A VERY EXCEPTIONAL DEBUT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1966, 23 April 1875, Page 2

A VERY EXCEPTIONAL DEBUT.

Lablache's, debut' was marked by an adventure that might have, ended fatally, and, indeed, his salvation,, so impressed the greatest of; Basso singers as being absolutely supernatural and miraculous that he made public offerings to a .shrine of a popular Madonna, which' are still shown; in Naples/ His first appearance on any stage occurred just after the Congress of Ley bach, and tie 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" W arranged at the St Carlo Theatre, in which young Lablache was to appear as Jupiter, a part for which-*Wwm well fitted,-both on account ef his fine presence and rich and powerful basso voice.- He was to descend from Oljmpus on a bank of clouds supporting the throne on whictffte was seated, holding an ivory sceptrjion,his hand, add -iveaTing a golden dfa&em in his splendid and flowing black hafc Thunder announced his coming, and flashes of Light.nine preceded him. . But iuddenly_a frightful screaming was* heard.'"The king, rose in horror, the ..queen fainted, ladies cried but in terror, and men rushed to the . stage,, to avert, if possible, the appalling " accident which- menaced the,new singer.- The clouds had nst descended ten feet ere the machinery gave way, and Jupiter.; fell through. Fortunately, howerer, a strong iron wire, or rope, caught in his cloak* so that it let him down by degrees uninjured to the gromnd. But the most awful spectacle greeted him all the while he wai descending. One of the workmen 'had also fallen through when the accident took place. 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 wbich saved Lablache in some way got entangled in the feet of this ■ 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 appalling 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 deicribejL The King of Naples, imitating Sixtns V. «n a similar 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 minder* Once safe, Lablaohe knelt downaafl prayed—an act greatly admired by the audience, which presently arose and left ~ the theatre. Lablache's hair remaioed white, and the contrast between hisyouthful face and venerable-looking hair was aa charming as it^was singular.--- The Arcadian.