Spare Moments, with our Favourite Composers.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 149, 23 June 1894, Page 11

Spare Moments, with our Favourite Composers.

By Walter Xmpett.

No T 1 VERDI.

In these day* when q,o.M.'s appear to be the heroes of the hour, we are tempted to aek ourselves the question: Where ia the Gr.O.M. of music? Verily, it does nob re. quire much thought to answer the question. Although 81 years of age, Giuseppe Verdi ia still bale and hearty, and apparently haa losb none pf bia wonted enthusiasm, for his favourite branch of the tonal arb—opi&ra. Like many prominent men of the day, Verdi haa worked his way up from, somewbab obscure surroundings, although he received all the assistance in his early youth that his father—who was a village innkeeper of Roncole — could extend tp him. When but seven years of age bja parents contrived to buy him a spinet on which to amuse himself, and many a pleasanb hour waa passed by the little Giuseppe at hia favourite instrument. The embryo maestro was nob one of bhose who are accustomed to take things for granted, and his anxiety to know the why and wherefore of every musical enigma bhab came in big way, soon caused him tq outstrip the besb men in the village as far as musical knowledge waa concerned. As early as the age of ten years he was appointed organist ab Ronpole, ab the munificenb salary of £1 8s lbd per annum. This position ho held for several years, giving greab satisfaction to all. An amusing incident is related ab the expense of a priest belonging to a, neighbouring village, who had tried his best to persuade the young musician thab he possessed little or no ability for music, and that ho should give hia attention to the study pf k&tin. One Sunday, however, the organist) of the church ab which the priest officiated was taken t suddenly ill, and Verdi wa* eenb for in great haste to acb as deputy. After the service was qqnoluded bhe boly father came to him and said, • Whose raußic did you play this morning ? Ib was moat beautiful V to which the genius replied, 'I bad no music with me, and merely invented as I went along.' The priest looked astonished, and grasping Verdi's hand, shook it warmly, ab the same time Baying, ' Well, I am a fool ! You cannot do better than study music after all, take my word for bhab young man.' Tho boy soon passed into manhood, and at the age of 23, with every confidence in his abilities, we find the young composer at Milan, prepared to launch oub for himself, prepared to commence that struggle with the world which was in after yearß to end triumphantly. For some time Buccess seemed dubious, bub at length an impresario; Mercelli, came bo Verdi's assistance, and the result waa the production of his first opera 1 Oberto.' For this bhe composer received £67. Ib was performed several times, and so pleased Mercelli thab he commissioned him bo wribe three operas, one every eighb montha, to be produced either ab Milan or Vienna. The seb of three operas found Verdi richer by aboub £400, while the profits of the copyright were to be divided. Bub although the musician's star appeared to be in bhe ascendant, his really successful career may nob be said to have commenced until after ho wrote 'Nabucodonoaor.' Aboub a year after this • I Lombardi' made its first appearance, and in Italy is still played. After these successes Verdi had no difficulty ip placing hia works before the musical public, and impresarios sought him oub from all quarters. In 1840 the master came to English shores, and was received with great enthusiasm. For the London operatic stage he wrote 'I Masnadieri.' The b°w fatnoua musician wae asked to make a lengthy sbay in the metropolis; bub he found thab pressure of continental engagements would prevent him from doiqg bo. Many other popular and lasting operatic favourites have been written by" Verdi, those deserving special mention beine • Aida, 1 ♦Rigoletto,' 'II Trovatore,' 'Un ballo in Maachera,' 'La Traviata,' and ' Otello.' His lasb greab sueceaß was ' Falataff,' recently performed in Europe. For 'Aida' Verdi received £4,000, while *II Trovatore' and the other popular favourites have swelled the com■poser's revenue to a very considerable degree. Perhaps the besb known of all his works is • II Trovabore,' and ib is with no doubtful feelings of pleasure thab we recall to mind the 'Anvil Chorua,' ' Home to Our Mountains," and the beautiful and impressive 'Miserere.' We understand that Verdi has just completed hia laab opera, a*pd, in accordance with hia more recenb efforts, has chosen a Shakespearian subjecb. Bub he haa written 'King Lear' with a restriction in view, for the manuscript is nob to be open ed until after hia death, and this may be many years yet. Ab the present time the octogenarian composer leads the life of a well-tp-do farmer. His magnificent) Italian country seat sbands a considerable way from bhe main road, and is Burrounded by signs of agrjculbural activity for which he is responsible. Visitors ab the house are always made welcome, and Verdi proves himself an ideal host. The poor in the surrounding districts have the composer's hospitality frequently lavished among them. Can we wonder then that he is universally respected, nob only for the musical heritage which he haa bequeathed to us, butalßo on account of those nobler qualities which lift a man out of the sordid and harsh surroundings which appear to n em him in on all aides.