The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-19

was left alone in the world. and had TO to
write comic opera. He continues.
Sopn0 q Esg m PToegcf f6a Sept
some the staging. had begun the COM
position in anguish Of soul, and crept away
from the theater with q broken heart l
therefore determined never to write single
note again. asked Morelli to cancel the
You are a capricious fellow" he said.
my confidence in you cannot be shaken
Why throw up the sponge because one opera
has not had the success expected? That's
folly, you baby, your!
My resolution could not be shaken and at
length he gave me back the contract. Dear
Verdi" he said II cannot compel you to
compose. / repeat again that you are the
only one of my composers in whom | have
eonlhlaence the fTes unlm a dav co n
resume your pen. 7 shall be satisfied il
two months before the beginning of each
season. you viii Inform me, and / promise
that your opera viii be performed"
/ often, thinking Of my bereavement, used
to wander, as In dream. through the
streets of Milan. One day. as | was thus
wandering without looking before me l COL
lided with man coming from the Corso.
He began to use bad language. when we
suddenly recognized each other. The coll
lision made him merry and talkative. Mo-
relli told all kinds of amusing stories till
we reached La Scala, and then he took me
to his Office.
II must tell YOU" he said Il have COM
missioped Nicolai to compose an opera for
me. but he does not want to do so. the
libretto does not please him. Now. look
here, Verdi. this hbretto of Solera-a libretto
of the first class, extraordinarily beautiful.
even brilliant. Effective dramatic situations!
Beautiful verses Still this thick-headed
maestro will not touch 1t, not even hear it
msntionsdl He s says this adm or od book is
where can conJure up another hpretto for
him?"
written a note for II Proscrito.' and will
place the book at your disposal,
"Bravo!" he cried. What iuck?'
Bassi, the poet. stage manager, librarian,
reader all in one, soon brought the book,
while Moreli was turning over the pages Of
another.
REAL START TO FAME.
"See here Verdi" he exclaimed wonder
full subject to develop. Quite unheard Of!
Take it and read it through
l took the libretto, manuscript in folio,
clearly written, and went away. On my
way homeward an indescribabIe feeling Of
disquiet seized me. melancholy oppressed
me; my heart beat frightfully. AT home 1
took glance at the work. and read the line.
Fly, thought, on golden pinions." l read
the following verses, which made great
impression on me- for / had a translation
OF the Bible before me. l read one part,
then another. l remembered my VOW never
to write another note. / must be my own
master; I'll put it in drawer and go to bed.
Yes, but 'Nabucco" had got into my head.
Sleep would not come. rise from my bed,
read the manuscript once, twice, three
times, till morning surprised me, and then
/ knew it by heart. Some days afterward
l gave it back to Morelli.
full A'' Ae '''0 no '''''O . '
Grand" replied
Then set it to music; compose, composed!
Don't think of it. I'll not hear of it."
Compose! Compose, Compost" he
shrieked and crammed the libretto into the
pocket of my overcoat Then he took me
by the shoulder and pushed me literally
out of the door. The door fell to with
clash, and heard him turn the key.
l took ''Nabucco'' home with me in my
pocket. To-day one verse. tomorrow an
other one day one note, the next another,
then a phrase-and by and by "Nabucco,
went to tell Morelli the great news that
''Nabucco" ready and could be given
during the carnival Morelli was delighted.
but said he could not produce 1t that sea-
son. He had engaged to produce three
operas by celebrated composers, a fourth by
an unknown one might be disastrous had
better wait till spring. l refused all further
negotiation; either the carnival or not at
ALL Morelli gave way.
l went through the libretto again and
found duettino in the third act that did
not please me. 1t seemed out of harmony
with the biblical tradition. spoke about 1t
to Solera the author OF the lbretto. We
had q long fight. At last he asked me what
l wanted. l opened the Bible and asked
him to put into verse the prophetic words OF
Zachariah. He promised, and l played on
him the trick that Morelli had played on
me. / shut the door and turned the Key.
mo home for you till you have made me
Solera was man of hercuean build and
he could easily have made an end of me.
But he laughed, and in quarter of an
hour the prophecy was in beautiful verse.
Finally March 6, 1912, my first i'm
presario. Morelli, produced the opera Ma
bucco' for the first time. with Strepponi,
Bellini Caghi Rinconi, Miraglia and Der
vies. / had returned to the opera stage.