Page 14 - Talk of Tequesta - September '22

Page 14, The Talk Of Tequesta

arTs & enTerTainmenT

An American Wrote The Libretto

To Don Giovanni – No Kidding

By Rex Hearn

Mozart and Lorenzo Da irate husbands in Northern Italy. He gives up the priesthood of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Now Bishop Moore,
Ponte, a librettist, first met in becoming a poet and scholar and at 34 is chosen to become Clement’s father, was president of Columbia University. The
Vienna in 1783. They shied librettist to the newly formed Italian Opera at the Burg Moores acted swiftly. Da Ponte became the first professor
away from the staid Greco- Theatre in Vienna, writing for Lully, Martin y Soler and of Italian literature at Columbia in 1825. Retirement could
Roman mythologies, used Salieri. Many of the leading ladies became amours and one wait.
frequently in opera until became his mistress. His last collaboration with Mozart was Da Ponte was held in high regard during his 22-year
then, choosing to collaborate Cosi Fan Tutti (Women are Fickle) of 1790. Within a year tenure. It’s estimated he taught over 2,500 students. He
on human interest stories. Mozart was dead. Vienna’s Italian opera disbanded. opened a bookstore, again, selling over 25,000 volumes.
Musicologists rightly praise Leaving for Trieste in 1791 at 43 he was asked to check This time it was very successful. For the 1825 season he
Mozart’s ability to “draw” out Nancy Grahl, fiancée of an arranged marriage to a rich brought over an Italian opera company from Naples with
character in very few bars. friend. Instead, Da Ponte marries the lovely Nancy and financial help of a grateful wine merchant, Dominick Lynch.
In 1786, The Marriage of they eloped to London in 1792 where he became poet to the Naturally they performed The Marriage of Figaro and Don
Figaro was their first collaboration. Italian opera at the King’s Theatre. He opens a bookstore, Giovanni. In 1828 at 79 he became an American citizen
It was a huge success in Vienna. Don Giovanni of 1787 getting Italian books from his bookselling brother, Paolo. and wrote a memoir; banned in Vienna, Venice, Naples
was next. It premiered in Prague. Based on reprobate and Nancy bears him three children: Louisa, 1794; Fanny, 1799 and Trieste! He then brought over Giacomo Montresor’s
seducer, Don Juan, of Seville, Spain; a story Da Ponte and Lorenzo, 1804. In the interim her family had emigrated Opera in 1832. They gave 35 performances in the Hill
worked on with Composer Bertati in 1782, the manager of to Sunbury, Pa. She takes the children to America for a Street Theatre, renaming it the Italian Opera House. And
Prague Opera wrote, “A most brilliant audience for Don year’s visit but decides to stay. Da Ponte sells his bookstore, most remarkable of all, he alone raised $30,000 and built
Giovanni! Long live Da Ponte. Long live Mozart: while pays off his debts and with his last 100 guineas buys passage a Manhattan theatre in one year dedicating it to opera. It
they live no manager shall know distress.” Another great to New York, arriving in June of 1805. A happy reunion opened on Nov. 18, 1835. He was now 86! Boxes were
opera was born. ensues. A son Carlo was born in 1806. Da Ponte was 57! selling for $6,000 a season. It was so popular that lots
As a librettist Da Ponte is often overlooked, maybe He opens a grocery store in NYC with borrowed money: had to be drawn to make purchasing fair. After two years
because he had a life similar to Don Juan, it will amuse a disaster. A wash house in Pennsylvania: a failure. A Da Ponte was given the receipts of a performance and
you to know. Born a Jew, Emanuel Conegliano, his father bookstore in New Jersey: nothing worked. As a patron he retired to his Broome Street home at 88 where he served
remarried a Christian lady. They had three sons and six invites an Italian opera company to New York: an artistic refreshments to all who stopped by. As a librettist he wrote
daughters in Cenada, Italy. The local bishop educated success but a financial disaster. He gives Italian lessons. 55 operas. In America he wrote 35 plays. He died at 91.
the boys. One became a gardener, one a bookseller and Finally at 75, thinking he may retire, he bundles up his An inspiration and indomitable spirit in what one person
Emanuel took the bishop’s name becoming a priest at 24. books, sells them to a Broadway bookseller and meets could achieve with drive, enthusiasm, intellect, love and
A womanizer, he was chased out of parish after parish by Clement Clark Moore in the store, 30 years his junior, author a little luck. He was an American! Tell your friends. …

finanCial foCus

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