The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-09

was practically self taught, and his early
yeafs-oh they were so difficult
~ hen did he begin composing?" I in
oeefto' was his first opera" I was
&c 10, and It was refused by the directors
Of the opera. Many times he offered If
ana many times it was refused Finally
the management changed. and his opera
vas accepted and presented, but with
small snceess He continued to write and
MS thiru opera scored a great success
From that time on he wrote IS il in
splrea' and he gained great fame and
riches Immediately"
Verdi had keen sense of humor. ,"
said Signor Nicosia, again with that
slowing smile of his tnat is so dominant
when he is recalling something pleasing.
aud he thought It was a great Joke on
tnes conservatory that they had turned
HIM down in his early days because they
music"
How many operas in all did he writer.
asked.
''oh, don't know exactly" was the an
swer, something like 90 or 5, I think
Il is no matter. he wrote very many. and
they were all good, too. At first he would
write only about one opera every two
years, then later he would write two
every year, so productive his brain be-
came.
'Falstaff,'" signor Nicosia continued,
was really his favorite."
we seldom hear it," ] suggested
Because of its magnitude and the ter-
rible expense necessary to produce it."
said he. 1T takes a double caste and IT
requires too many big and wonderful
voices to sing it."
And have you known any other COM
posers whom you rank with Verdi" I
asked
Abr said Signor Nicosia with great
Eentleness, my dear friend, Gounodl And
tnere is Masenet and Mascagni. and Char
pentier.. who wrote Loulsie.'- An! that
poor Charpentier He knew more than
and poor. while his wonderful brain was
pouring out such wonderful music, and
no recognition being made of It,"
But his time came at last" I sug-
gested.
Yes" sighed Signor Nfcosia, but like
Bizet. he was almost gone before it hap
pened. Bizet died of broken heart be-
cause of lack of recognition; and look at
Garment Such music. SO Frenchy, so
fantastiai And Charpentier-alas! when
his Louise was accepted after strug-
Sle of five long years, his health was gone,
his hopes gone, and his win and mind
brokenr
Those things happen orten," | suggest
ed Look at that wonderful play
Everywoman,' whose author didn't live to
see even the premiere of itl''
You are right" said Signor Nicosia.
.'All genius seems to need the hard,
seamy side of life to bring to perfection
the gift of creation. Wagner when he
went to Paris was glad enough to get
10 cents a lesson, and his compositions
he'd sell for anything he could get for
them. The cafes were his best patrons,
and so the story goesl'
Art is not fostered OF the sods," said
Sienor Nicosia in conclusion, IF one
Judges by the examples of musical genius.
Finally, I believe all great music is lis
tened TO and appauded, but sometimes too
latel Ofttimes too late! When the world
1efuses to hear it. the poor composer works
OIL and on. struggling, fighting, because
he Is an artist. and life to him is only
music expressed, and he must work at
Il at, but when the reward comes-often
it is too latel He may have gone to his
grave, or worse still, to end mis- days be-
reft of reasonl'