Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1956)

Perosi's
signature¹

^{A different, undated Perosi

signature for comparison.2}

TRANSCRIPTION

Napoli, 7. 2. [1]900

Caro Maestro . . .

Quest'oggi avrei tanto voluto vederla
e sentire la sua bella musica,
ma da Ricordi mi si disse
che la prova sarebbe stata alle
2 1/2 pomeridiane e quando fui alla
Sala Madiscloni (?) pur troppo ho saputo che
tutto era finito due ore prima.
Tuttavia non posso partire da
questa bella citta' senza mandarle
un caro ed affettuo- so saluto al
suo illustre figlio,dispiacente
che la scarsezza(?) del tempo di cui dispongo mi
tolga il piacere dipoterla riverire(?).

Mi creda con stima ed affetto intensi.

Suo affezionatissimo

D[on] Perosi

TRANSLATION

Naples, February 7, [1]900³

Dear Maestro,⁴

Today I would liked to have seen you
and hear your beautiful music,
but at Ricordi's⁵ I was told that the rehearsal
would have taken place at 2:30 P.M. and when
I arrived at the Madiscloni's Hall⁶ unfortunately
I knew that the whole thing had finished two hours before.
Nevertheless, I cannot leave this dear city⁷ without
sending you a dear and affectionate greeting for
her illustrious son⁸. Sorry that the shortage of
the time available for me, deprives me of the
pleasure of being able to revere you(?).

Please believe me with intense esteem and affection.

Yours very affectionately,

D[on] Perosi

[N.B. Transcription and translation kindly provided by Marcello Garofalo.]

NOTES:

1. In comparing these two examples of Perosi's signatures, it appears the signature on the present document begins with the initial "D" for his title 'Don". This "D", stylistically is consistent with the second signature. However, in the second, he includes and "L" for "Lorenzo" that is absent in the first. The "P" or "Perosi" in the present document is not fully formed, but the remaining letters are relatively consistent, including the underline stroke from right to left. "Speaking of his [Perosi's] signature, sometimes when he was not feeling well he signed [his name] Piero Pierotti." (Source: Marcello Garofalo, son of composer Carlo Garofalo)

2. This scan was kindly supplied for comparison by the owner of the document.

3. February 7, 1900 was a Wednesday. [N.B. An event in Perosi's life near this date and place is described in the following liner notes to a recording of Perosi's oratorio “Gerusalemme” : "This was the original title on the autographic score, later changed into “L’entrata di Cristo in Gerusalemme.” It was conceived and composed in a very short time, as it was usual for Lorenzo Perosi: page 1 is dated “Venice-Milan (on a train) Jan. 9, 1900 and page 240, the last one, “Naples, Febr. 2, 1900”. Forty days to conceive a gigantic oratorio, the most complex one ever created by the author (two choirs, a principal one and a second one offstage, a large orchestra with quadruple woodwind, offstage brass, two harps, three solo voices) are indeed a very short time, even taking into account Perosi’s exceptional ability “to think” while composing on the score. Source: http://www.qualiton.com]

4. Addressee not yet determined

5. Ricordi Music Publishers [An office in Naples?]

6. Sala Madiscloni [Spelling?] is/was probably a recital hall in Naples, but not yet confirmed

7. Naples

8. "Naples' favorite son" referencing the unknown addressee or someone known to the addressee


First day cover of a stamp in memory of Lorenzo Perosi issued November 28, 1972--Perosi's centennial-- by the Vatican post office. An enlargement of the stamp is at right.

Another First Day cover of a stamp in memory of Lorenzo Perosi issued December 20, 1972 by Italy. An enlargement of the stamps is at right.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Don Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1956) Italian composer of church music.

In 1922, Perosi was placed in an asylum. According to Marcello Garofalo, son of composer Carlo Garofalo: "Fortunately, Mascagni and Giordano took Don Lorenzo away from the asylum and had him appointed Accademico d'Italia."

Perosi's most ambitious oratorio was Il giudizio universale (The Last Judgment) performed at the Costanzi Theatre, or Teatro dell’Opera, the leading theater in Rome. (Source: Grove’s V, Vol.VI, p.674) [N.B. Grove’s V gives the date of this premiere as April 1904] The assistant conductor was a young 17-year-old Carlo Giorgio Garofalo. [N.B. In the papers of Carlo Garafalo is a program of Il giudizio universale inscribed by Perosi that reads: "Al Maestro Carlo Giorgio Garofalo, in ricordo del 1904, in Vaticano ed al Constanzi (Rome Opera) e del 1950 alla P.U.G. (Pontificia Universita' Gregoriana). Da Lorenzo Perosi, Roma."]

Additional resources: http://www.leonardociampa.com/PhotoGallery.html#20

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