Giovanni Bottesini

Author(s): C. P. S.
Source: The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol. 30, No. 558 (Aug. 1, 1889), pp.
476+485
Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3360528
Accessed: 04-03-2018 22:26 UTC

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476 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-AUGUST I, 1889.
the vast hall was thronged by companies his comic
of eager opera school
"II Diavolo della Notte," in Milan,
children and their friends and teachers. Of the drill it is
where it had a successful run. Subsequently he filled
sufficient to say here that the rhythmic precisiontheof post
the of operatic Conductor in various of the leading
children's movements was remarkable. Several of the theatres both in Europe and America-never, however,
schools sang whilst moving their arms or bodiesomitting
somewhat an opportunity of showing himself in the
violently. This practice is open to adverse criticism,
concert-roomon as soloist in his favourite capacity of double
the ground that injury is likely to be done to lungs and In 1863 his opera " Marion Delorme," since
bass virtuoso.
voices in the effort to sustain musical tone just then also the
when set to music by Ponchielli, was brought out at
the Liceo of
" in and out " breathing must be quick. The conditions ofBarcelona, under his direction. Later
the vocal music competition were that no choir on heshould
produced his opera "Ali Baba," in London,
exceed sixty voices; that each choir should sing aand shortly afterwards wrote his " Ode," or "Cantata," in
two-part
piece at sight, a piece of its own choice, and a honour of Cavour, which gained the first prize, and on that
three-part
arrangement of Mendelssohn's part-song " Theoccasion excited extraordinary enthusiasm in Florence.
Primrose."
The prize was a handsome medallion, on which the Bottesini
nameaccepted the Conductorship of the Opera at
of the successful school was to be inscribed. Mr. W. G. Cairo, which post he ably filled till 1877, producing an exten-
McNaught adjudicated. Eight schools, selected, wesive repertoire of leading modern operatic works of the
under-
stand, from eighty that desired to enter, competed.Italian and French school. It is also worthy of notice
The
sight test was an anthem written for the occasion, that and,
Bottesini was the first Conductor to whom Verdi
considering the use to which it was to be put, itentrusted
must be the direction of " Aida."
described as outrageously difficult. This being so,Bottesini's
it was best operatic work is undoubtedly his " Ero e
Leandro," which was produced first in Turin at the Teatro
amazing, as Mr. McNaught remarked in his adjudication,
Regio
that one school (Crawford Street, Islington) sang the in 1879; in Rome with Stagno, the celebrated tenor,
piece
through and made only one slight mistake. The chiefand also in Milan, on which occasion the composer
as Hero,
himself
fault in the execution of the prepared pieces was the loss ofplayed his favourite instrument as a humble
member
pitch that occurred almost constantly. But when all the of the orchestra. It was his last appearance in
Milan.
faults are noted, it is not to be denied that the whole This opera, " Hero and Leander," derives special
result
interest
was a pleasing demonstration of the musical aptitude offrom the fact that the libretto is by Boito, who
the Board School class, and an assurance that the teachers
originally had intended to set it to music himself, but made
are working enthusiastically and intelligently. The it overwas
prize to Bottesini. In the field of sacred music, Bottesini's
awarded to Crawford Street. The choirs from Bellenden most noteworthy work is probably the Oratorio "1The Mount
Road, Olga Street (Bethnal Green), Medburn Street, of Olivet."
and Besides these works, Bottesini wrote a model and
Fleet Road were highly commended. complete " Method of Double Bass," a " Requiem," and a
"Quartet for Stringed Instruments." Indeed, there is
hardly any class of composition which he has not touched
GIOVANNI BOTTESINI.
with more or less success. It appears, moreover, that he
THE death of Giovanni Bottesini, unrivalled has left
as athe score of a new opera, which his friends in
double-
bass virtuoso, and well-known also as a composer and Parma have already taken steps to produce.
conductor, has put an end to an artistic career which is full of As a composer, Bottesini could not, and, in his modesty,
interest and redounds to the credit and glory of the country never pretended to, rise to the lofty level of his friends and
that gave him birth. Bottesini died at Parma, on the 7th countrymen, Verdi, Boito, and Ponchielli; but, on his
favourite instrument, the double bass, he was absolutely
ult., at the age of sixty-six, after a somewhat protracted
illness. The Municipality paid him his last honours byphenomenal. The beauty of the tone and sound he elicited
officially solemnizing his funeral at the public expense, andfrom that unwieldy instrument, his marvellous facility, not
the ceremony was rendered still more impressive byto say agility, in executing the most difficult passages-the
the presence of the Prefect of the Province of Parma,grace, elegance, and delicacy of his touch and method,
of the members of Parliament of the district, and of gave proof of the most consummate art and unrivalled talent.
He who
the municipal representatives of Parma and other cities, often competed victoriously even with celebrated
violinists-as, for instance, in a duet for violin and double
acted as pall-bearers; while the procession was preceded
bass,
and followed by the various local artistic institutes andof his own composition, which he frequently played
associations, with their bands and banners. with Sivori, and in which his part of the performance
Giovanni Bottesini was born at Crema, in Lombardy,invariably
on electrified the audience. Nothing could be more
extraordinary, from a musical point of view, than this
the 24th December 1823, and received his first musical
match between two instruments so entirely different in
training in harmony and on the violin in his native town,
tone,
after which, as a boy of thirteen, he entered the Con-size, and character. In precision, dash, accuracy,
servatoire of Milan, where he studied the double-bass and withal in the softness of touch and phrasing, Bottesini
under
Rossi, and harmony and counterpoint under Basili, had his
no equal on the " contra-basso."
musical education being afterwards finished by Vaccaj, Being, besides a great artist, also a man of the world, and,
Basili's successor at the Conservatoire. About 184o the moreover, kind-hearted and fond of humour, he had an
young artist of seventeen left the Conservatoire and under-inexhaustible store of anecdotes, the reminiscences of his
took a highly successful concert tour throughout Italy,travels, his triumphs, and his intercourse with royal and
which occupied nearly four years. At the age of twenty-other personages with whom, in the course of his artistic
three he was offered and accepted an engagement as con-peregrinations, he had come in contact. Suffice it to
ductor at the Opera House of Havana, where he wrote amention only one or two of these stories, which illustrate,
more or less, all the rest.
comic opera in Spanish, entitled " Christopher Colombus,"
which achieved considerable success. Upon leaving On one occasion, after a concert he had given at the
Havana, Bottesini undertook an extensive concert tour-- "Kursaal " of Wiesbaden, an English lady, plainly dressed,
approached him and said: "Oh, Signor Bottesini, I am
subsequently several times repeated-in the United States,
in North America, and in Mexico, where he was in 1854, charmed with your playing, and should be so glad if you
at the time when Henrietta Sontag (Countess Rossi)would died come some day soon and play at my house." Bot-
in the capital of that country. tesini, thinking that the lady before him was one of the
After his first prolonged stay and various tours innumerable
in "Anglaises " to whose eccentric and extra-
vagant displays of hero-worship he was so accustomed,
England, he was for several seasons (1855-1857) Conductor
simply
at the Italian Opera in Paris; indeed, it was here that he smiled and bowed in silence. "Besides," continued
first established his reputation, not only as operatic theand
lady, "I have heard you play before in London." The
artist smiled and bowed again. "Yes," persisted the lady,
orchestral conductor, but also as composer, in which latter
capacity he brought out his "11 Assedio di Firenze," an"Iopera
heard you play at my mother's." "And who," Botte-
sini now rejoined, "is your mother, madam, if I may ask?"
which, if not enthusiastically, was very cordially received.
Having been comparatively stationary for two years, " The Queen of England," was the quiet and placid reply;
Bottesini set out, in 1857, for another concert tourwhereupon
in it at last dawned on Bottesini that the lady
Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, and England. before him was no other than" the Crown Princess of
In the year 1859 he returned to Italy, and produced Germany, then staying at Wiesbaden.

