Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/84



IGNOR TOSTI was born at Ortona al Mare, in the province of Abbruzzi, Italy, and commenced his studies in the Conservatoire at Naples. At that time the violin was his chosen instrument, and he succeeded in gaining first prize for it, which entitled him to a free scholarship in the Conservatoire. He continued studying until the age of twenty, singing and harmony being his chief objects. His first songs were "Non M'ama Piu" and "Lamento d'Amore." Curiously enough, both of these songs were refused by three Italian publishers, but eventually became his most popular Italian songs, and Riccordi, one of the Italian publishers who refused to buy them or publish them, paid a large sum for them a year after. Ever since this transaction Riccordi has continued to publish his Italian songs. In consequence of the success of his songs in Italy, he was appointed teacher to Queen Marguerite. In the year 1876 Signor Tosti first came to London, and with his very first song caught the public's fancy with "For Ever and for Ever." His most popular songs are "For Ever and for Ever" and "Good-bye"; of the later ones "Beauties' Eyes," "Venetian Song," and "My Heart's Delight." Like many other composers, the melodies he himself liked best failed to become popular. In Signor Tosti's opinion, the real success of a popular song lies sometimes in the prelude, sometimes in a happy interval, or a happy cadence, but always in having something that reminds the ear of something else. His rich passionate Southern melodies have won their way to our English hearts, and Tosti is a name that has long since shed its foreign garb, and has become to our music-loving folk a household word. Signor Tosti intends to remain in England for many years to come, it being, as he remarks, "his second home."