Alas for the vanity of human hopes and anticipations -- the diva Adelina Patti inteds to sing, for the first time, the part of Carmen. Her essay as Carmen was to culminate in the one decisive disappointment of her career.

Speranza

He gave what proved to be a rather surprising piece of information, namely, that the diva intended to sing, for the first time, the part of Carmen!

But alas for the vanity of human hopes and anticipations!

Patti caught a couple of colds in quick succession that upset
all Mapleson's arrangements, the first compelling him to postpone his opening for nearly a week.

Then her essay as Carmen was to culminate in the one decisive disappointment of
her career: an artistic failure!