86

It was also in this year that he had the honour of playing at the Court of Victor Emanucl ; and, after the performance, the present King, who was then about the same age as Mattei—eleven—came forward bear- Ing a large tray of sw cetsy and presented 1t to hlm saying, This is for you and your hlcnds. Dmmg his stay in Turin the Marchioness of Barolo offered to adopt him, and the Duke of Litta offered to do likewise ; but the boy's father vefused to part with him.

It was 1 the year 1833 that he first came to LLondon. His first appearance here was at Mr. Ella’s Musical Union.

His first picce published was a waltz called

‘“ Mattet's Waltz,” which was the means of

establishing his fame as a composer far and

wide, being very popular throughout all Furope. After this came his celebrated

“Non c ver,” then “Non Torno,” “Oh, oh, hear the wild winds blow ! and a v ery great number of pranoforte picces and songes,

Among his later productions are “ Dear Heart, " Kiss and (rood-bye,” “ Chit-Chat,"

the opera *“ La Prima Donna produced at the Avenue, and the ,o]lo\\mg SONYS -— “Only Mlnc” |

“AVhat will you do without me?” “ Be- stide Me,” and his latest song, a bolero, “Carita.”

Isiporr Dis TLARA.

Mr. Dec lara was born in lL.ondon on the oth of August, 1328, He com- menced to study the p1ano at the age of ten,under Mr. Agui- lar ; at thirteen he made his firstappear- ance before the public, and con- timued to play in many recitals. At hftcen he went to Milan, where he studied at the Con- servatoire of Music underSignor Mazzu- cato for composition, and Signor LLamperti for singing. He remained in Italy for three years, taking the grand

IPronm ]

ISIHOR!D

D

THE STRAND 11AGAZTNE.

prize for composition. On his return to Fingland, he commenced to make use of his voice and talent for composing. His first song of note was one named “ Only a Song,”" written about 1882, He next pro- duced a comic opera, “ The Royal Word,"” libretto by Mr. Henry Hersee. His next L,(nnposllnms of note were a choral work, " Song of Orval,” poem by Lord Tytton,

and a cvele of mdndlc. “T'o the Palms, X words by Lord Lytton. Of songs he has written about 120, out of which “the most ]mpul woare o l\lmc To-day,” **All of my ALY How it Be?"” * The Beginning of the Story,” * After Silent \C’U.\, and “The (un(len of Sleep.” Mr. De Tara owes a fair share of his fame to his public recitals, of which he has given over two hundred during the last ten years. Nature has endowed him with a good voice, and that, togcether with his undoubted ability as @ composer, has brought Mr. De lara to the position hc now hO]db n the musical world, His last work an opera, viz.,

“The Light of Asia.” This was mlomally a sacred cantata, written for concert work, but, at Mr. Maurcl's suggestion, it was converted into an opera, and was producced by Sir Augustus Harris last month. Mr. De Lara 1s now writing an opera, with Sir Augustus Harris's libretto, the first act ot which 1s finished. The subject 1is “IXenilworth.”

13

MitroNn WELLINGS. Mr. Milton Well-

imgs was born in 1851, 1n the county of Stafford. His father, Mr. Joseph Wellings, being an amateur musiclan, and perceiving his son’s love of music, determied to take his musical educa- tion into his own hands. The first song Mr. Wellings published was en- titled “In the Twilight,” which did not attract any

.ARAL