Garcia the Centenarian and His Times

"Mr Sterling MacKinlay has written a charming account of the great contralto. He has written his book in a light and interesting vein, and has so much to tell, so many good stories to repeat, that it is sure of a large reading public."--Daily Chronicle.

"Told with sympathy and moderation, enlivened by anecdote and humour."--Tribune.

"A delightful book of reminiscences."--Daily Mail.

"Written with refreshing candour, well worth reading."--Spectator.

"A delightful book. It is brightened with anecdotes of all kinds, while the record of its principal subject is as impressive as it is interesting."--Truth.

"Interesting reading of the kind so entertaining, illustrated with good portraits: brightly written: will doubtless find a wide circle of admirers."--Standard.

"The easy, chatty style of the book, the descriptive touches, the fund of anecdote, the artless and spontaneous narrations of the great singer herself, all contribute to make the volume attractive. Nowhere is there anything heavy or dull."--Birmingham Post.

"Exceedingly interesting, and lightened up by many a lively anecdote. It is impossible to give anything like an adequate list of the notable names that crop up; they include most of the great artists, actors, singers, writers, and scientists of the present day."--Glasgow Herald.

London: HUTCHINSON & CO., Paternoster Row

Garcia the Centenarian

And His Times

[Illustration: THE CENTENARY PORTRAIT OF MANUEL GARCIA BY JOHN S. SARGENT.

SIGNED BY THE MAESTRO SIX WEEKS BEFORE HIS HUNDRED-AND-FIRST BIRTHDAY.

Copyright, 1905 by Photographische Gesellschaft.

handwritten signatures of subject & artist included as well]

Garcia the Centenarian

And His Times

Being a Memoir of Manuel Garcia's Life and Labours for the Advancement of Music and Science

BY

M. STERLING MACKINLAY

M. A. OXON.

AUTHOR OF 'ANTOINETTE STERLING AND OTHER CELEBRITIES'

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MCMVIII

[Illustration: THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPAIN.

(FROM A PHOTOGRAPH SPECIALLY FORWARDED TO THE AUTHOR BY HIS MAJESTY.)

Franzen, Madrid.]

Dedicated

TO

H. M. THE KING OF SPAIN

BY GRACIOUS PERMISSION

PREFACE.

In presenting this Memoir of Don Manuel Garcia, I wish to thank those friends and pupils of the Maestro who have assisted me with reminiscences, photographs, and other material. But especially I would thank Mrs Alec Tweedie for the kind way in which she read through the MS., when it was still in a rough state, and made many invaluable suggestions with regard to its arrangement and improvement generally.

M. S. M.

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE MUSICAL CLUB, LEICESTER SQUARE, March 1908.

CONTENTS.

FIRST PERIOD. PREPARATION. (1805-1830.)

CHAP. PAGE

I. INTRODUCTORY 3

II. GARCIA'S CHILDHOOD IN SPAIN (1805-1814) 13

III. NAPLES (1814-1816) 25

IV. PARIS AND LONDON (1816-1825) 40

V. OPERA IN AMERICA (1825-1826) 57

VI. NEW YORK AND MEXICO (1826-1827) 73

VII. OPERATIC CAREER ABANDONED (1828-1830) 86

SECOND PERIOD. PARIS. (1830-1848.)

VIII. MARIA MALIBRAN'S TRIUMPHS (1830-1836) 105

IX. PAULINE VIARDOT-GARCIA (1837-1841) 125

X. JENNY LIND (1841-1842) 139

XI. SOME FAMOUS PUPILS (1842-1848) 156

XII. CLOSE OF PARIS CAREER (1848) 169

THIRD PERIOD. LONDON. (1848-1895.)

XIII. ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND (1848-1854) 183

XIV. THE LARYNGOSCOPE (1854-1857) 201