The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-26

The Author or Cava,ieria Rusticsua Now
Very Busy Man.

Recent photographs OF tho composer OF
"Cavalleria Rusticana" show that Mascagnt
Is cultivating a small moustache. The word
cultivuting Ia used adyisodly. Although his
head is crowned by great mass OF hair that
generally appears innocent OF brush and
comb. the young composer has trouble In
raising the beard that is deemed essential to
musicians In Italy. When Pletro MascaRni.
then unknown and living in absolute poverty.
decided TO enter the competition offered By
the publisher Sonzogno. he came to tho con-
cuson that his extremely boyish appear
ancc would initiate against his chances
Of gaining tho prize. SO Ito laid aside
the razor. as he took IN the pen and re-
mained Naznrene until the score was flu-
ishcd At the ond Of that time MascnCni's
beard was far from being as symmetrical as
his music but his whiskers. although
sparse were sufficient to change tho poetic
looking Italian into tho semblance OF Ger
man professor When the Sonzogno award
was announced. and the author of the win
ming composition rushed enthusiastically into
body recognized him He was told that he
must be identified before tho money could DC
The poor musician had long dwet in tho
outskirts " NJ iiun. and his acpuaintanccs were
only among tho rensnntry. Ho was leaving
lord OF an inn ut which he sometimes stopped
on his in!rnuucnt visits to the city. whsn 10
happened to meet man whose daughter ho
had instructed on tho piano.
the s.nzngno prize,r,i rietro MnscaGni. They
he. that am Pietrr Mascagni?' % " '''''
m.n no, 0?Gss at h% in
o" %e' some n Shast iat ntsnds to 'nrs
:. am no cheat" rriod the author - am
daughter on the piano"
-" Nav" returned the other. ~ remainder
anL you are II bearded man.
tn" covered his low
turning with Is now, almost demon! ed
its iightfnl owner. Mascagni rushed homo to
his wife with tho coveted money. which. nj:
therTh Dtancs was moro than either hnd
The young wife was too nervously excited to
cock cook dinner TINT day. and the harry couple.
best meal hat ths landiord could s"rys VIZ
Ternnndo val.ro, the creator Of fmriddm. de- e.
clnred that Mt that time he never thought
either OF iame. or further commissions for
on the possession Of the siOO paid by SonzoS.
no for his first composition.
NJ present Mascagni. who burst from ohscuritv
three years ago with sudIenncss and bril-,
ilancy thnt we hourly expect in the comet OF
Bicla. is now compelled to employ two s.crc-
taries. who are engaged in answering his
Hnppmnas corresr"ndenre fr2m MANAGERS
stantly acIuaints us with the ovations ten.
dered to tho composer in public. But Il lotter
from a correspondent in Milan is not less in
teresting in its intelligence OF the fact that
during arecent visit to the Mascagnis The now
famous Musician was discovered assisting his
secretaries in looking over a pile of 100 H.
brettos that had Leen sent to the composer for
examination and possible use.
Meanwhile the new genius is cultiva!ing his
moust ache and his talent with equal assiduity.
The dress rehearsal OF his latest work. Les
by an audience Of critics and artists from all
parts OF Europe. In this opera the author is
said to have excelied himself, Competent
power delightful lyrics. and splendid orches-
tration. No matter how MascaGn mis- whiskars
grow at present, the breath of fame still watts
their owner into prosperity.