; Volume: XXXV; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1093/ml/xxxv.2.125
ISSN1477-4631
Autores Tópico(s)Theatre and Performance Studies
ResumoON June 20th 1845, Verdi left Milan for Naples, arriving on the 26th. Neapolitan correspondent of the 'Rivista di Roma' described the warm reception given to the composer: When the news spread through the city. . . that on the same evening he would be present at the San Carlo theatre for the performance of' I due Foscari', the public . . . gathered in crowds at the theatre to see the famous composer in person. galleries and the vast hall of San Carlo, packed with spectators, presented a brilliant scene. performers, inspired by Verdi's presence, as if by a charge of electricity, surpassed themselves . . . All the singers were warmly applauded, but the enthusiastic audience wished to demonstrate its admiration for the composer of ' I due Foscari '. Being called for repeatedly and vociferously, he appeared twice on the stage. Verdi's pupil at Milan, Emanuele Muzio, when he heard of this, wrote to Antonio Barezzi: Mercadante, Pacini and Battista will gnaw their fingers in jealous rage. He added: The journalists are all hostile to him, as in other places. Verdi, for his part, was intolerant of every form of publicity. He approached no one and solicited no introductions to people who might have been useful to him. He had faith only in himself and the new opera he had come to produce, and he trusted only to the reception of the theatre-going public. English singer, Anna Bishop (Sir Henry Bishop's second wife), whom Verdi had heard in ' I due Foscari ' but of whom he had not approved, wanted also to sing the part of the protagonist in the new opera, 'Alzira'. She hoped that Eugenia Tadolini, who was expecting a baby, would not be able to appear. According to Verdi himself, Mme. Bishop, to turn public opinion against him, bribed the Neapolitan press. Verdi was immovable and refused to give up Mme. Tadolini, an artist of renown, of whose services he had assured himself in the contract with the management of the San Carlo theatre. When she had recovered from her confinement the rehearsals began, and three days later Verdi sent the following hitherto unpublished letter' to Antonio Tosi, the director of the 'Rivista di Roma ': Naples, July I5th I845. Dearest Tosi, Count Arrivabene brought me the box and the press-cuttings. I owe you a thousand thanks for the way you treat me in your paper. 'Autograph in the possession of Dr. V. Lapiccerella, Florence.
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