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Milan (AFP)
Almost 120 years after the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi called it "his finest work", older musicians still play in the story of his retirement home, Casa Verdi.
Piano music resonates in the hallways of Milan's sumptuous palace, while a singer performs in the vast main hall in front of dozens of retirees, who themselves were professional musicians.
With about 60 residents who have all dedicated their lives to music, the sound of music in one form or another is ubiquitous.
"This place is a paradise," said Marisa Terzi, 79, who arrived four months ago.
"For me, music is everything and I did not expect to find such a fantastic place."
"It's all but a rest home! It's a vacation home," she laughs.
"Time flies … there is a pianist in the morning and everyone comes to listen, even people in wheelchairs.
"We all sing together, it's so beautiful, and then there are concerts all afternoon."
Terzi, singer and songwriter, moved in because she said she had "no more family".
"I'm lucky, because I really feel at home here," she adds.
The 94-year-old Romanian musicologist Bissy Roman is also happy to be in a place where residents can play music themselves, listen to music, and are surrounded by music. other musicians.
"There came a time when I felt as if I was alone in the world, I had no one and Casa Verdi was the last solution: to die with the music in my heart and near my heart. fellow musicians, "she says. having lived in Russia, France and the United States during his long life.
– & # 39; A real miracle & # 39; –
Verdi, who composed operas such as "Aida" and "La Traviata", was himself an elderly person when he decided in the late 19th century to create a "rest home" in this area. which was then the countryside around Milan.
The neoclbadical palace, designed by Camillo Boito, brother of one of Verdi's favorite booklet writers, was built to allow poor musicians to live their days in dignity.
According to his own wishes, Casa Verdi only opened its doors in 1902, a year after the death of the composer at the age of 87 years.
Nearly 120 years later, the house is managed by the Giuseppe Verdi Foundation and has no debt or public funding, which is "a miracle", said the president of the house, Roberto Ruozi.
Residents pay a monthly contribution according to their means.
However, this amount still represents "less than a fifth of operating costs", the lion's share being covered by past investment income, Ruozi said.
"Verdi has left the rights to his royalties to Casa Verdi, a significant sum for 60 years, part of which has been invested" in 120 apartments currently rented, he added.
The house also received donations, such as that of the daughter of the Italian orchestra conductor Arturo Toscanini, of about 6 million euros ($ 6.8 million), which were later invested.
"We have the room and the meal, there is medical badistance, we are treated very well and we have everything: rooms to play the piano, a concert hall …", said the pianist Raimondo Campisi, 71 years.
He arrived here four years ago, after 20 years spent on a boat in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, in the south of France. He spent his career traveling the world playing the piano.
In addition to its retirees, the Casa also hosts fifteen music students, some from the famous La Scala academy in Milan, as part of a project to connect different generations that began in 1999.
– Generations –
Soprano Marika Spadafino, 30, enjoys the mix, as do her fellow musicians from Italy, Japan and South Korea.
"I talk a lot with retirees, they listen to me sing and give me advice," said Italian Southern Italy.
"They know how to share their experiences.For me, coming from a family where no one was playing music, it's really important.
"And when things go wrong, they know how to comfort you and give you the strength to continue," Spadafino said.
Nevertheless, pbadions can sometimes be intense among the group of musicians.
"Put 60 artists living together, oh la la, you can imagine!" said Campisi.
Casa Verdi has a waiting list of about 10 people, who will have to wait until the death of the current resident.
"I hope I'll be here a little longer," Terzi said. "But we all know that we will die here, so we are always ready."
? AFP 2019
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