PORTERIANA

Speranza

Cole Porter never had to struggle or to perform lowly tasks either in Tin Pan Alley or in Shubert Alley.

He never had to bother with amateur shows to attract attention.

He never had to make the round of producers and publishers.

Competition never disturbed him, nor was he particularly concerned about money.

He was twenty-three when his first Broadway show, "See America First", opened in 1916.

But for the next twelve years he spent most of his time living in Paris and Venice, travelling around the world (hence the inspiration for his exotic numbers, "What is this thing called love", "Begin the beguine", "Night and day"), and, in general, making sure that there was not one pleasurable place anywhere he had not visited.