108.—NILSSON AND THE SHAH OF PERSIA.
On the occasion of the visit of the Shah of Persia to England in 1873, many entertainments and festivities were arranged for this eastern monarch, and among them an operatic representation which should include the best acts from several favorite operas. The performance was to consist of the third act of "La Favorita" with Titiens as Leonora, the first act of "La Traviata" and after a short ballet, the first act of "Mignon." In each of the latter operas Nilsson was to take the title rôle.
But Titiens entered an objection to this arrangement, saying that it was not fair to give Nilsson the best two places on the programme, and suggested that she be given the central place, and that Nilsson appear in the first act and the last, which was certainly a fair arrangement. But to this Nilsson demurred.
So matters stood until two days before the presentation; then Nilsson suddenly changed her mind and expressed her willingness to accept Titien's plan, by which Nilsson was to appear first in "Traviata" and in the last act of "Mignon."
This change was brought about by Nilsson's hearing that the Shah would only be present from 8.30 to 9.30, on account of other festivities the same evening. Had she continued in her objections to Titiens' plan, Nilsson would have had little chance for singing to the royal party more than a few minutes.
At 8.30 on the evening set for the opera, the Prince of Wales arrived at the theater to receive the Shah, but no Shah was to be seen. After waiting half an hour the opera began. Nilsson came on the stage and saw, in disgust, that the royal box was empty. Her disgust was no-wise lessened by the fact that she had ordered from Worth, of Paris, a most magnificent dress for her character of Violetta in "Traviata."
Not until 9.30 did the Shah put in an appearance, and then Nilsson was through with her first appearance and Titiens was on the stage in "Favorita."
Mapleson, the manager, knew of Nilsson's disappointment, and was expecting to have a scene with her on the morrow, when the Prince of Wales suggested to him that it might soothe the wrathy prima donna if she were to be presented to the Shah that evening.
So the impresario hied himself to Nilsson's dressing room and informed her that she was to be presented to the Shah. But she objected, as she had removed her gorgeous costume used in "Traviata" and was arrayed in a ragged old dress, with hair disheveled, and without shoes, for her character as Mignon. But Mapleson persuaded her that it was a command, and that she must obey.
They went to the royal box; but, before her arrival could be announced to his serene Highness, Nilsson had walked into the room in her tramp-like costume, and going at once to the Shah she explained in French that she had prepared "a superb costume expressly for your Majesty," but that by his tardiness he missed seeing her in it, and now could only see her in this miserable rig, and without shoes.
Meanwhile she was gesticulating with her right hand, and at the end of her remarks pointed to her bare feet. The Shah bent forward to see through his spectacles what she was pointing to, and at the same time she raised her foot to emphasize her remarks. The result was that that member came within an inch or so of the royal Persian nose.
So struck was the Shah at the prima donna's originality that he remained until after midnight to see her in "Mignon." Nilsson was appeased, but the Lord Mayor and other notables of London were kept waiting for him from half-past nine until half-past twelve at the Goldsmith's ball.