- Performer Name:
- Theodore Hook
- Performance Venue:
- Performance Date:
- 1812
- Author:
- Campbell, Thomas
- Date Written:
- Language:
- English
- Publication Title:
- Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell
- Article Title:
- Page Numbers:
- 2:219 and 248
- Additional Info:
- Ed. William Beattie
- Publisher:
- Moxon
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Date Published:
- 1849
Text:
[219] [Letter of May 18, 1812]: Yesterday an improvisatore—a wonderful creature of the name of Hook—sang some extempore songs, not to my admiration, but to my astonishment. I prescribed a subject—'pepper and salt'—and he seasoned the impromptu with both—very truly Attic salt. He is certainly the first improvisatore this country ever possessed—he is but twenty.
[428] [Letter of March 15, 1824]: I have a new design upon you—I have an Italian poet, an improvisatore, to bring down. He was sent to me by Admiral Sir Grahame Moore. His case is interesting. Pepé had determined not to introduce him, for fear of troubling me; but Sir Grahame gave him a strong and particular recommendation. He had no earthly connection with the Carbonari of Naples; but had written a line about the blessings of Freedom, and was sentenced to banishment without a trial! Sir G. Moore generously took him into his own cabin, where he was a great favourite, on account of his improvisatore talents; and the Admiral, and all his officers, I suppose, helped him liberally with money—bravo, British generosity!
Notes:
- Collected by:
- AE