Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/64

52 double headlines. The first appearance has been successful and the prima donna's popularity is assured. But there is another side to the matter. There may be an opposing manager, or a rival singer, or a jealous company who wish to throw every possible obstacle in the path of the cantatrice. There may be a claque formed to make the initial performance a dismal failure. Scattered through the theater may be a body of people who have orders to hiss and jeer, and perhaps to create such a disturbance that an impartial hearing is impossible.

But sometimes even such a cabal meets its match.

Madame Alboni was a woman of much strength of character and possessed of much energy and decision. Such a claque was once formed against her, but with results rather unforeseen to the partakers in it.

Having an operatic engagement at Trieste, this noted singer went to that city; but on her arrival she found that a conspiracy had been formed against her, and that unless she took prompt action her success was endangered. So she disguised herself in male attire, and having a strong face, short hair, and solid build, this was not a hard matter to do.

Then hunting up the managers of the claque, she offered her services to assist in ruining the performance of the new prima donna.

"I am quite unknown to all of you," she said to the leader, "but if there's fun on hand, count on me."

"Very well," was the answer, "we are preparing to hiss off a new cantatrice this evening."

"Why," said the disguised singer, "what is the matter, what wrong has she done?"

"We know nothing of her save that she comes from Rome, and we wish to have no singers here whose reputation has not been gained amongst us."

"That is only fair. In what way can I help?"

"Each of us will carry a whistle like this one," producing a little black whistle. "Take this one, and at a signal which will be given after the air of Rosina, in