A Very Exceptional Debut.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1683, 10 July 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

A Very Exceptional Debut.

[arcadian.] Labla'che's debut was marked by an adventure that might have* ended fatally, and, indeed, his salvation so impressed the greatest of bass singers as being absolutely supernatural and miraculous that he made public offerings to a shrine of a popular Madonna, which is still shown in Naples. His first appearance on any stage occurred just after the Congress of Leybach. and the King of Naples had but then returned to his dominions after an absence of some years. Magnificent fetes were organised in his honor, and, amongst others, a pageant was arranged at the St. Carlo Theatre, at which young Lablache was to appear as Jupiter, a part for which he -was well fitted both on account of his fine presence ancfrich and powerful basso voice. He was to descend from Olympus on a bank of clouds supporting the throne on which he was seated, holding an ivory sceptre in his hand, and wearing a golden diadem in his splendid and flowing black hair, Thunder announced his coming, and flashes of lightning preceded him. But suddenly a frightful screaming was heard. The king rose in horror, the queen fainted, ladies cried out in terror, and men rushed to the stage to avert, if possible, the appalling accident that menaced the new singer. The clouds had not descended ten feet ere the machinery gave way, and Jupiter fell through. Fortunately, however, a strong iron wire, or rope, caught in his cloak, so that it let him down- by degrees uninjured to the ground. But the most awful spectacle greeted him all the while he was descending. One of the workmen had also fallen through when the accident took place, and he fell upon a strong iron spike which supported the scenery, and which pierced him straight through the body. Now it so happened that the wire which saved Lablache in some way got entangled in the feet of this poor wretch, so that every movement made by Lablache told upon the unhappy creature on the spike, and he was driven down right under him, howling and screaming in a most apalling manner, whilst his blood spurted all over the great basso. When the two did reach land, Lablache's hair (a fact) was perfectly white, and the workman dead. They had taken between ten and fifteen minutes to get down, the audience, meanwhile, looking on in a state of terror easier imagined than described. The ELing of Naples, imitating Sixtus V. on a similiar occasion, had the courage at a very early period of the adventure, to cry out' If I hear anyone scream or shout out again I'll mark that person and have him shot.' This order silenced the people, and, of course, prevented the singer from losing his presence of *mind. Once safe, Lablache knelt down and. prayed—an act greatly admired by the audience, which presently rose and left the theatre. Lablache's hair remained white, and the contrast between his youthful face and venerable-looking hair was as charming as it was singular.