Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10
The Most Perfect Tenor Singer who
Ever Lived.

HVOA cue
THE Partisan
PARIS, March l3.-Fra Giovanni del Pana
the famous Franciscan tenor of the Sistin
chapel, and monk of Ara Cell ia dead H
f naa Deen singing great deal In all the church
Iestas this season. At every function in the
Slst1ne chapel, at St Ignazio for the re0uieu
mass OF Plus IL, on all occasions. we hay,
near neara ms angelic voice soaring pure and clear
u ~ ana sparkling, like mountain stream
thrown up into high-water shaft, and spread
ing on IN spray as transparent as sunny sheen
against the heavens. Several times when
ma nave heard him sing this spring have thought
TVS rs an MAJ anger and no human being"
sloient ln1lammatory gastric fever, aggravated
10y lhteStlna! gangrene. Fra Giovanni was
simpie, Kind hearted contadino He was the
son OF cOftddfnt, and was born 81 years ago a.
81. Maria del Giudice near Lucca- He entered
the order OF the Minor Osservants Franctscans
Wnen ne was only II. He was, 1t is said, goOC
student OF religious philosophy and theological
olsc1pllne, and at one time was a robust and
eHect1ve preacher. About six or seven years
ago IL was discovered that he had magnif1
cent TENOR voice OF marvellous sweetness, ex-
tent, and, what is unusual with that style OF
voice, OF great strength, and 1t seemed inca
paDle OF fatigue. Its freshness and purity were
truly unequalled. 1t was totally unlike other
human voices. All who heard him were en-
chanted-only few said it ought to be sub
Jected to musical training. The Princess Can
tacuzene Altieri, in her beautiful story, "Pove-
ver1na," gives this description of Fra Giovan-
mrs voice and Its powerful effect in church:
Then voice arose which excited a sort OF
trem bling In the crowd; all heads turned in the
same direction: all curious and eager looks
rested on the same point in the tribune, Ii
was tenor voice, fresh pure careSStnp but
ABOVE all, touching and tender-one of those
voices which, In spite Of defects, disarm ali
criticism, because they make vibrate that
chord of true feeling which exists in all hu-
Fra Giovanni del Papa had many rich and
tempting offers from tnlpressdrii but he al
ways refused them firmly. Fra Giovanni was
the protection OF the Prince, and occupied a
room in the PalazzO Altieri, Rome, whenever
ne W1shed; he was as petted child Of the
family. he was gay, happy, bon entant.
with q heavy, coarse form and face; there
never was such contradiction between body
and voice; 1t was difficult to believe they were
OF one being. He was most imprudent I'm his
mode or living, never took care of his health
and ate and drank the most indigeStible food
and common wine at the most Unreasonable
hours.
[Fronl the Hour.l
Had he not been a frtar, he would have been
one OF the greatest operate stars that this age
has produced. AS it was, he was engaged to
sing In all parts of Italy, and wherever his
name was announced not only was the church
crowded with people, but every spot around it,
In the hope OF hearing some OF those notes
which filled the church as an ordinary voice
fills mOderate-SiZed concert room. At one
tlme his fame was SO great that the Pope for
bade him TO sing anywhere but at ST. Peters
But when Father Giovanni gave the intima-
ton that he would throw off his gown and go
On the stage, he was allowed to continue to do
just as he pleased, and his stipend was in
creased. He died OF typhoid fever, at the age
OF 81. He had grown fat of late years. so that
had he Joined the stage, he could hardly have
taken the lovers parts. He was Lablache,
with tenor voice,