New-York tribune., 1901-02-17
VERDI AT SAINT AGATA
HOW THE COMPOSER LIVED N HIS
COUNTRY HoME-HIs HATRED
OF PUBLICITY.
OF PUBLICITY.
Rome. Februarv !.


Oie OF tile writer's most precious recolleotions
N'sit paie to the villa at SAINT Agata. near
a ma where Giuseppe Verdi lived. He visited
80 sAo long IN Genoa and Milan, but he may
So a ~ nave resided and had his real life at
Filia' which was his own creation.
many years ago. in 1919 he was living with
LIS iather-ln-law, when the desire 10 have a
nome OF his own assailed him. and a modest
htue mousse in a small garden was purchased. in
which he settled contentedly. and where he lived
Ior seven months OF each year ever since. From
th-s nucleus has arisen the present comforta bic
and commodious villa. with grounds stretching
about it for miles
IL was = tedious ride in the tram before arriv-
Ing at Busseto from where one drove in q car
rage through q rolling. rather poor country.
suddenly on the road where the trees were
thiekest there began q high red wall which
seemed interninable and over which one
caught gllnpses " 4 oommodious house. while
On the left flowed the graceful little river, the
ongina- Through the gates one a house
with flower beds and green grass vines and
trees. and an air OF peace and wellbeing which
told the traveller that he had arrived his des-
;ination.
The neat, white capped maid smiled a well
come, having been told Of the approaching ar
-iEsL and ushered the visitor, together with the
dogs. at once into the presence OF the recluse of
SAINT Agata, the two dogs, Top and Jena. TAX |
ing their places at either side OF their master.
These two dogs responsible for the safety 1
OF the villa, do care for strangers a |
rule, but when their master approves OF any |
one they approve also.
The > o'clock dinner. for It was summer, was /
ever all too for the modest visitor but !
when the maestro seated himself at the piano |
regrets passed away. and only content and the
highest human enjoyment remained. After |
about half hour Of this heaven Verdi rose
and asked mis- visitor 70 play something in keep
ing with the fading light. but no sooner had the |
first notes sounded than Jena, who had been /
lying al her masters feet quiet but not asleep, /
stood Up. and began TO bark excitedly. Re-
rnonstrance even from her master was in yain
and when put out Of the room she showed such
signs Of anger that the player stopped, when
she Immediately became quiet 1t was ex-
planned that she hated music, putting her dis
like into noisy barking for others, but resignng
herself TO the Inevitable whore her master was
concerned.
OF all the rooms in the house the maestro's
bedroom is the most Interesting He did his
work here, composing and iulprovising. Don
Carlos was entirely written in this room,
"Otheo" finished. and "Rigoletto" begun and
completed in forty-eight days, not 20 speak
OF many others. The room is large, with
high ceiling, and the ground floor al corner,
one window looking on the garden and another
on the court yard, full Of air sun and bright
ness. 7 had il hung and upholstered with
yellow" Verdi explained. TO further add 10 the
cheerfulness, 50 that, you see, when the sun
shines il is almost dazzling 70 the eyes" In
the centre stands an immense desk, decorated
with small ornaments Of value, mostly presents,
and overiowing with papers. which H. was
very particular no one should touch. one maid
was intrusted with this delicate service. and
cannot be said 70 have always escaped adverse
comment Against one wall stands the ample.
spotless white bed and opposite. a grand piano.
the cunfdant Of al his hopes, joys and sorroWs.
The room also holds a sofa. chairs, pictures q
,rabinet containing firearms. Nerci having ar one
i.ne been = famous shot and "a hr-plac- and
rusn,sl. decorated simply with candiestieks an
)antique bronze ana little statue ~ boy
wounded in the head Tn, whole is - great
simplicity with an air of comfort and eEen
-xllry. without Eorseousness-
The grand old man OF italy. he was +
called rose al 10 =. n. and oourtae1sly ina
mated ,hat il was MS hour flr retiring. uu;
evidently not Tor going 10 bed as The stiffness
or rhe night was soon interrupted by those In-lp-
dies which later rang out AL over the world.
lese interesting because less used by him
The estate Of SAINT Agata is now large, and Is
overlooked entirely by me- explained the rreat
composer. "Mg breed Of horses. am proud To