Bellini’s most famous opera, “Norma,” was a failure at the first performance, as was Rossini’s “Barber of Seville.”
Busoni, the Italian pianist, made his début at the age of eight.
Cherubini wrote, in all, 29 operas.
Cimarosa’s opera, “II Matrimonio Segreto,” which is rarely heard in these days, was so successful when it was produced that it became more popular than any of the works of Mozart.
Sir Michael Costa, considered, by many, an English musician, was really born in Naples.
Corelli’s statue is in the Vatican at Rome.
Donizetti’s first opera was composed in his leisure moments while he was a soldier.
So famous was Frescobaldi that when he made his first appearance as organist of St. Peter’s, in Rome, about 1614, thirty thousand people strove to attend.
Vincenzo Galilei, the father of the famous astronomer, Galileo Galilei, was an eminent musician and writer upon musical subjects.
The most noted pianists of Italian birth in recent years have been Busoni, Martucci and Sgambati.
Mascagni’s father was a baker by trade. He wanted his son to be a lawyer.
Spontini ran away from home to become a musician. His parents wanted him to become a priest.
Tartini’s very famous “Trillo del Diavolo” (The Devil’s Trill) was not published until after his death.
When he was eighty years old Verdi received the title of “Marquis of Busseto” from the King of Italy.
