ABSTRACT
Few musicians have had such a colourful career as Vincent Wallace. This ‘excellent Eccentric man’ enthralled Berlioz with tales rivalling the Arabian Nights. Indeed, so flamboyant was his life that the major biographical problem is separating fact from fiction. Wallace first became known as a violinist in Dublin. He was also an outstanding pianist. In 1835 he went to the Antipodes, moving to South America in 1838. During the next few years he made his way northwards. The eponymous heroine and Don Caesar de Bazan are caught up in courtly intrigue inspired by the villainous Don Jose, who wishes to alienate the queen from the king of Spain. Thanks to the assistance of the warm-hearted youth Lazarillo, Don Caesar survives an attempt on his life, saves the monarch’s honour, and gains Maritana’s hand. Matilda of Hungary is similar in style to Maritana but much less convincing. One suspects it was composed in haste.
