Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 217
217.—A MUSICAL TRAGEDY.
The attributed history of the Italian musician, Stradella, might supply a good plot for as bloodthirsty an opera as any one of modern Italian school of opera composers might wish. Indeed it has been so used by two composers, Flotow and Niedermeyer, and it is a coincidence that both operas on this subject were brought out in the same year, 1837. There is no doubt that Stradella was a musician of much ability, as is attested by some 150 compositions of his that still exist. He died in the latter part of the seventeenth century (about 1681), but there is no reliable historical record as to the manner of his death or that it was brought about by the chain of events related in the story. But to the tale; we give it for what it is worth:—
Alessandro Stradella was, during his life, one of the foremost musicians in Italy. One historian calls him Stradel, and so it is possible that he was originally from north of the Alps, and his name plain Alexander Stradel. At any rate he was celebrated as a violinist, a singer, and a composer. Among his pupils in Venice was Ortensia, a beautiful young lady, whom a certain nobleman had enticed from her parents. Teacher and pupil soon fell in love with each other and fled from Venice. The noble, thus deprived of his fair mistress, swore vengeance and dispatched two assassins who were at any cost to overtake and remove the offenders in true Italian style. After searching in various places, these ruffians learned that Stradella and the fair one were living in Rome, and there they quickly hastened.
Learning that on a certain night Stradella would go from his house to a church where an oratorio of his composition was to be given, and in which he was to sing the principal part, they determined to surprise him and Ortensia on their way home, and put into effect their master's wishes. They traced the composer into the church and kept close eye on him throughout the service. But one element they had not calculated on—that was the effect of Stradella's music. It so overpowered them and softened their hearts that they gave up their purpose, and instead related to him their mission.
That night the lovers fled to Turin, and the hired assassins went to Venice and reported that the couple had escaped to Turin and that they were afraid to follow them there. Still mad for vengeance the nobleman secured the services of two other bandits more desperate than the others, and, disguising them as merchants, sent them off to Turin.
Meanwhile Stradella had secured the good will and assistance of a certain duchess who placed Ortensia in a convent and kept the musician in her own service as chapel master. He kept within the palace walls for some time, till one night, thinking that vengeance no longer pursued him he ventured to take a walk on the ramparts of the city. But the assassins were on the watch and quickly attacking him, left him with what they supposed fatal wounds.
As good fortune would have it, Stradella recovered from the attack and signalized his recovery by marrying his charmer. But such good fortune was too good to last. The Venetian noble was continually on his track, having sworn never to give up his pursuit of revenge. A short time after his wedding, Stradella visited Genoa to superintend the performance of one of his operas, and it was there that vengeance overtook him and his wife. The assassins easily discovered their stopping place, and, gaining entrance to their bedchamber, stabbed them both, this time fatally.