Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-17
A


RSSSgS1.
The telegraph yesterday brought us
the intelligence OF the death Of GIoCHINo
RossINI, the great italian comPoser-a
man whose death leaves a void 10 the
musical world that will not seon be hlled.
The deceased was born ia Pessr0, near
Bologna, February %, 1872, and was
consequently we'll advanced il his seven
~ty-seventh year st bis demise. His
parents we're members Of 3 stroiliDg
theatrical company, AT ten years Of
age he was sble to accompany his father,
who ives q horn player in the orchestra.
At fourteen be could sing at sight any
piece Of music.
After being employed for number Of
wears Us a choristeF in the BoiogneEe
churches and occasionally as chorus ms
ter ia little provincial tleaters, he was
induced in 1907 by the breaking down Of
his voice TO enter Ghe Lyeeum of Bologne,
where he %as instructed in counterpOint
by Padre Mattel, and learned just enough
| OF the science OF harmony to enable him
to enter upont the profession OF composer.
His fret work wes La gombiaIe iii mat
~gtnaOssio, an Operetta, which was pro-
! duced with moderate success at the The
atTe san Nose, in Venice and
his next was Demetrio G Polt6io, which
was produced in 1911. In 1872 be com
posed 10 fewer than FIVE operas, all Of
which, with the exception Of UtngGnnO
felice, soon sank into oblivion. In the
succeeding year he gave to the Vene-
! tians three operas, Of which ,one was
| Tancredi, which excited an enthusiasm
never before equaled in the history Of
musical composition, and which,
in less than three years, found
its way to the boards Of every
opera house and theater in Europe.
! The EaHana IN AlgieTi was almost
equally successful and still holds q COCO
position on The stage. In 1915, he ac-
eepted the position Of musical director Ct
the San Carlo thester in Naples. The
succeeding year be produced The Barber
Of Seville, III BdT6iere iii SegiqJjdh
which is pronounced by al musical
| cgihqueB the best specimen Of the bu9O
opera in existence, and which, after a
japse OF more than half 9 century, SUI
fsrs no diminutiOn in its popularity.
According TO MANUEL GARCIA, for
whom The Barber was written, this
uncomfortable work was composed in a
week. In 1877 be composed seven
operas, among which was O5euo, which
IA sill a fav0rite and is 3 striking exam
ple of his forcible style. In 1878 he COM
posed his Nose IN Egtto, which still
ranks among the most magnificent speci-
mems Of the serious or religious operas.
In 1923 he took his leave OF the italian
stage with the opera Of S~eBliromide,
which is perhaps the most elaborate and
gorgeous Of his works. In the same year
he married Madame CoLBRAE, 8 prima
donns OF the San Carlo, and went to
England. In London he made an en-
gagement to produce an opera for the
/ rovalt heater, but an indolent carelessness
had taken possession of him IN place of his
former activity he neglected bis duties,
and failed 10 produce the promised opera
and ruiped The lessees Of the theater.
His visit was profitable 10 him, how
ever. and he left England ten thousand
nounas better of than when he went
stnsra. which sum was derived from con-
carts gotten up for him by the nobility, al
tremendous rates of admission. Leav-
ING London, he went to Paris. He took
! 1os,tion in the Italian Opera, which he
Ma TO 1880. He was appointed ia 1880
- u~Inspector General of Music" with a
,;hsral salary, and held the position
- 1s96. when he resigned 1t and re-
tirsd to Bologna, where, for twenty
,-as~s subsequent, he resided, re-
SDs.ny the most tempting offers
fram managers to write for the stsge.
v;sit,ng Paris in 1855 for his health, ne
has since passed o large portion Of each
vssr thers, and during the musical sea-
son he might W. been seen at his old
resoyts. a genial, well preserved old man,
fuu If anecdotes Of the musical world for
the past half century. The brief tele-
oranhic notice of yesterday is all that
we know at present of the manner or
oause of his death. Beside those men
toned In the above hasty sketch e's