New-York tribune., 1901-01-27

poser throughout Italy, and crowds assembled
TO read the bulletins which were posted in music
stores in most Of the towns
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesca Verdi was born on
October TO- 1913. at the village Of Roncole. near
Busseto, the Grand Duchy of Parma. His father
was an innkeeper and confectioner, a double call
ing which. IN Wretched little place like Roncole,
hardly enabled him to keep body and soul together
Nevertheless he managed to help in some way his
boys early taste for music. which he intelli-
gent enough and value. Giuseppe obtained
little instruction from humble violin player named
Bagasset, and at eleven years apprenticed TO
an organist Of Busseto, with whom he remained
Until he was eighteen playing in the church at
Roncole, and earning after a while as much $50
year As for his general education that he got
he could, teaching himself read and write,
rnd probably mastering great deal of the art Of
music also by his own ingenuity. He was never
without sympathetic assistance however. in his
favorite study. The Busseto organist was a good
master and a discerning friend. and Verdi found a
patron IN rich victualler Of Busseto. named Ba-
rezz who used supply the lads father with
wine and spirits for the tavern and shop Ron
cole
Barezzi was something OF a musical connoisseur
and even an amateur performer. He took young
Verdi into his home, nominally to assist in the
business but really that he might carry on his
musical studies advantageously, and when
the boy had learned all that Busseto could teach
BareZZi found means for him TO 20 10 Milan. A
ther demonstrated HIS faith in Terdis future by
giving him the hand of his daughter IN marriage
Al the time Of this union Verdi teaching at
Busseto, and earning about $50 year. When he
presented himself for admission TO the Conserva-
tory al Milan he was examined in piano and COM
position ana unceremonously rejected. The director
Basly, has, OF course. been denounced for fail
ing TO discern the young mans capacity, but Con-
serTatory directors moi prophets; il NAV well
be that the requirements of candidate trained
in a somewhat haphazard fashion were not I'D 10
the standard OF the great Mianese institution and
the natural gifts which inspired such confidence
In those who had watched Verdis life would
hardly have been disclosed by a trial examination
Perhaps his rejection was not a misfortune He
made such rapid progress under private tuition that
his master, Lavigna was soon able to astonisn
Basily with an excellent fugue which Verdi had
written in a very short time upon theme which
had proved too much for twenty-eight of the Con-
servatory pupils. Not long afterward the rejected
student made a little celebrity for himself in Milan
by successfully conducting. without previous prep
aration. rehearsal Of Haydn's Creation in the
absence Of the regular conductor OF the Philhar-
monic Society.
GAINS INFLUENTIAL FRIENDS.
He accomplished this task so well that the direc-
ron Of the concert was left him; he was taken
up by influential people, ard before long he re-
ceived his first order for an opera. This was
"Oberto di San Bonfacio,' produced at La Scala in
November. 1889, when the composer was twenty
six II was completely forgotten long ago. but it
had no inconsiderable success in its day Ricordi
bought the for $500, and Merelli. director OF
La Scala, as well as Of the Imperial Opera
> Vienna, gave the composer an order for three
operas, 10 be completed in two years. The first
fruit OF this contract was an opera bouffe I'm
Giorno di Regno." Written for a fixed date. il was
done under the most distressing conditions, for
ferdts wife and two children died within a few
weeks Of one other, al the very time when he
was required TO be droll The opera COM
plete failure
Utterly disheartened by this first disaster Verdi
forswore the stage and begged MerelI to cancel
the contract. The manager not discouraged;
but ne knew that inspiration could not be forced,
and he would insist upon the bargain. One
day he brought Verdi libretto which had been
prepared for another composer and asked his opin-
Ion OF IT. Verdi unwilling to look at it, but at
last was persuaded act OF friendship TO take
II home and decide whether IL available not
Tor musical purposes AS he read the old spirit
came back He felt the dramatic situations. and
when he returned 10 Merelli with his verdict the
astute manager saw that the charm working.
The hhretto is admirable" well, then" cried
Merelh set it TO music" And with these words"
wrote Verdi "'he took the ibretto forced it into
any coat pocket. pushed me out of his room. shut
the door in my face and turned the key. The lines
sang in my head. loitered home Verse by
The text transferred itself 10 tie music paper;
and before knew what / about had written
The whole score"
This work was "Nabucco," which may be called
the composers first permanent success, for, al
though the opera has not kept the stage, portions
OF IL stil popular. In ''Nabucco," moreover,
Verdi displayed an individuality OF style which re-
NAMED his almost 10 the close OF his career. As
melOdist il evident that he had only two living
rivals Rossini who was far more richly endowed
musician had practically given up work and
luNurating his laurels. DOnzetti had passed his
prime, and the world could hardly be enthusiastic
any longer over a composer whose forms OF express
sion Il knew so well. Verdi had note OF his own.
His melodies were broad. well phrased, easily
membered and suited 10 sonorous ana impas-
stoned delivery with which artists or moderate abil
lty could sometimes make excellent effect. Il
lombard" 'Macbetto" "Ernani" and II Masna-
der" followed, with varying but. on the
whole, prosperous fortunes. "Ernani" being by far
TIE most successful.
BRILLIANT AND RAPID SUCCESSES.
The rest OF VerdPs career was a train of more or
4ess brilliant and rapid His best period
was the five years between 1851 and 1855, which saw
the production OF "Rigoletto," I'll Trovatore and
Ia Travata,' besides the less important Les
Nepres Sciliennes," written for the Grand opera
VI faris. and ''Un Ballo in Maschera, the per-
Iornance OF which delayed for political rea-
nons. Rigoletto," first given at La Fernice. In
pehoe, in 1851. established ts composer as beyond
az dispute the favorite musician Of Europe "Rigo-
eNto contains the best single number in any OF
s'uit works Up 10 that time, the famous quartet
. which the four voices treated with such
~Soouity in counterpoint such beauty or MELODY