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 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-AUGUST I, 1889. 485
Bottesini might have accumulated a large fortune; MUSIC
but heIN BRISTOL.
spent his easily acquired gains freely, gave generously, and
died comparatively poor. He was not married; and weary OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
(FROM OUR
at last of his peregrinations and triumphs,THE
he newly
accepted only
formed Choral Society has chosen the
last year, and chiefly upon Verdi's recommendation, the
following works for performance during the coming musical
post of Director of the Parma Conservatoire,
season to the welfare
:-Brahms's "Requiem," Mendelssohn's "Hymn
of which he devoted himself with untiringofzeal, while
Praise," he master's
the same also "St. Paul," and Schumann's
acted as Conductor at the Parma Opera House, and in that
"Mignon's Requiem." On the I6th ult. the General
capacity did much to revive the old reputation Committee of theofSociety
that met, when a strong Executive
beautiful theatre for operatic performances ofelected,
Committee was a highand the first practice was fixed for
order.
October i next. It was mentioned that 350 honorary, and
Bottesini was, to his very latest hours, fondly attached
240 singing members had already joined. The Conductor
to his instrument. On the last occasion, a few months
of the Society is Mr. George Riseley.
ago, when he played at Parma for the benefit of an artistic
An interesting event connected with music took place
society, he had a strange presentiment of his approaching
on Sunday, the 7th ult., when Mr. and Mrs. Roeckel, of
end. The resin broke to pieces in his hands as he was
Clifton, celebrated their silver wedding. Mr. Roeckel is the
rubbing the bow, whereupon he remarked with a sad smile,
well-known song writer, and Mrs. Roeckel, under the
"There goes the resin; who knows ?--soon I may have nom to de plume of "Jules de Sivrai," is the composer of
go too." His own performance on that evening, though numerous pianoforte pieces and songs. Both the lady and
it carried away the audience as usual, did not satisfy him,
gentleman in question occupy a deservedly high position
and he complained to those near him that there was some-as professors of their art in Clifton, where they have
thing wrong with his old friend: " It would not act." His
resided during the whole of their married life.
presentiment was but too true; for on the very next day heAnother local musical silver wedding that occurred
was struck down by fever, from which he never recovered.
C. P. S. during the course of the past month was that of Mr.
George Chapman, the popular Conductor of the orchestra
at the Princes' Theatre.
OBITUARY.

