Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 256
256.—AN OPERA SACRIFICED.
The pages of manuscript that lie on the composer's desk may represent to him the thoughts, ideas, aspirations of years. It is no wonder, then, that his first thought should be for his beloved score, and that he should be ready to risk a good deal in order to preserve it from destruction. Lulli once ran a terrible risk to save the score of his best opera, no less a risk than that of incurring eternal damnation—according to his father confessor.
It happened this way: Lulli was ill, so ill as to fear death. He hurriedly sent for a priest and asked for absolution, but the priest would not grant it unless he would promise to destroy the score of his latest opera. It seems the church did not regard his operas as being conducive of a rapid moral growth among the people.
Finally the composer gave in, and pointed to his desk where the lately finished work lay in rough score. The priest secured the doomed manuscript, burnt it, and then granted the desired safe conduct to paradise. But Lulli was not so sick as he thought, and proceeded to get better. Some time after, he was visited by one of the young princes, who, when he heard of the destruction of the opera protested vigorously.
"What," said he, "you have burnt your beautiful opera. You are a fool to have given way to so gloomy a priest and to have destroyed so much music!"
"Don't get angry," whispered the sick man, "I knew what I was about; I have another copy of it laid away."
Unfortunately, the recovery was not permanent and Lulli suffered a relapse. He was now told that it was impossible for him to recover. Again he sent for the priest and this time delivered to him the remaining copy of the opera and begged forgiveness for his deceit.
The priest prescribed as penance that he should be laid on a heap of ashes with a cord around his neck! Lulli gladly submitted and died happy.