The Italian Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

Papa I should come and see you, but Papa said we didn’t have the money.’
    ‘So, your brother is paying?’
    ‘Yes.’ Rosanna took some lire notes out of the pocket of her dress and placed them on the table. ‘Here is enough for the next three lessons. Luca wanted to pay in advance.’
    Luigi took the money with a gracious nod of acceptance. ‘Now, Rosanna, I wish to know if you enjoy singing.’
    Rosanna thought of how special she’d felt after she’d sung at Maria and Massimo’s party. ‘I love it very much. I’m in a different world when I sing.’
    ‘Well, that at least is a good start. Now, I must warn you that you are very young, too young for me to be sure whether your voice will develop in the right way. We must not strain your vocal cords – we must nurture them carefully, learn how they work and the best way to care for them. I teach a school of singing called Bel Canto. This involves a series of increasingly difficult voice exercises, each designed to learn a specific aspect of singing. When you have mastered these, you’ll have studied every possible potential vocal problem before it arises in the music. Callas herself learnt this way. She was not much older than you when she began. You’re prepared for this kind of hard work?’
    ‘Yes, Luigi.’
    ‘I must stress that there will be no singing the great arias until you are much older. We’ll first become familiar with the stories of the great operas and try to understand the characters. The finest performers are those who not only have wonderful voices, but are magnificent actors too. And don’t think that two lessons a month with me will be enough to improve your voice,’ he cautioned. ‘You must practise the exercises I give you every day, without fail.’
    Luigi broke off as he looked at Rosanna’s wide eyes and chuckled suddenly. ‘And you, Rosanna, must sometimes remind me that you’re still a child. Please accept my apologies for frightening you. The beauty of your youth is that we have so much time. Now, we begin.’ Luigi stood up and walked over to the piano stool. He patted the space on the seat next to him. ‘Come, we will learn which notes are which on the piano.’
    An hour later, Rosanna left the Villa Torini feeling deflated. She hadn’t sung one single note during her entire lesson.
    When she arrived home, exhausted from the heat on the bus and the tension of the afternoon, she headed straight up to her bedroom. Luca, his hands covered with flour, followed her upstairs.
    ‘You found your way back then?’
    ‘I’m here, aren’t I, Luca?’ She smiled at his concerned face.
    ‘How was it, Rosanna?’
    ‘It was wonderful, Luca. Luigi is very kind.’
    ‘Good. I—’
    ‘Luca!’ Marco roared his son’s name from the kitchen below.
    ‘I must go. We’re very busy.’ Luca kissed Rosanna on the cheek and hurried downstairs.
    Rosanna lay on her bed, reached for her diary from under her mattress, and began to write. A few seconds later, Carlotta entered the room.
    ‘Where have you been? Mamma wanted you to help but we couldn’t find you. I had to wait on tables all afternoon.’
    ‘I’ve been out . . . with a friend. I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?’
    ‘I don’t know. Go ask Mamma. I’m going out.’
    ‘Who with?’
    ‘Oh, just Giulio,’ Carlotta answered, looking bored.
    ‘I thought you liked Giulio? I thought he was your boyfriend?’
    ‘He was . . . I mean, he is . . . oh, stop asking questions, Rosanna! I’m going for a bath.’
    When Carlotta had left the bedroom, Rosanna finished writing her diary and returned it to its usual hiding place. Once she’d done that, she wandered into the kitchenette and poured herself a glass of water from the fridge. She knew that if she went downstairs to find something to eat, Mamma and Papa would find her a job to do. And she was very tired. Creeping along the landing, she opened the door to the iron staircase which led from the apartment to the street