New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
DON LORENZO P Fl
THE DIRECTOR OF THE sIXTINE
CHAPEL AT THE VATICAN WHOSE
ORATORIO. THE RESURREC-
TION," HAS BEEN SUCCESS
FULLY PRODUCED
IN PARIS.
Paris. March 20.

The musical event OF the season is the advent
or the new Italian composer. Don Lorenzo
Perosi. He came TO direct in person the first
performance of his music in Paris. choosing for
the purpose his latest oratorio, THE Resurrec-
ton of Christ" "Don" is his title as priest. an
swerng to the more familiar French able He
is a Piedmontese only twenty-six years Of age
and still has the callow look Of theological
student. but ne has already made his way in
Italy from being maestro d capella at St
Marks. in Venice, TO his present post as director
of the music Of the Sixtine Chapel, in the Vat
lean.
Don Lorenzo. young as he IS, has produced al
Milan. Venice and Rome four oratOrios all OF
which it is said have been written within the
last eighteen months. THE Passion" was fin
ished in September. 1897; THE TRANSPORTATION
of Christ" in February 1898: THE Resurrection
OF Lazarus" in November of the same year and
now The Resurrection of Christ" is brought
out THE Nativity is to come next. and Don
Lorenzo during his week in Paris found time
to compose for it a TIE Deum, which he played
over at the piano for some of his musical friends.
The series. which is to cover the whole life of
Christ. will be made altogether of twelve Of
these oratorios
Allrthis was enough of itself to provoke the
sceptcism of Partisan critics Musicians were
naturally indisposed toward the new prodigy by
the overpowering success of his compositions in
his own country. Since Wagner conquered Paris
Italian music in general has been set down as
pretty. at best and unsubstantal when not alb
solutely meretricious. Verdis later work and
the "Cavaleria Rusticana," which Calv6 sue
ceeded in forcing on the unwilling Partisan pub
lie almost the only exceptions made to this
sweeping condemnation. Leoncavallo and Puc-
Gini practically unknown. Then Italian
cEitcs have united in proclaiming Don Lorenzo
Eerosi second Bach in the upbuilding Of
musical forms. richer in his Orchestration than
Wagner. and. generally. the Messiah who is to
redeem the music of the Latin races from its
present low estate Especially they dwell on the
dramatic emotion and passion of the abbe's
sacred music. but this only suggested to cynical
Parisans that they We're likely to hear echoes
of Massenet's amorous Marie Magdeleine."
Thus prejudice and common sense alike seemed
unfaycrabe to the success in Paris of the Ital-
ian able. The considerable success with which
he has been actually rewarded ought to show
that he may have something to say in the music
of the future.
THE "FIGAROs" FIVE O'CLOCK"
The Figaro" which remains what it has al
ways been the journal Of bOueyarders. took it
on itself to introduce Don Lorenzo PerOsi to his
first Partisan audience at of its select
GIVE o'clocks." There was an unusual mixing Of
worlds church. high life and art There the
Papal Nuncio, whose sudden death occurred a
few days later, after he had been present at the
production Of the complete oratoriO; there were
the cures of the fashionable and musical
churches Of Paris, while ladies from the Eau
bourg Saint-Germain and men from the smart
clubs with diplomatic and other foreign nota-
bnities met together with composers like Mas
senet musicians like Guilmant and the Colonies
and a choice Of musical critics and amateurs.
Alfred Bruneau, whose music has had a
fair measure Of success at the Paris Opera and
Is certainly in the line of Wagneran evolution.
presented the new composer. He explained that
the musical programme Of the occasion had
been arranged to bring out the special character
of Don Lorenzo's composition. This is the direct
outcome Of the works of the old masters VINO
founded oratorio and built up the dream of
Faith into cathedrals Of sound" The forerun
ners of the new music are those GLORIOUS faith
ers Of the singing Church"-Vittoria Roland de
Iassus. Carissmi the true father of oratorio."
and the one whom the Able Perosi seems to
have studied most; Handel in "The Messiah
and Bach. "the patriarch who had twenty chill
dren, wrote hundred masterpieces and found
ed our family" NJ Bruneau bespoke attention
TO this music. which. though many and many
wears old defies the centuries and bears through
fine ages the 10y and strength and beauty Of its
eternal youth"
There was a little gasp Of surprise when the
Italian priest closely buttoned up in his gown,
made his way to the piano where he was to ac-
co,nnanv the vocal interpreters Of his music.