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Lorenzo Fortunato - 'The voice of the Gods'
Famed opera tenor Lorenzo Fortunato was blessed with 'The Voice of the Gods.' In fact, that is precisely how it was described throughout his operatic career.
His impressive barrel chest projected volumes of deep, rich, shining timbre. He toured the world, bringing Puccini, Strauss, Mozart, and Verdi to the masses. He played the most lavish of theaters from Paris to London and the humblest of playhouses, establishments that his peers from the operatic societies would never set foot nor hoof into. His mission was to bring music to all.
A simple, gentle soul betrayed his large frame. For every glorious, bellowing aria, he had a caring word for those around him. His large family, wife Mia, seven children, and 12 grandchildren kept him busy in his later years. He retired in 1922, and it seemed that he would be spending his remaining life at his impressive villa, surrounded by his loved ones, in the small town of Sperlonga, Italy.
But fate had other plans. While on a book signing trip through the more remote parts of the USA, Lorenzo Fortunato was taken by the hordes of roaming Bison within N. Dakota. Being a bison himself, he was immediately spellbound by their serene and simplistic lifestyle. These Nomadic peers were simply grazing, socializing, drinking from the cool streams, and sleeping under the stars.
He immediately decided to relocate to the Grasslands and meadows of N. Dakota. His wife, Mia, did not meet this displacement with anything approaching excitement. She firmly protested. Their children were left curious and confused, although also rather excited. However, in the end, Lorenzo got his way. The Fortunato's grown children and families would stay in Sperlonga, Italy, and thus began the Fortunato family's 'migration.'
They resettled in a large North Dakota ranch with two thousand acres. Their plan was to invite all the local Bison onto their land to safely roam and live according to their habits.
However, in reality, this became a substantial challenge. They clearly did not trust the Fortunato family. The local Bison would circle the area, slowly drifting in and out but never settling for more than one night. It became frustrating to the Fortunato family. How could they win the trust of the local herds?
It all changed one warm summer night in June 1924. Lorenzo was playing an old wax record on the family gramophone. Puccini's 'La Boheme'—the sheer beauty of Che gelida manina—drifted through the warm night into the ears of a small gathering of curious and entranced Bison.
The next night, they returned with others. They stood and swayed under the evening stars and were transported to new lands—mythical places of strange words and music that plunged into their very souls.
Mia pulled back the curtain cautiously. She beckoned Lorenzo and the children, who began crowding around their mother and father. They watched with cautious optimism as the small herd gradually grew to around 30 bison. The herd slowly sank to their knees, then sat and rolled onto their sides, bathing in the music of the warm night.
On the third night, they received the same result. Lorenzo had the gramophone turned to its highest volume, but alas, more did not come.
The fourth night brought more disappointment. The numbers had not grown. It was then that he had his idea: a plan that would bring all the herds together, providing them with a safe and wonderful new homestead. He would do what he had always done: take the music to the masses.
And so, on the fifth day, he set out alone. He walked with great purpose to the highest hill of his sprawling estate, and there, a lone massive figure of over 2000lb filled his voluminous chest with an impressive intake of night air. He held it briefly, and then, silhouetted against a large Dakota moon, Lorenzo began to serenade all the animals, birds, and anything and everything that lay beyond the dark horizon.
And just like that, a mountainous Pied Piper gathered all who heard him. Bison, deer, squirrels, badgers, foxes, and even snakes. They all huddled together and walked, strolled, lumbered, hopped, and slithered behind him. He cautiously brought them to his ranch. And after the dust settled and the curious were satisfied, he formally welcomed them to his new home. Not just Bison anymore. No. Now, he would welcome all animals to this blessed land.
And so it was. A sanctuary for animals of all shapes, sizes, and types had begun. And even to this day, if you ever visit N. Dakota, you can sometimes hear the hordes of Bison, deer, squirrels, badgers, foxes, and even snakes humming operatic tunes.
Illustrated in the style of a vintage Edwardian or Victorian photograph. This image is part of my 'Anicurio' collection. Each original illustration is carefully hand-drawn in pencil. Once finished, I often hand-age them and treat them with various dye methods to resemble an old dusty antique photograph. I want this series to suggest something that you rediscovered. An inherited artifact from a mysterious benefactor? Or perhaps revealed in a long abandoned attic, lying at the bottom of a chest. Buried beneath old dusty clothes and fading handwritten notes.