THE CAT WAS THE CLIMAX

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 September 1939, Page 15

THE CAT WAS THE CLIMAX

But Rossini Laughed At His Critics

N the evening of February 20, 1816, the first performance of Rossini’s "Barber of Seville" was presented at the Argentine Theatre in Rome. From the first, everything went wrong. Rossini, who was regarded as a musical revolutionary by most of the audience, came forward to conduct in a tight-fitting beige coat. immediately, loud laughter broke | ont. When the curtain rose, one of the singers, finding his guitar out of tune, sat down upon the stage to tune it; late: a siring broke, and he had to mend ix snd make another attempt at starting. All the while, commotion reigned ia the theatre. Fresh bursts of laughter came when another singer tripped on making his entrance, and fell so heavily that his nose began to bleed. And a fitting clirnax to the fiasco was the advent of oa cat, which strolled unconcernedly on to the stage and ignored all cajolings from the wings to retire. It finally disappeared; but the curtain came down immediately on the biggest uproar in the history of Italian Opera.

Rossini did not attempt his life, or have hysterics; he did not even go and get very drunk! He was serene and smiling, not believing in failure, However the next night, the impresario thought it would be wiser if another conductor were engaged. So Rossini stayed with his friends; and amid laughter and jesting, all thought of the opera was forgotten. But while the composer and his friends made merry, theatrical history was being made. With a sudden change of face, the second night audience’ wildly acclaimed ‘the great work. After. the performance, Rossini was brought to the theatre and with thunderous applause’ the people paid homage to him. And " The Barber " has lasted 120 years-and will last: It is what the poet called "a joy for ever." On Sunday, September 3, at 3 p.m, the story of "The Barber of Seville" and its production will be told from 3YA, Christchurch, and at 9.5 p.m., from the same station, the opera will be broadcast.