The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-04-20
APA1 AND TUNEFUL MOUTH
The Most Perfect Tenor Singer
Who Ever Lived.

Paris, March 13.-Fra Giovanni
del Papa, the famous franciscan
tenor of the Sistine Chapel, and monk
Of Ara Cell, is dead. He had been
singing q great deal in all the church
festas this season. At every function
in the Sistine Capel. at st. Ignazio
for the requiem mass Of Plus TX.
on all occasions, We have heard his
angelic voice soaring pure and clear.
limpid and sparkling, like q noun
tain stream thrown up into a high
water shaft, and spreading of in
spray a. Transparent: as sunny sheen
against the heavens. Several times
when have heard him sing this
spring / have thought. 1T is an
angel and no human being"
the poor Frate vas i'll only few
DAYS with a violent inAammatory
gastric fever. aggravated by intestinal
gapgrene. Fra Giovanni was simple.
kind .hearred contadino. He was the
son of coasadini, and was born 81
wears ago at st. Maria del Giudice.
near Lucca. He entered the order
of the Minor Osservants Franciscans
when he was only II. He was, it is
said, Q good student Of religious
philosophy and theological discipline:
and at one time was a robust and
effective preacher. About six oil
seven years ago it was discovered that
he had magnificent tenor voice OF
marvellous sweetness, extent, and,
what is unusual with that style OF
voice, of great strength. and II
seemed incapable Of fatigue. Its
freshness and purity were truly un
equaled. It was totally unlike othe,
human voices. All who heard him
we're enchanted-only a few said il
ought to he subjected to musical train
ing. The Princess Csntacuzene
Altieri, in her beautiful story,
"Poveverina." gives this description
of Fra Giovanni's voice and il:
powerful effect in a church "Ther
a voice arose which excited q sOr
of trembling in the crowd ; all head
turned 10 the came direction t: al
curious and eager looks rested on thu
same point in the tribune. 1t was I
tenor voice. fresh. pure. caressing
but, above all. touching and tender
one of those voices which, in spite o
defects. disarm all criticism. becaus'
they make vibrate that chord Of tru'
feeling which exists in all human
souls"
Fra Giovanni del Papa had man,
rich and tempting offers from mpres
sariii. but he always refused then
firmly. Fra Giovanni was a protes'
of the Altieri family he was unde
the protection of the Prince. am
occupied room in the Palazzo Altieri
Rome. whenever he wished he va
; IS petted child OF the family. HI
sas Q CAV. happy. bon eafa,t. with I
heavy, coarse form and face Their
never was such a contradiction be
tween body and voice; it va
iifficult to believe they were Of on
heing. He was most imprndent il
MS mode of living. never to"k care O
his health. and ate and drank tn
most indigestible food and common
wine at the most unreasonable hours
From the Hour.
Had he not been q friar, he woul'
have been one of the greatest operate
stars that this age has produced. A
it was, he was engaged to sing in al
parts of Italy, and wherever his nam
was announced, not only was tn
church crowded with people. bu
every spot around it. in the hope o
hearing some of those notes whicl
filed the church as an ordinar,
voice fills a moderate sized concer
room. At one time his fame was q
great that the Pope forbade him T.
sing anywhere but at St. Peters. Bu
when Father Giovanni gave tn
intimation that he would throw off hi
gown and 90 on the stage. he wa
allowed to continue to do just as h
pleased, and his stipend was increased
He died Of typhoid fever, at the az
of 81. He had grown fat of lat
years, 60 that, had he joined tn
stage, he could hardly have takeI
the lovers part. He was Lablache
With q Tenor voice.