Evening journal., 1901-01-28

1AAAl4A T II EMIL
Signor Saracco, the premier. Slsnor
Saracco announced that a marble bust
of the composer would be placed in the
senate chamber and that an official
delegation would b5 sent to attend the
funeral. adding that unless Verdi's will
directed otherwise the funeral would
be at the expense Of the state.
Giuseppe Verdi was unquestionably
the greatest operate composer of his
time, and In the Italian school OF direct
harmony he was never even approach
ed. Verdi was born in Rancola in the
duchy Of Parma, in 1910. His father
was an innkeeper. AS a child Verdi
was wont to follow about the streets
OF his native village every organ
grinder who happened along.
At the age OF z Verdi begged his
parents 10 have him taught music. and
they acceded to the extent Of buying
him an old spinet This quaint inatru-
ment is still preserved.
At II years Of age Verdi's first dream
OF ambition was realized. for he was
named organist at lie Boncole. with
the large pay OF sc francs afterwards
raised to f0) year. In the meantime
he had been sent 20 school at Busseto.
where an honest cobbler boarded him
for the munifcent sum Of SIX cents per
diem.
The inhabitants OF Busseto were al
ready famous for their love Of music
Among the many inhabitants were
many musical amateurs, and though
its population amounted 10 but 1000
Il boasted OF a philharmonic society
that held its concerts and reheasals in
the house Of Signor Barezzi q wine
and liquor merchant Of whom Verdis
father had been in the habit OF buying
the stores needed in his humble inn.
This honorable man. passionate
lover Of music took the greatest inter-
est in young Verdi, allowing him 10
practice on his excellent piano and
giving him the run Of the house II
was he too. who not only obtained one
Of the four purses Of the Monte al
pieta when Verdi went to study at
Milan but became responsible for the
expense Of his board and his lessons
a generosity which was honorably re-
paid as soon as the young man was
able 10 earn his own living Eventual
~ he became the father-in-law Of the
young composer, who had fallen in
love the handsome Marguerite. Ba.
rezzis eldest daughter The marriage
took place IN 1886.
But, alas, while hard at worl
at his FIRST opera a terrible mis-
fortune befeu the man hitherto
so happy and so fortunate. In The
short space Of two months his two
children and beloved wife were iaker
from him. and he was alone in tn
world II Is scarcely to be wondered
al n, under such circumstances. thu
"Ciarno de Regno." as it was called
failed TO please. and disgusted witt
himself, and even with his act. In sucl
a season Of grief and despair. tn
young maestro insisted upon givin
up his contract and ceasing to write
Tor some time he persisted I'm hi
resolution. One evening. however, h
met Marelli, who asked him 20 &C
company him TO the theater on tn
way thither the manager oomplaine
that Nicolai had refused 10 compos
an opera to a libretto Of Solera's
He crammed Il into Verdi's pocke
pushed hin out OF his Office and lOch
ed the door IN his face while cryin
out. "Set Il 10 music" The librett
being thus fotced upon him Verdi wa
obliged TO carry it home. and nanll
"NabuccO" was completed The su,
cess Of this work IN 1912 was emphati
and was followed by "Otello." sis
norma Guiseppina strepponi. who or,
ated the part Of Abigalle. eventual
became his second wife
Vcrdi's best known operas arc Mel
uchadnezzar. "Ernani." "Attila
Macbeth 'Riegoletto." III Trovt
tore" la Traviata." "Otello." "Gh
v,rnf ffk rro 4" q. Aidon and "TTua Raj
in M1sChora." Perhaps his most pop
Jar composition is III Trovatore" We
di was yCry wealthy at the time OF
death.