Swansea Grand Theatre and Adeline Patti

 Using Jeffrey Phillips’ painting of Adeline Patti opening the Swansea Grand Theatre, 26^th July 1897.

Let us look at the early history of theatres located in Swansea, and then finally looking at Adeline Patti, and who she was.

Using part of an article, “All the World’s a Stage – Act II”, published Winter 2016, The Bay Magazine.

“All the World’s a Stage” a monologue by Jaques, in Act II Scene VII from William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It, 1599.

There was a theatre in Swansea, dating back to 1807, this was The Theatre Royal. Located at the corner of Bank Street, later renamed Temple Street it was opposite the first Police Station in Swansea and opened on July 6^th. The very first pantomime to be performed in Swansea, dates back to1809, and was Mother Goose. The Cambrian newspaper’s art critic wrote a glowing review:

 

“The celebrated Pantomime of Mother Goose was produced at our Theatre on Monday last, with all its tricks, deception, and machinery, all of which were executed in a masterly manner, and met with their deserved need of admiration and applause. The dresses of all the leading characters were entirely new and presented a curious variety of whimsical costume. A general emulation seemed to pervade the actors, whim, collectively and individually, used their best exertions for the entertainment of the public”, 29^th July 1809. If anyone wanted to go to the show, they had to obtain their tickets from T. Jenkins, the printers of The Cambrian.

 

Unlike today a theatre would only be opened for short seasons, often to coincide with the town events at the time. These events hopefully would draw in large crowds, people that needed entertaining. Often the theatre would remain closed for many months of the year. Some famous performers/actors to tread the boards were Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean and poet and dramatist, Sheridan Knowles who were unknown at the time. They came to Swansea and went on to seek their fame elsewhere. It seems to be the Swansea way!

 

Numerous managers tried to make a success of The Theatre Royal, but they all seemed to fail, and by 1864, it was shabby and in need of renovations. These were carried out during 1867, with a new summer season commencing in June and a winter season in October. The final curtain came down in 1898, when it wasn’t attracting touring companies, and was only being used occasionally. The Theatre Royal the oldest in Wales, was finally pulled down during 1899, to make way for David Evans the department store. The German Luftwaffe put an end to trading here in February 1941.

Before we move to Swansea Grand Theatre located at Singleton Street, we can see which buildings were located at this site, using the maps of Swansea dated, 1852, 1888 and 1897. The 1888 map has the Malthouse located at this site. By 1897 the site is marked as Theatre. In the interim period, the Drill Hall was located here.

During 1892, at the Mackworth Arms Hotel, in Wind Street, an auction, held by Mr W. J. Rees, produced a catalogue with the catchy title: – ‘Particulars, Plans, and Conditions of Sale of very valuable and important freehold properties, situate in the thriving town of Swansea. comprising: – Ground Rents secured by The Drill Hall, The Public Houses……’ The catalogue provides a colour map of Singleton Street with the location of the Drill Hall and the description of Lot 19. The ground rent of £10 per annum would be worth £888 today and the rent per annum of £100, £8,883.

 

Five years later in 1897, the Drill Hall was gone – It was purchased from Colonel Pike by Frederick Mouillot and H. H. Morell, who were two entrepreneur actor managers. The building was demolished, and a Renaissance style theatre was built by the very experienced architect William Hope.

 

What did William Hope build?

 

The auditorium comprised of three tiers, allowing 2,500 people to be in attendance. The Dress Circle was fitted with 300 comfortable red plush upholstery tip-up chairs, each one provided the viewer a good view of the stage. Meanwhile downstairs in the Pit, the seating was comfortable. There were ample exits, allowing the theatre to be cleared within 2 minutes, with the main entrance being located at Singleton Street.

The opening ceremony on 26^th July 1897, was performed by opera singer Madam Adelina Patti who lived at Craig-y-Nos. Madam Patti, christened the memorial stone, with an orthodox bottle of wine, saying ‘I name this building the Grand Theatre’. The local populous were in attendance. If any reader had relatives who remembered this exciting day, and has any family tales, it would be wonderful to hear from you.

 

28^th July saw the first production ‘The Geisha’, a Japanese Musical Comedy.

 

Adeline Patti  was born Adela Juana Maria Patti, 10^th February 1943, Madrid, Spain.  She was the youngest child of tenor Salvatore Patti and soprano Caterina Barilli.

