LETTER 17
AIDA WILL GATHER DUST IN THE ARCHIVES
May 1872
Giuseppe Verdi, Prospero Bertani and Giulio Ricordi
Since its delayed premiere in 1870 at Cairo’s newly-built Khedivial Opera House, Giuseppe Verdi’s enduring masterpiece, Aida, has wowed audiences around the globe in numerous incarnations. But, as with all things, the reaction hasn’t always been positive. In May of 1872, having recently travelled twice to watch the opera, a disappointed Italian gentleman named Prospero Bertani decided to write a letter of complaint to Verdi himself and ask for his money back – not just for the show, but for his expenses, too. Amused, Verdi responded by forwarding the letter to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, with instructions. The end result, as can be seen, was a written promise from Bertani never to watch the opera again. Much to Bertani’s dismay, Verdi later arranged for his letter of complaint to be published in a number of Italian newspapers.
Verdi to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi:
St. Agata, 10 May 1872
Dear Giulio,
Yesterday I received from Reggio a letter which is so amusing that I am sending it to you, asking you to carry out the commission I am about to give you. Here is the letter:
Reggio, 7 May 1872
Much honored Signor Verdi,
On the second of this month, attracted by the sensation your opera, “Aida”, was making, I went to Parma. Half an hour before the performance began I was already in my seat, No. 120. I admired the scenery, listened with great pleasure to the excellent singers, and took great pains to let nothing escape me. After the performance was over, I asked myself whether I was satisfied. The answer was in the negative. I returned to Reggio and, on the way back in the railroad carriage, I listened to the verdicts of my fellow travellers. Nearly all of them agreed that “Aida” was a work of the highest rank.
Thereupon I conceived a desire to hear it again, and so on the fourth I returned to Parma. I made the most desperate efforts to obtain a reserved seat, and there was such a crowd that I had to spend 5 lire to see the performance in comfort.
I came to the following conclusion: the opera contains absolutely nothing thrilling or electrifying, and if it were not for the magnificent scenery, the audience would not sit through it to the end. It will fill the theatre a few more times and then gather dust in the archives. Now, my dear Signor Verdi, you can imagine my regret at having spent 32 lire for these two performances. Add to this the aggravating circumstance that I am dependent on my family, and you will understand that this money preys on my mind like a terrible spectre. Therefore I address myself frankly and openly to you so that you may send me this sum. Here is the account:
Railroad, going: 2.60
Railroad, returning: 3.30
Theatre: 8.00
Disgustingly bad dinner: 2.00
Twice: 15.90
Total: 31.80
In the hope that you will extricate me from this dilemma,
I am yours sincerely,
Bertani
My address: Bertani, Prospero; Via St. Domenico, No. 5.
Imagine, if to protect a child of a family from the horrible spectres that disturb his peace, I should not be disposed to pay that little bill he has brought to my attention! Therefore by means of your representative or a bank, please reimburse 27.80 lire in my name to this Signor Prospero Bertani, 5 Via St. Domenico. This isn’t the entire sum for which he asks me, but . . . to pay for his dinner too! No. He could very well have eaten at home!!! Of course he will send you a receipt for that sum and a note, by which he promises never again to go to hear my new operas, to avoid for himself the danger of other spectres and for me the farce of paying him for another trip [. . .]
Milan, 16 May 1872
Dear Giuseppe,
As soon as I received your last letter I wrote to our correspondent in Reggio, who found the famous Signor Bertani, paid the money, and got the proper receipt! I am copying the letter and receipt for the newspaper, and I shall return everything to you tomorrow. Oh, what fools there are in this world! But this is the best one yet!
The correspondent in Reggio writes me: “I sent immediately for Bertani, who came to me right away. Advised of the reason for my invitation, he first showed surprise, but then said: ‘If Maestro Verdi reimburses me, this means that he has found what I wrote him to be correct. It’s my duty to thank him, however, and I ask you to do it for me.’”
This one is even better!
Pleased to have discovered this rarity of the species, I send the most cordial greetings to you and Signora Peppina.
Giulio
15 May 1872
I, the undersigned, certify herewith that I have received the sum of 27.80 lire from Maestro Giuseppe Verdi, as reimbursement of my expenses for a trip to Parma to hear the opera Aida. The Maestro felt it was fair that this sum should be restored to me, since I did not find his opera to my taste. At the same time it is agreed that I shall undertake no trip to hear any of the Maestro’s new operas in the future, unless he takes all the expenses upon himself, whatever my opinion of his work may be.
In confirmation whereof I have affixed my signature.
Bertani, Prospero