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My Life — Volume 1 by Richard Wagner
page 282 of 712 (39%)
subsequently as a musical supplement to Europa (Lewald's
publication) in 1841.

I next stumbled on the idea of writing a grand bass aria with a
chorus, for Lablache to introduce into his part of Orovist in
Bellini's Norma. Lehrs had to hunt up an Italian political
refugee to get the text out of him. This was done, and I produced
an effective composition a la Bellini (which still exists among
my manuscripts), and went off at once to offer it to Lablache.

The friendly Moor, who received me in the great singer's
anteroom, insisted upon admitting me straight into his master's
presence without announcing me. As I had anticipated some
difficulty in getting near such a celebrity, I had written my
request, as I thought this would be simpler than explaining
verbally.

The black servant's pleasant manner made me feel very
uncomfortable; I entrusted my score and letter to him to give to
Lablache, without taking any notice of his kindly astonishment at
my refusal of his repeated invitation to go into his master's
room and have an interview, and I left the house hurriedly,
intending to call for my answer in a few days. When I came back
Lablache received me most kindly, and assured me that my aria was
excellent, though it was impossible to introduce it into
Bellini's opera after the latter had already been performed so
very often. My relapse into the domain of Bellini's style, of
which I had been guilty through the writing of this aria, was
therefore useless to me, and I soon became convinced of the
fruitlessness of my efforts in that direction. I saw that I
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