VERDI, THE COMPOSER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1512, 9 June 1873, Page 4

VERDI, THE COMPOSER.

'. . " : [THE GBAPHIC] : •i' ■<■ Signor Verdi now lives in the Villa di ■'•■;' two mi'es from Busseto. His •; .hcriise is ; characteristic; as befits an artist. «'•' Theddor, Which is almost, hidden by two weeping willows, is approached !| 'by an _ ancieat bridge, there being no other v means of access. Behind the house is a small, but well cultivated garden, with an artificial lake at the further end. . Beyond this extends the Signor's property, carefully tilled with all the/ more recent agricultural improvements from i England and France, and provided with ..good substantial dwelJings for .his tenants. „. .Everything shows the orderly and tranquil "'' nature of the man, and the same harmonious blending of art and comfort is visible in i the. architecture and' furniture ■r-rof -his -house, -;,Signor Verdi-, rarely composes except in his bedchamber, a spacious lofty roOih, the i windows { 6i which look on to the gardeni It contains a magnificent "pianoforte,' a -small library, and: £ Jarge writing-desk of eccentric form, on which are displayed a variety of statuettes and qther. fanciful works, of.. art. Above, the pianoforte hangs an oil-painting of Signor Barezzi, a most, intimate friend of the composer's. In person Signor Verdi is tall and vigorousj and 1 of a strong con> ' stitution. He possesses a firm, and resolute mind ', yet is reidily" impressed bystrong argument. So far from being 1 •" spoilt by'success,* those who visit him find him' to be a most affable, courteous and unpretending man,, He rises at five, and after a walk and talk with his tenants, - J retires to his; room, and devotes the -lei] mainder of the day successively to music, . poetry, history, and philosophy. Since : .: 5§45,; Verdji has composed operas, and, like Sir Walter Scott, may . .fitly, claim the merit of having "amused ,- hours of relaxation, and relieved those of languor, pain or distress." , ■■■-.. ■. '■■'.'.■