The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-03
STATUES BY THE SCORE
National Exposition to be Opened at
Parma as One Of the Fea-
lures of the cele-
bration.
by Henry Wood, Rome correspond
emit Of the United Press.

$ ROME, Aug. 2.-ltaly is to put III
practically the rest of the year doing
little else than celebrating the cen
tenary anniversary of the birth of
Verdi.
The commemoration has two import
ant significances from the Italian point I
of view. Great as Is Verdi's world
wide fame as an opera composer and
essential as music is to the every
day life of the average Italian, 1t also
happened that he lived during the
stirring period of Italy's struggle for
unification and took such an active
part in it that his name is linked
with unusual fervor always with those
of Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Eman-
|uel II.
This joint musical and patriotic
aspect of the situation therefore ap-
lpeals to the two sentiments to which
the Italian temperament is ever most
lresponsive-with the possible excep-
ton of that of love-and accounts in
no small degree for the nationwide
manner in which the centenary is to
be observed. The commemoration
will unquestionably exceed in almost
leyery respect that observed two years
Iago in Germany for the centenary of
Franz List.
4 Although individual observances of
I the anniversary have been in progress
in the various cities and towns Of Italy
practically since the first of the
lyear, the national commemoration
will not be formally opened until Aug
4 ust Ia when it will continue until
5 October Is, the elimination coming,
8 however, on October 10, the centen-
larry anniversary Of Verdfs birth
These observances are to take place
at Parma, verdis birth place and
!, assurances have already been re
n ceived that they will be participated
In by the leading musicians of the
entire world.
The first day of the festivities al
! Parma will witness the opening of a
national exposition devoted entirely to
1.-THE growth and development of the
! stage in Italy. Immense buildings
have already been constructed fol
!, this and the work of making the col
lection is now well under way. The
italian government itself will con
tribute the wealth of material from
Tall of it's national museums relatint
! Ito the early Greek and Roman thea
: tres in Italy. The new national thea
! trical museum, recently opened a
! Milan in connection with the famous
;, Scala theatre, will also transfer prac
! tically it's entire collection to TIN
. Verdi exposition for the period of tn
Il festivities. This collection is admit
!. Itedly the most complete in the worl'
I Of theatrical matters and it will b
practically the first time that it vii
be seen by the public as the neN
n museum at Milan, has been close
a almost entirely since its opening.
Naturally, a goodly section of tn
deposition will be devoted to Verd
land contributions to this have bee
made by practically every one !
& italy who possesses anything intimate
w connected with this life.
n
marked by the daily presentation {
Eall of the more important Of th
Verdi works The most pretentiou
II of these will be the presentation
H. chronological order Of all of Verdi
H. greatest masterpieces The inspir
ID ton for this was furnished by Car
&c tpanini. one of the directors of til
METROPOLITAN at New York. who We
:, born at Parma, and in carrying it on
: he will have the assistance of pra
- tically all of the Metropolitan al
!. lists who have contributed their sc
: vices. Watti, Tetrazzini, Nordic
!. Games, Caruso, Scotti, the De Res
! kes and Toscanini, the director, a.
:. only few of those who will tai
! part.
%. In the presentation of the operas
N their chronological order, Campani
will have an orchestra of 100 of Il
leading Italian musicians, and che
jus of 100. For the eliminating featu
of this program which is to be Il
= rendition of yerdi's Requiem Mas
q over 400 of the leading vocalists
"a the world will be under the directi'
,is of Campanini's baton.
w Aside from this more pretentio
y. rendition Of Verdi's works. there a
to to be daily concerts by all of t
70. Heading choral societies of Italy
cd which large cash prizes have be
ed offered. The festivities will also
he clude the dedication of "Sala VI
he d." which has been especially erect
III. in conjunction with the Royal Consel
ub atory at Parma and which is to
to the largest concert hall in tia
to There will also be unveiled hu
bronze statue Of Verdi. viii