Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
to , born at HESSE-CASSEL , in the circle of the Upper Rhine in Germany ; but , as we do not think it necessary to imitate the famiiiar confidence of the bar , we shall not presume even to conjecture the year tha t _ gave her to the world . Her father was a musician of known merit , who , discovering a strong tendency to harmonic pursuits in his daughter at a very , early period , determined to bestow alidue cultivation upon her promising talents . She visited this country in very earl
y life under parental guidance ; and , if report speaks truth , she derived considerable profit from the exercise of her talents even in infancy , by singing , and by her performance on the violin and guitar , on which instruments she exhibited her skill in public . The father returned with her to Germany , and procured the best instructions for her from the most able professors in that country .
In due time Miss SCHMELING was so far improved , and had gained so high a character , that she was engaged for the opera at BERLIN , where she made her first public appearance oil the stage of a theatre . OldFREDERicK , the King of PRUSSIA , was often desired to hear her sing , but constantly refused , declaring that it was ridiculous to expect good singing from a German ; hearing herhoweverby accidentat a
, , , private concert , he was so struck by the beamy of her voice and the delicacy of her taste , that he made ample amends for his former scepticism , by taking her under his protection , and settling a pension on her as his principal singer . During her residence at Berlin she was married to Mr . MARA , a German musician , whose personal merits and
professional skill very soon captivated her affections . The KING OF PRUSSIA was so pleased with the performance of Madame Mara that he could not prevail upon himself to give her permission to leave Berlin , though a change of air was recommended as necessary-to her health . Many expedients were tried to soften this determination of the king , but without effect ; and conceiving tha , t she intended to escape bstratagemhe ordered her husband to be put
y , under arrest , and , according to some reports , he was condemned to a low military station till the angry monarch was assured that his favourite Syren had no intention of leaving Berlin . It is said that a whimsical manoeuvre at last furnished the means of escape from this flattering captivity , Madame Mara had a fine harpsichord , of which she was known ' to be very . fondand the king concluded , that while the
harp-, sichord , which was in effect kept under a guard , remained at Berlin , its mistress would not quit the place . The harpsichord , however , upon a trifling pretence , was sent to have some repairs , and when finished was not brought home , but dispatched out of the kingdom . Mara and her husband immediatel y followed , and though they soon passed the limits of Old Frederick ' s territoriesyet their fliht was discoveredand
, g , they were pursued with such haste that they narrowly escaped , Mara , after this perilous departure from Berlin , sung in various places on the continent , and at length made her appearance in this country , where her fame had long preceded her . It was in the year 1784 . that she first sung af the Pantheon , then at the Hanover-Square Concert , the Concert of Ancient Music in Tottenham-Street , and yet more happily signalized
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
to , born at HESSE-CASSEL , in the circle of the Upper Rhine in Germany ; but , as we do not think it necessary to imitate the famiiiar confidence of the bar , we shall not presume even to conjecture the year tha t _ gave her to the world . Her father was a musician of known merit , who , discovering a strong tendency to harmonic pursuits in his daughter at a very , early period , determined to bestow alidue cultivation upon her promising talents . She visited this country in very earl
y life under parental guidance ; and , if report speaks truth , she derived considerable profit from the exercise of her talents even in infancy , by singing , and by her performance on the violin and guitar , on which instruments she exhibited her skill in public . The father returned with her to Germany , and procured the best instructions for her from the most able professors in that country .
In due time Miss SCHMELING was so far improved , and had gained so high a character , that she was engaged for the opera at BERLIN , where she made her first public appearance oil the stage of a theatre . OldFREDERicK , the King of PRUSSIA , was often desired to hear her sing , but constantly refused , declaring that it was ridiculous to expect good singing from a German ; hearing herhoweverby accidentat a
, , , private concert , he was so struck by the beamy of her voice and the delicacy of her taste , that he made ample amends for his former scepticism , by taking her under his protection , and settling a pension on her as his principal singer . During her residence at Berlin she was married to Mr . MARA , a German musician , whose personal merits and
professional skill very soon captivated her affections . The KING OF PRUSSIA was so pleased with the performance of Madame Mara that he could not prevail upon himself to give her permission to leave Berlin , though a change of air was recommended as necessary-to her health . Many expedients were tried to soften this determination of the king , but without effect ; and conceiving tha , t she intended to escape bstratagemhe ordered her husband to be put
y , under arrest , and , according to some reports , he was condemned to a low military station till the angry monarch was assured that his favourite Syren had no intention of leaving Berlin . It is said that a whimsical manoeuvre at last furnished the means of escape from this flattering captivity , Madame Mara had a fine harpsichord , of which she was known ' to be very . fondand the king concluded , that while the
harp-, sichord , which was in effect kept under a guard , remained at Berlin , its mistress would not quit the place . The harpsichord , however , upon a trifling pretence , was sent to have some repairs , and when finished was not brought home , but dispatched out of the kingdom . Mara and her husband immediatel y followed , and though they soon passed the limits of Old Frederick ' s territoriesyet their fliht was discoveredand
, g , they were pursued with such haste that they narrowly escaped , Mara , after this perilous departure from Berlin , sung in various places on the continent , and at length made her appearance in this country , where her fame had long preceded her . It was in the year 1784 . that she first sung af the Pantheon , then at the Hanover-Square Concert , the Concert of Ancient Music in Tottenham-Street , and yet more happily signalized