Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-01-03
uaseagni at Home.

This young composer has not been too
frequently interviewed as yet, We believe;
this excess of honor is thing in reserve
for him, probably. One who knows him
intimately, however, has published a few
interesting details concerning him; inter
esting because, having passed through his
third fiery ordeal successfully, he may
fairly be ssid to have obtained certain
reputation, and of kind which looks SIS
though it would go on sugmenting. To
know Msscsgni is to like him, says S. Lo-
PEI, and to like him you must know him.
You must sse him In his own house, with
his three boys-Mirni. the eldest (Cavalle-
ris); Edoardo (Amico Fritz, the second;
and Giorgio (Rsntzau). the third. For, as
1t seems, the appearance of each opera was
preceded by the birth of son. S. LOPEZ
believes it will continue SO, and that if
twins should come tina: the composer
would still be equal to the occasion, and
would never consent TO let his wife be in
advance OF him.
Mascs2ni must be known in his house to
see what Kindness there is in him, and
what an unpretending nature he has He
ia the slave of his children, and Il not less
kind, we are told, to his friends. Willing
ly, too willingly, as some people think, he
lets them hear the work he is engaged on,
as 1t progresses day by day. 1t Is a pleas
ure for them, because he Knows better
than any one how to give the right ex-
preston to his music and make an audi
ence enjoy IL; and II ie also a necessity for
himself which he satisfies, because he
needs to work in this way, producing and
letting it be heard. Very often, when he
plays part of an opera TO his friends il
is not half finished; sometimes Ii is
scarcely more than improvissd. Bnt the
embryo almost always contains the germ
of the coming work Each time that the
cong or the act is repeated something is
corrected or added, till the piece Is def
nitely completed. When once MRscagni
decides that an act or a part IS finished he
never chsngss n note. He is obstinate
and tenacious, and confident in his deci-
sion. This Undertaking sureness of him
self lie, as S LopFZ thinks, his greatest
and most desinable quality. Only one
who does not know Pieiro, Cavalier Piefro,
Cavalier Genius, the Swan If COElgnolR,
as the composer is iokIngly called by his
friends, can douht of his sympathslic nat
ure, for few artists have so many fascIua
ting traits rs this young LiTOrnian. macs.
tro. lone must have known him. ssys
the writer, before AID after his success 20
be able to affirm as do that this has not
! intoxicated him. although, ST the same
time, he fully enjoys the PLEASURE of IL.
The few peculiaTitieE which he has. and
which have caused him to be called q
poseur by some people, he had already,
when he was unknown 10 fame, when he
did not possess the little palace at Livorno,
and was still an orchestra director OF an
| oPerstic company. sympathy and snIip.
athy. marked. decisive and tenacious, have
+ always been his characteristics features
then Rs now-when he WAS az the gymnA.
stun, and was sent away from school be
cause of his restlessness and want of sp-
plication; when he was at the conserva-
toire, and finding THE lectures tedions wss
forbidden to attend for a time because Of
his impertinence; it was bscsuse he had an
sptipsthy for the professors he could not
continue to listen 10 them patiently"