 

Her sibling sisters, Amealia and Carlotta Patti, were also singers, whilst her brother, Carlo Patti was a violinist.

 

Whilst in childhood, the family moved to New York City, the family home is still standing in Wakefield.

 

At the time of the American Civil War, brother Carlo, was leading the Grand Opera House orchestra, Columbia, Tennessee, when he joined the Maury Rifles, after the Battle of Shiloh, transferred to as a member of the Signal Corps.

Adelina made her operatic debut aged 16.  Taking the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, on 24^th November 1859, Academy of Music, New York.

 

Two years later, 1861, Adeline was invited to Covent Gardens, London for the role of Amina in Bellini’s La sonnambula.  Adelina was a success during that season, that a house was purchased and used as a base.  An American tour, followed during 1862.

 

1869-70, a further tour through out Europe and Russia.  The concerts at Moscow and Saint Petersburg were extraordinarily successful, that there more tours to Russia during the 1870s.

 

When she retired, Adeline purchased Craig-y-Nos Castle, Swansea Valley.

 

Craig-y-Nos was built between 1841 and 1843 by Captain Rice Davies Powell, who became  a county magistrate and High Sheriff of Brecknock.  Bad luck fell on the family, Powell’s younger son, died of cholera 1851, followed by his wife and a daughter, before 1861.  Powell’s eldest son, whilst at the Isle of Wight, 1864 was killed in a hunting accident.  The estate was inherited by the eldest daughter, Sarah.  Moving in with her husband, Captain Allaway.   Following Captain Allway’s death 1865, Sarah moved to Tenby and the estate was sold.

 

Craig-y-Nos was brought by Morgan Morgan of Abercrave, in 1876.  Residing here for two years, Morgan and his son also Morgan, cleared a large plantation of 80-year-old fir trees.  It was thought that these trees were home of local population of red squirrels.

 

Adeline purchased Craig-y-Nos, during 1878 and the surrounding park land.  This became the permanent residences of Adelina, only leaving to sing at opera houses in Europe and the United States.

 

Adeline at the time of the purchase of Craig-y-Nos, was married to her second husband, French tenor Ernesto Nicolini.  Adelina had been divorced from her first husband, Henri de Roger de Cahusac, Marquess of Caux.

 

Nicolini cut Adeline  from his will, and after his death, 1898 Adeline began major building program at Craig-y-Nos, with the North and South wings being added, also the clock tower, conservatory, winter garden and theatre.  Today the theatre, known as Adeline Patti Theatre, is Grad I listed.  Built by Swansea architects, Bucknall and Jennings, with input from Sir Henry Irving.  It opened on 12^th July 1891, and those invited included Baron and Baroness Julius de Reuter, the founder of Reuters news agency, and Lord and Lady of Swansea. Journalist from international newspapers, included The Daily Telegraph, Le Figaro and Boston Herald.

 

The Winter Garden was a spacious building, with soaring roof made notable from glass.  It was where Adelina would promenade with her guest and wild exotic birds flew within.  After the First World War, Adelina gifted this to the people of Swansea, becoming to be known as Patti Pavilion and located at Victoria Park.

 

Craig-y-Nos was the first house in Wales, to be powered by electricity.

 

Adeline married for the last time 1899, to Baron Rolf Cederström, Swedish aristocrat. Cederström curtailed Adelina’s social life and cut domestic staff from 40 to 18. After Adelina’s death, Cederström married a younger woman, and their daughter Brita Yvonne Cederström became Adelina’s sole heir.

 

Months after the outbreak of the First World War, Adeline made her last public appearance October, when she sang for the Red Cross filling the Albert Hall, London.

Eight months after, gifting the people of Swansea the Winter Garden, Adeline died September 1919 from natural causes.  As requested in his will, Adeline wanted to be buried near Rossini, she was buried at Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, Paris.

 

Gioachino Rossini was the dominant force in Italian music for half century, his particularly celebrated for his comic operas, including “Il barbiere di Siviglia” – “The Barber of Seville”, 1816.  Rossini died 1868.  Firstly, being buried at Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, Paris, his remains were transferred to Florence, Italy.

 

Located in the Theatre is the curtain – The Lady Riding a Chariot.  The backdrop depicts Adeline as the lead singer in “Semiramide” and opera of tow acts, by Gioachino Rossini.

 

Adeline advertised for Pears Soap, in 1895.