Thursday, October 10^th marks the 200^th birthday of arguably one the greatest music composers of all time, Giuseppe Verdi. To mark the occasion Elbow Lane Inn, Fermoy, is hosting an Italian musical evening. 

Antonio Romeo Talossi, Fermoy’s best-known Italian of the Wimpy, Brian Boru Square, is sponsoring the Italian refreshments. The evening is in the form of an audio-visual treat presented by Donal O Lochlainn. The presentation will focus on Verdi’s music and life. The music chosen can best be described, Donal says, as ‘his greatest hits’ or ‘Opera for lowbrows’. 

Because of his music, Verdi became very wealthy. Towards the end of his life he founded the Casa di Riposo per Musicisti, a rest home for retired musicians in Milan. He also sought out information on how other hospices for the elderly were run. In 1895, Verdi made provisions in his will, bequeathing the future royalties from his operas to the Casa.

It’s very apt then that all proceeds from ‘An Evening With Verdi’ will go to another wonderful hospice, dear to many hearts, Marymount Hospice in Cork. Tickets cost €20 and are available from Mellericks Pharmacy, Patrick Street, Fermoy. The evening will start at 8pm sharp. The audio-visual presentation is two hours long with refreshments served during the interval.