1 the prestige of the Italian primo tenor assoluto to be
shattered on the first hearing of Sullivan's voice in
London, New York and Chicago, which they , not without
reason, regard as provincial cities not very critical
but very lucrative for them. I have seen the Italian
notices of Sullivan in Italy. No tenor, Italian or
otherwise, has ever had such a press. It is monstrous
that the Italian ring in London and America and the
Irish ring there too should have been able to keep
him for fifteen years out of the theatres where his
fellow-countrymen could hear him. He is forty-nine
and what has to be done for him must be done immediately
and by somebody who puts up the money for these
theatres; nobody else can do anything against the
camorra.
Sullivan does not need to be told that he is the
greatest dramatic tenor at present alive and that there
have not been heard on the operatic stage for an
entire generation such ease of emission, splendour of
diction and magnificence of tone as he displays xxxx
every night he sings for 125 dollars.
2 I am giving you most of the facts but use only what y
you think effective.
With all my prayers to Saint Cecily for your
good success , and my warmest thanks,
sincerely yours James Joyce