Tamagno, Francesco. (1850-1905)
Two Autograph Letters, mentioning Verdi's Funeral
Two autograph letters to his family from the most famous dramatic tenor of the golden age and the creator of the historic role of Otello. In the first letter, dated April 16, 1899 and addressed to Tamagno's "adored children" (probably meaning his grandchildren), the tenor reports on his recent performances [in Naples], his frustration with the audience's demands for four encores and his failing health: "I find myself to be so exhausted after each performance that I am getting worried about my health." Revealing his disdain for nobility, he reports: "Their, not my, royal highnesses were present but after the first act the princess, who had not been feeling well, had to leave the theater. You can imagine my chagrin!" The second letter, dated [February] 26, 19[01] and addressed to "Dear Tuccia," reports that Tamagno will not be able to attend the large public funeral of Giuseppe Verdi, due to the rehearsals for Meyerbeer's Le prophète in Monte Carlo: "Will you please have a large wreath made and also a moving inscription to go with it? If I came to Milan I am sure that I would catch such a cold that I wouldn't be able to sing any more this winter." Tamagno goes on to mention the Opera Monte-Carlo director Raoul Gunsbourg and promises: "Soon I will ship to you the three large and beautiful rugs I bought in Paris." Each 3 pp. Light overall toning and folding creases; in fine condition. 4.25 x 7 inches (11 x 18 cm) and 5.5 x 8.5 inches (13.8 x 21.5 cm).One of the most important tenors in the generation before Caruso, Francesco Tamagno was a devoted single father to his illegitimate daughter Margherita, and deeply attached to her children, his grandchildren. Tamagno became best-known as the creator of Verdi's Otello in 1887 (although Verdi reportedly found his legato, intonation, and acting somewhat lacking!) The role brought him great acclaim and opened the doors of the world's opera houses to him. He pursued a busy and highly acclaimed career that lasted for more than three decades, before slowing down in the early years of the 1900's. After Verdi's death on January 27, 1901, Tamagno appeared in a memorial concert on February 1 at La Scala with Coletti, Caruso, and Borgatti; as the present letter shows, however, he was not present for Verdi's tremendous public internment on February 28, where Toscanini conducted a choir of 800. Although Tamagno had a bullish physique and powerful voice, his chronic heart ailment caused his early death at the age of 55, in 1905.
Translated from the Italian, in full: "26.4.99 [Naples], Adored children, Last night's success, the third performance, was even greater than the first two but I am quite disgusted with the public; they wanted me to encore a fourth aria but I refused categorically— I find myself to be so exhausted after each performance that I am getting worried about my health. Last night I was so disgusted with their insistence—they kept hissing because I didn't grant as many encores as they wanted—that I almost felt like cursing them. Their, not my, royal highnesses were present but after the first act the princess, who had not been feeling well, had to leave the theater. You can imagine my chagrin! [...] Monday I will go to the Vesuvio and at eleven in the evening we will get on the train to come back. I will stop in Rome for a few hours and therefore I will not reach Milan until Wednesday - I kiss you both with all my heart and believe me your affectionate and rather tired Papa. P. S. If there is something here that would please Margherita please let me know right away.
"Monte Carlo Hotel, 26 [February, 1901], Tuccia dear, I am very sorry to hear about the misfortune which hit the nurse. I hope Iolanda won't suffer because of her absence. I am afraid that it won't be easy for me to come to Milan now for the funerals of the poor Maestro [Verdi] since the performance of Profeta has been set for Saturday and therefore the rehearsals will be just on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. To be present at the funerals would mean using up three days and therefore it seems to me highly improbable and I am very sorry. Will you please have a large wreath made and also a moving inscription to go with it? If I came to Milan I am sure that I would catch such a cold that I wouldn't be able to sing any more this winter. In any case Gunsbourg will arrive from Paris today and I will talk to him right away - but in the meantime let us hope that the catastrophe won't happen yet. Goodbye my adored Tuccia, do write to me every day so that I will have news of your health and I send each one of you a kiss with all my heart. Your Papa P. S. Soon I will ship to you the three large and beautiful rugs I bought in Paris." (15266)
Autograph Letter Opera