The Arts and sport

Classical greats meet, but Rossini shocked by LvB home

GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1824)

The rising star of European music, Giaochino Rossini has met classical music’s greatest living figure, Ludwig van Beethoven, in Vienna for the first time. But sources close to the Italian operatic specialist suggest it was an awkward encounter.

JUST PUBLISHED

29 May: The 15th book in the Waverley series of historical novels set mainly in Scotland is The Fortunes of Nigel, but its action takes place in London in the 1620s, featuring King James and the Scottish community. Published in Edinburgh and London, more than 7,000 copies were bought from the London outlet of publisher Archibald Constable on the first morning. The Waverley books are published anonymously, but Mr Constable has close links to the writer Sir Walter Scott. 1 June: The new book by US writer Washington Irving, an expat in Britain since 1815, is Bracebridge Hall. It is set in a manor house modelled on Aston Hall in Birmingham. It will inevitably be compared with Rip Van Winkle, written in the Midlands town in 1819.

Signor Rossini is said to have been shocked at the German’s living conditions, with friends of the Italian composer describing his rooms as a 'dirty hovel'. Sig. Rossini, 30, is reported to be trying to raise money to improve Herr Beethoven’s accommodation, but leading figures in Viennese society are unsympathetic because of his reputation for being difficult. Vienna is at the centre of a Rossini fever that has taken over the city’s three-month mid-year opera festival. Enthusiasm for his operas is said to have reached the level of near hysteria with the Italian being followed in the street by admirers. He is in demand at social occasions, with the Austrian Chancellor, Prince Metternich, among his fans. The Vienna festival, which ends in July, has seen

Royals flush after Derby win

The Duke of York’s horse Moses won a thrilling Derby {23 May), giving Prince Frederick his second win in Epson’s big race in seven years. Jockey Tom Goodisson won his fourth Derby, and trainer William Butler a second for his royal employer.

The duke is reported to have wonо £25,000 betting on the 6/1 shot, as well as the official prize money. Reporters on the course say that the lower orders cheered him and cried out, “God bless you - may you live long and happy - we wish you joy!” In an effort to diversify the sport after disappointing crowds before Derby day, a £25 purse was offered for a fight between Dick Curtis and Cooper the Gypsy. Curtis, 20, won the contest after 22 minutes, with much science displayed. Hundreds of elegant females were among the crowd. Observers say there was as great a show of beauty and fashion as ever seen. productions of eight Rossini operas, including the newly premiered Zelmira. The Beethoven-Rossini meeting was brief and always likely to be tricky because of language issues, and the German’s hearing problems which force conversations to be partly written down. Herr Beethoven, 51, was polite and praised the Rossini comic works known as opera buffa and, in particular, his 1816 composition, The Barber of Seville, and urged him to keep writing in the same style. But the Beethoven camp is understood to regard them as frivolous, sensuous and very quickly produced. Sig. Rossini’s popularity is challenging Herr Beethoven’s domination in Europe, but he is an admirer of the German and familiar with his works. >Resources and further reading

LAST YEAR’S RA SUMMER SHOW

Wilkie wows with Waterloo widescreen for Wellington

David Wilkie’s depiction of the news of victory at Waterloo in 1815 reaching Chelsea pensioners is already being called the painting of the year.

It has attracted huge crowds to Somerset House for the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition, which runs until 13 July. A barrier is in place to stop admirers damaging the painting, a step never before necessary. The 5ft-wide painting was commissioned by the Duke of Wellington, but the idea of the pensioner reading the despatch was Mr Wilkie’s. Even readers of the Sporting Magazine have been urged to turn their attention from the attractions of the turf to marvel at exhibit no. 126.

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