II.

Luigi Gaspardo Pacifico Spontini, born of peasant parents at Majolati, Italy, November 14, 1774, displayed his musical passion at an early age.  Designed for holy orders from childhood, his priestly tutors could not make him study; but he delighted in the service of the church, with its or^an and choir effects, for here his true vocation asserted itself.  He was wont, too, to hide in the belfry, and revel in the roaring orchestra of metal, when the chimes were rung.  On one occasion a stroke of lightning precipitated him from his dangerous perch to the floor below, and the history of music nearly lost one of its great lights.  The bias of his nature was intractable, and he was at last permitted to study music, at first under the charge of his uncle Joseph, the cure of Jesi, and finally at the Naples Conservatory, where he was entered at the age of sixteen.

His first opera, “I Puntigli delle Donne,” was composed at the age of twenty-one, and performed at Rome, where it was kindly received.  The French invasion unsettled the affairs of Italy, and Spontini wandered somewhat aimlessly, unable to exercise his talents to advantage till he went to Paris in 1803, where he found a large number of brother Italian musicians, and a cordial reception, though himself an obscure and untried youth.  He produced several minor works on the French stage, noticeably among them the one-act opera of “Milton,” in which he stepped boldly out of his Italian mannerism, and entered on that path afterward pursued with such brilliancy and boldness.  Yet, though his talents began to be recognized, life was a trying struggle, and it is doubtful if he could have overcome the difficulties in his way when he was ready to produce “La Vestale,” had he not enlisted the sympathies of the Empress Josephine, who loved music, and played the part of patroness as gracefully as she did all others.

By Napoleon’s order “La Vestale” was rehearsed against the wish of the manager and critics of the Academy of Music, and produced December 15, 1807.  Previous to this some parts of it had been performed privately at the Tuileries, and the Emperor had said:  “M.  Spontini, your opera abounds in fine airs and effective duets.  The march to the place of execution is admirable.  You will certainly have the great success you so well deserve.”  The imperial prediction was justified by consecutive performances of one hundred nights.  His next work, “Fernand Cortez,” sustained the impression of genius earned for him by its predecessor.  The scene of the revolt is pronounced by competent critics to be one of the finest dramatic conceptions in operatic music.