MR. CARLI ZOELLER died on the 13th ult., in conse- MUSIC IN EDINBURGH.
quence of an accident he met with at the Military Tourna-
ment at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. He was born in
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Berlin, March 28, 1840, and came to England in 1873. He
THE of
was bandmaster of the 7th Hussars and afterwards only
theperformance I have to chronicle is t
six Recitals
2nd Life Guards. He was well known as a performer on the which Miss Clara Lichtenstein ha
throughout the session in connection with Charlo
viola d'amore, and wrote many compositions for the instru-
Ladies'
ment. He also wrote a work upon its history and Institution. A long course of study at
the method
Pesth Conservatorium has equipped her with a com
of playing it. He was the author of a handbook on the" Art
sive rifertoire,
of Modulation," and of several works for voices, orchestra, and, as the Recitals had avow
pianoforte, &c., including a lyrical monodrama educational
"Mary end in view, she was hampered in n
Stuart," some masses, a cantata with viola d'amore popular prejudices. Perhaps a more historical
might have been observed in her programmes, a
solo, quartet for strings, quintet for wind instruments,
would have interfered with their variety. Her i
songs, &c. tion of the Brahms Scherzo was her most successful effort
FRANCIS ROMER, at one time a famous teacher of singing,
at the last Recital, and her rendering of Beethoven's Trio in
and a composer, died on the 1st ult. He was born in C minor, with the assistance of Mr. Carl Hamilton
London on August 5, 18io. He wrote two operas, and Mrs. Kedzlie, was appreciated by the audience.
"Fridolin" and "The Pacha's Bride," and many songs
and pieces of part-music, which were published by the firm
The singing of Miss Georgette Lichtenstein, from
of Hutchings and Romer, in which he was a partner. His the same Conservatorium, has added greatly to the charm
" Physiology of the Human Voice," issued in 1850, wentand interest of the Recitals. At the last she gave a most
through several editions. beautiful rendering of Mackenzie's " In our boat " (violon-
WILLIAM HARRISON, Organist of St. James's Church, cello obbligato by Mr. Hamilton), and also sang Grieg's
" Ich liebe
Leith, died in Edinburgh of pleurisy, on June 21, after an dich " with great expression.
illness of many weeks' duration. He was the son of Mr. W.
Harrison, of Lichfield, and was born in that city in 1841.
He was educated as a chorister in the Cathedral, and in due MUSIC IN SOUTH WALES.
time became a teacher of music in Rugby School and at (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Liverpool. He was appointed Organist at Leith in 1867,
and was Conductor of the Choral Society at Dunfermline.
THE present month has been almost a blank; l
He was an admirable player on the pianoforte and organ.
ings and fine weather even have the effect of ren
His compositions, both sacred and secular, showrehearsals
him to of the various choral societies less ener
have been possessed of a vein of originality and artistic
usual. A few, however, of the larger choral so
very
taste, and the geniality of his disposition endeared busy preparing for the great National Ei
him to
all within the circle of his acquaintance, while the good
struggle next month at Brecon. Two choirs fro
work he did in the promulgation of a knowledgeand of the
one from Llanelly will be able to give a go
of themselves. I have not yet heard whether
art he loved so earnestly will serve to keep his memory
green. Carmarthen and Swansea intend to put in an a
CARLOTTA PATTI, the elder sister of Adelina Patti, died
but, if they do, South Wales will be well repres
in Paris on June 28. Born at Florence in 1840, she
admirable choir from Swansea which compe
made her ddbut in New York in 1861, and was for
National Eisteddfod in London two years ago,
many years the leading soprano in America. A slight
excellent conductorship of Eos Morlais, was di
soon as the contest was over, and the good re
lameness interfered with her career on the operatic stage,
but she was famous throughout the world as a concert should have been the outcome of such careful t
singer. Her voice was of uniform good quality and they of received were therefore thrown aside to wa
extensive compass. She was married to Mr. de Munck, a
love of music, per se, appears to form but a v
violoncello player, in 1879. element indeed in the constitution of your ave
The death is announced of Mr. ELISHA WALTON, who musical amateur. Their motto seems to be " co
or nothing," a state of things that should rece
at one period was a prominent tenor singer in Manchester
and the North of England. He sang with Madame consideration from the Committee or Directors of the
Malibran in her engagement at the Manchester Musical
National Eisteddfod. We are sorry to hear that Eos
Festival upwards of fifty years ago. Mr. Walton wasMorlais
in is out of health and will not conduct any choir at
the eightieth year of his age. the forthcoming meeting.

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