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his life working as a composer and pedagogue, continuously striving to bring honor to his
beloved Italy through his work. The tone of the letter is one of a confused child seeking an
explanation for a punishment that is undeserved. In a second letter sent only five months later
Alfano writes:
“Duce, You to whom the longing of the poets and the
suffering of the people are not unknown, I turn, once again, today.
Forgive me; I hope my request will not seem strange to you. After
having composed so much music, served the Revolution in the
Sindacato dei musicisti of Turin and in the school, in order to make
a living (for which I am very grateful to the Ministro della Cultura
Popolare) I find myself today in Palermo, Direttore artistico of the
opera house here, Duce, a musician is in need of many things,
especially a vast environment as representative of the artists in the
centre of an open world. I appeal to You for a new appointment as
representative of the artists in the Camera dei Fasci e delle
Corporazioni… and, once in Rome I would be able to feel liberated
from exile.
To those who think of politics as being different from Art,
I, in full conscience, can answer that in Italy, today, one must
follow only one politic: Yours. Our duty is, therefore, to obey and,
with our work, contribute to a greater Italy. This is what I have
done and wish to continue to do. Yours always very
affectionately.”
Alfano had two children. He lost his only son during the war. Then in February of 1943,
he lost all his household possessions when the storage facility in Turin was destroyed during an
air raid. Alfano poignantly describes the loss in another letter to Mussolini: “my entire world, my
past, the memory of which was supposed to bring joy and comfort to my later years,
unfortunately no longer productive.” 23 Mussolini’s sense of compassion for the aging
composer’s dilemma is documented by a receipt that is on file for a check in the amount of
50,000 lire that was sent to Alfano. Alfano sent the following thank you note: “Thank You,
Duce, Thank You from my heart! May God guide and crown every act of Yours for Your
personal welfare and our much beloved Italy.” 24
In June of 1942 Alfano was officially released from his duties at the conservatory in
Palermo and transferred to the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome to teach Opera Studies. In
Less than a year later in April of 1943, Alfano would suffer the loss of wife after a lengthy
23 Sciannameo. Aspects of Alfano, 9
24 Ibid., 10
19