The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-04
Verdi Made Famous by I'll
TroVatore" After Years OF
Disappointment.
Verdi-"UTrcVatore."

Giuseppe verdi. the son of extremely
poor parents. was born in lie Roucote,
Italy, 1873. At the age of Z he assisted
the priest at mass and began to study the
organ. At 10 he became the organist of
the church, and walked three miles every
Sunday from his school at BuSsetO to at
tend this duty, for which he received a
salary of s. d year. The leader of the
Philharmonic society at Busseto recog-
nizcd Nsrdi's talents and offered him les
sons for nothing and his employer at the
warehouse allowed him TO practice on his
piano. Through friends ne was given
scholarship which entitled him 10 enter
the conservatory at Milan, but when he
presented himself TO the head of the con-
seTvatory, this wise professor refused MIN
admission because he found IN MN very
little evidence of musical talent Nerdl
then studied under a successful theatrical
composer for two years. In 1893 he gave
his first opera under Merelii. which was
success. While engaged in writing a comic
opera his wife and two children died, all
within three months and he was over
come with grief and. the opera was great
failure. He resolved never TO compose
again. but his friend, Merelli. showed nm
the libretto of Nabucco which caught his
fancy. and in spite of himself he wrote
the opera bit by bit 1t proved success
and was the real beginning OF his career
This was followed closely by /. LoVebardi
and Ernain Of the following sixteen
"Rigoietto.' composed in forty days, was
given I'm Venice with immense success
With II Trovstorc and ''Traviata ne
became universally popular throughout
Europe In his old age he retired from
public life and lived very quietly, but
never gave I'D work. ''Otello," his greatest
opera. brought him every honor that could
be heaped upon him. At the age of 81 he
wrote "Falstaff, a pure COMEDY Whlcn
breathes the very spirit of youth ana
beauty. He was very charitable and espe-
ciaIly kind to young musicians. HE dled
at the age Of S.
III Trovatore'' was suggested by Span
sh drama of the same name The scene
is laid in Italy. In the opening scene
Ferraud. Count di Luna s servant tens
the story Of GarZia cater ManricOl, the
counts brother who was bewitched by an
old gypsy. His father had her burned at
the stake for her soTcery and in revenge
her daughter. Azucena, stole the child
whose fate was never discovered. when
Ferrand's tale is finished the scene
changes to Leonora's garden. where Count
Luna appears to sing beneath her window
She hastens to meet him, thinking II Man
rico. the TrOubadouT, who has won her
heart in the tournament. In the darkness
she greets the count lovingly, and Maui
rico arrives Just in time to witness the
scene and charges her with infidelity. The
two men fight a duel and Maurice Is
wounded. LeOnora faints and Is carried
Maurice was killed, she arranges to enter
a convent. The wounded troubadour Is
nursed to health in the gypsp camp by
Azucena In a moment of remorse she
confesses that lie is not her son. and that
when her mother was burned she intended
sacrificing the counts child in the flames.
but in her frenzy threw her own child 10
death. \ messenger summons Maurice
to military duty and from him he hears
of IseonOra's resolve He Tescues her. Just
before she ia kes the vows. Azucena is ar
rested as spy in the counts camp and is
sentenced to be burned Maurice. for at
tempting her rescue. is seized, thrown into
prison and condemned to be beheaded.
Ieonora offers to marry the count If he
will release the prisoners She hastens to
the dungeon to tell Maurice, but first
takes poison to escape the marriage Maui
rico refuses her sacrifice and she falls
dead at his feet. The enraged count or
ders his immediate execution. and drags
Azuceua to the window TO see It. She re-
veals her secret and he hears that he has
murdered his own brother.