[38] Athenæum, 21st May 1853.
[39] The Times, 16th May 1853.
[40] Verdi: Milan and "Othello" (Roosevelt), p. 49.
[41] Apropos of this distinguished cantatrice, sister to the immortal Malibran, an interesting narrative is related in connection with the first production of Il Trovatore in Paris, where, by the way, it soon had no less than one hundred representations. Verdi himself has told the tale. "The morning arriving for the first performance, Madame Alboni announced that she was ill, and the opera could not be given that night. What was to be done? Every one was waiting; every seat was sold. I was in despair. Happily, I thought of Madame Viardot. I said to myself, 'She is the only woman in the world who, at a moment's notice, can take the part, if she will only consent to do it.'
"I tore off to her house. It was early in the morning. 'Mon cher,' she said, 'what on earth has brought you at this hour?'
"I hastily told her the cause. 'Alboni is ill.'
"'But what can I do?' she said.
"'You must sing it,' I cried.
"She interrupted, 'I have been so busy, I haven't even seen the music; I haven't looked at it.'
"'There it is,' I said, producing a roll. 'It is very easy; it will be nothing to you.' So, laughing and chatting, and protesting that she couldn't, I sat down to the piano. We ran the music of Azucena over from beginning to end two or three times. In the afternoon we had another rehearsal, and that evening she sang the part with overwhelming success.