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220 ANNALS OF THE
Audiences in general are, on all such occasions, in-
dulgent to a rising artiste who can on an emergency
undertake an important role when successful, the
applause will be greater than if announced as " Prima-
Donna" beforehand. Mdlle. Volpini took the public
quite by surprise by her admirable singing and acting, and
established herself so firmly, that the announcement
appeared the next day that, " In consequence of Mdlle.
Volpini's great success, she will appear on Friday in ' La
Traviata.'" Several similar instances have occurred,,
which have made the fortune of " Remplagantes." Miss
Rainsforth (in English Opera) is one instance. She
undertook the part of "Norma" at a moment's notice,
when Miss Adelaide Kemble was taken ill, and thus
elevated herself to the position of prima-donna, which
she enjoyed for several years on the English Stage.
It is unnecessary to allude to the almost unprece-
dented success of Trebelli, who up to the present
moment enjoys a world-wide reputation, which in every
city in Europe seems to increase, and which must still in-
crease, as long as purity of style and finished taste indeed,
art, in its highest lyric form continue to be appreciated.
Then Santley, the greatest baritone England has yet pro-
duced indeed, unsurpassed by any foreign artist in voice
or high-toned musical education. An instrumentalist in
his younger days (having played the violin at the Liver-
pool Philharmonic), he enjoyed the advantage of a most
perfectly formed " ear," which those may lack who have
not studied a stringed instrument. As Mr. Santley is
still in the enjoyment of all his great powers, and con-