Identifier: favouriteoperasf00hadd (find matches)
Title: Favourite operas from Mozart to Mascagni : their plots, history and music
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Hadden, J. Cuthbert (James Cuthbert), 1861-1914
Subjects: Operas
Publisher: New York : Thomas Nelson
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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to him the need offurther study, and study was diligently pursued forthe next few years. Meanwhile, he had to live, and to that end heaccepted engagements as a violinist at Drury LaneTheatre and elsewhere. He conceived an idea thathe might make something out of his voice; and thefirst result of that idea was an unappreciated appear-ance on the operatic stage—at Norwich, as Casparin ** Der Freischiitz. Soon after this he had aromantic sort of experience. In London he meta certain Count Mazzara, who, seeing in him thevery image of a son he had just lost, offered to takeBalfe with him to Italy and bear the costs of hisfurther training. Balfe lived in Rome with theCount for some time, pursuing his studies in asomewhat desultory fashion. At Milan, later, he studied especially singing and composition, and wrote music for a ballet which had a remarkable success. Next we find him in Paris, where the stern old Cherubini introduced him to Rossini. Rossini was so delighted with his singing 172
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The Rescue of Arline THE C O JNl r O S E 11 of an air from The Barber that he promised toengage Balfe for the Italian Opera if he would onlystudy under Bordogni for a year before his debut.Money was found for this purpose by a friend ofCherubini, and when the time came, Balfe madesuch a satisfactory appearance at the Theatre desItaliens that he was engaged for three years at asalary of 15,000 francs for the first year, 20,000 francsfor the second, and 25,000 francs for the third. Hishealth did not hold out to enable him to completethe time, and he returned to Italy, where he sangat Palermo and elsewhere. It was now that hemet his future wife, Mdlle. Lina Rosa, a Hungariansinger of great talent and beauty, whom he shortlyafterwards married. A meeting with Malibran resulted in an operaticand concert tour with that great artist. Then hereturned to England, where his first notable opera, The Siege of Rochelle, was produced with im-mense success at Drury Lane in October 1835.Next year came

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