Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-14

chestra, on the first evening Of the
Festival, Is an interesting one.
In 1858 Rossini died. lie and Verdi to-
gether had done more than any others
to make Italian opera a brilliant insti-
tuition. Verdi conceived ,ne large and
not at all practical idea OF writing a
requiem in which all the leading mus
clans In Italy should have part headed
by the veteran Mercadante. When the
mass was finished 1t war 70 be executed
In the Church Of San Petronio at Bo-
logna, which was the true musical eoun-
try Of Rossini. Then It was to be care
fully sealed and put into the archives OF
the Lyceum Of Music at Bologna and
never taken out. unless an exception
should be made for Anniversaries. Upon
reflection, II was decided to give the
mass only once a century, on the ami
versary of Rossini's death. The text Of
THE Mass OF the Dead was divided
into thirteen parts and given to the thir-
teen composers. Verdi himself reserving
the last or "Llbera Me- for his share.
You can fancy what happened when the
pdiNo hNAN "NH
absolutely no unity and all gradatlons of
merit and style. Verdi didn't expect the
work to- be entirely harmonious. but he
thought It would show extreme love and
veneraton for Rossini. His spirit must
have tainted when he received the actual
results, for the project quite silently fell
through and for five years Verdis own
part Of the work lay In his desk. Then
there died in Milan the famous poet and
novelist, Alessandro Mansoni. He was the
idol OF all Italy and particularly OF the
Milanese. Verdi had already set some
Of his work to music. He was very de-
voted to him, and very deeply moved by
his death. Not long after he made an
offer to the Syndlc Of Milan to compose
a requiem mass for Manzoni; the offer
was gratefully accepted.
Verdi went to France for the summer.
taking with him from It's piegonhole the
Liberia Me" There most Of the rest of
the mass was composed.
On May %. 1874. 1t was first performed
at the Church of San Marco in Milan
by choir Of rs voices and orchestra
OF 100. Visitors came from all parts OF
Europe to hear It. and were loud in their
praises Verdi was presented with a ST.
yer crown. Then the requiem began
upon triumphsl tour of all the capitals
OF Europe. II is sun touring, an ever
beautiful and popular work. Its presen-
tstion at the Metropolitan opera house
in New York Is the signal OF tremend-
Gus audiences. and seats must be bought
far in advance.
Perhaps next gear Mr.. Kelly will think
It advisable to give the whole work in
Omaha.
Think Of Verdi at g. writing the
requiem-then going into retirement and
emerging eighteen years later with ''Fal-
staff" which by many IS considered his
masterpiece. A pretty lively. vital old
chap! They say he had an iron consti-
tuition and endless energy; was TALL and
agile. In his old age he never felt old.
He loved his garden and spent fot Of
time pottering in 1t. and he was fond
Of animals. He adored his wife.
His "otheIlo'' and "Falstaff-' embodv
all the best features of the modern school
of music. and without losing touch with
the great lyric masters Of the past. The
shadow of the music-drama fell upon
Verdi when he was old. Instead of
snorting at the new order Of affairs from
the solitude and retirement Of his farm.
he built two stunning works to repre-
sent him In this new field.
The success Of "Othello" was over
whelming. Verdi was feted as composer
had never been feted before. In "Fal-
staff he said farewell TO the world, and.
like Rembrandt in his last portrait, with
q smile upon his face
-
Samuel CoIeridge-Taylor Is one original
figure in music. He is a muIatto, his
mother having been an English woman.
and his father fulI-bIooded African.
though a well educated man, who en-
coursged his son in ever way. Some
how, We think Of Colendge-Taylor and
Paul Lawrence Dunbar together. What
difference does 1t make after all. The
color Of the skin with souls such as
God gave these I've men. Beautiful, sen