Chapter I: Front Matter

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VERDI: MAN AND MUSICIAN

* * * * * *

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._

"THE STORY OF BRITISH MUSIC."

"THE GREAT TONE POETS."

"CHERUBINI" ("GREAT MUSICIANS" SERIES).

"PHASES OF MUSICAL ENGLAND."

"ADVICE TO SINGERS." (12th Thousand.)

ETC. ETC.

* * * * * *

. 1897. G Verdi_"]

VERDI:

Man and Musician

His Biography with Especial Reference to his English Experiences

by

FREDERICK J. CROWEST_

_Author of "The Great Tone Poets," etc._

John Milne 12 Norfolk Street, Strand London MDCCCXCVII

_To_

_MADAME ADELINA PATTI NICOLINI_

_EMPRESS OF SONG_

_Whose Transcendent Vocal and Histrionic Powers_

_HAVE_

_Contributed so largely to an adequate appreciation
of the genius of_

_VERDI_

_This Monograph of the Master is
by Expressed Permission_

_DEDICATED_

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER I

BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND CHILD-LIFE

Verdi's birth and birth-place--Dispute as to his township--Baptismal
certificate--His parentage--The parents' circumstances--The _osteria_
kept by them--A regular market-man--A mixed business--Verdi's early
surroundings and influences--Verdi not a musical wonder or
show-child--His natural child-life--Enchanted with street
organ--Quiet manner as a child--Acolyte at Roncole Church--Enraptured
with the organ music--Is bought a spinet--Practises
incessantly--Gratuitous spinet repairs--To school at Busseto--Slender
board and curriculum--First musical instruction--An apt pupil 1

CHAPTER II

CLERK, STUDENT, AND PROFESSOR

Verdi goes into the world--Office-boy in Barezzi's
establishment--Congenial surroundings--An exceptional employer--Verdi
becomes a pupil of Provesi--A painstaking copyist--Verdi wanted for a
priest--Latin elements--Appointed organist of Roncole--A record
salary--Barezzi's encouragement of Verdi's tastes--Father Seletti and
Verdi's organ-playing--Provesi's status and friendship towards
Verdi--Milan training for Verdi--Refused at the
_Conservatoire_--Experience and training needed--Study under Vincenzo
Lavigna of La Scala--Death of Provesi, and assumption of his Busseto
duties by Verdi 16

CHAPTER III

COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE, AND FIRST OPERATIC SUCCESS

Verdi is engaged to Margarita Barezzi--His marriage--Seeks a wider field
in Milan--An emergency conductor--Conductor of the Milan Philharmonic
Society--His first opera, _Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio_--Terms for
production--Its success--A triple commission--A woman's
sacrifice--Clouds--Death of his wife and children--_Un Giorno di
Regno_ produced--A failure--Verdi disgusted with music--Destroys
Merelli contract--The _Nabucco_ libretto forced on Verdi--Induced to
set the book--Production of _Nabucco_ with success--Opposition from
the critics--Mr. Lumley gives _Nabucco_ in London--Its performance
and reception 27

CHAPTER IV

SUCCESS, AND INTRODUCTION INTO ENGLAND

Verdi's position assured--Selected to compose an _opera d'obbligo_--The
terms--_I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata_--Its _dramatis personæ_ and
argument--Reception at La Scala--A new triumph for Verdi--_I
Lombardi_ in London, 1846--_Ernani_--Political effect of
_Ernani_--Official interference--Verdi first introduced into
England--Mr. Lumley's production of _Ernani_ at Her Majesty's
Theatre--The reception of the opera--Criticism on
_Ernani_--_Athenæum_ and _Ernani_ 49

CHAPTER V

FIRST PERIOD WORKS

_I Due Foscari_--Its argument--Failure of the opera in Rome, Paris, and
London--_Giovanna d'Arco_--A moderate
success--_Alzira_--_Attila_--More political enthusiasm--_Attila_
given at Her Majesty's Theatre by Mr. Lumley--Its cool
reception--_The Times_ and _Athenæum_ critics on
_Attila_--Exceptional activity of Verdi--_Macbeth_--_Jerusalem_ in
Paris--_I Masnadieri_ first given at Her Majesty's Theatre--Jenny
Lind in its cast--Plot of the opera--The work a failure
everywhere--The critics on _I Masnadieri_--Mr. Lumley offers Verdi
the conductorship at Her Majesty's Theatre--_Il Corsaro_--_La
Battaglia di Legnano_--_Luisa Miller_--Mr. Chorley on _Luisa
Miller_--Its libretto--Reception of the work in Naples, London, and
Paris 70