Song of the Dove: A love story by Errol Broome illustrated by Sonia Kretschmar

Composer Vincenzo Bellini was born in Sicily in 1801. He gave music lessons to the young daughter of the President of the Supreme Court of Naples. Her name was Maddelena and they fell in love. Alas, her parents would not give permission for their marriage, so Bellini moved to Milan where he composed ten operas for the La Scala opera house. He died in Paris in 1835. His most famous opera is Norma. You can hear a tiny sample here. 

Errol Broome takes the relationship between Bellini and Maddelena Fumaroli and uses it to develop her picture book story. In this fictionalized account Bellini tells Maddelena he will return to ask for her hand again after he composes ten operas. 

"After the tenth opera we'll be together, dead or alive."

Image Source: Sonia Kretschmar

This statement comes true because before the tenth opera is finished, Maddalena dies. Bellini had likened their destiny to be together with the pairs of doves seen in Naples. 

"In Paris, Bellini began work on the score for his tenth opera. Each evening, a white dove fluttered into his bedroom and settled on the pages of music. When he reached out to touch it, the bird disappeared."

Shortly after composing his tenth opera, Bellini dies. But in real life he had lost interest in Maddalena long before this time. 

As I am about to head off to Italy this seems like the perfect book to share. It is an Australian book and it is set in Italy and about a famous Italian. My copy came from a recent charity book sale and there is an inscription on the title page which I think might be from the illustrator herself. I have discovered Sonia Kretschmar did covers for books by Cassandra Golds such as Clair de Lune. Also, the cover the Tensy Farlow. She is also the illustrator of Do not Forget Australia which is a book you may have in your ANZAC Day collection. Song of the Dove is a NSW Premiers Reading Challenge title for grade 5 and 6 [19214].

Errol Broome (1937-2022) grew up in Perth and after an Arts degree at the University of WA, she began her career as a newspaper journalist. After starting a family, Errol decided to tackle a long-held ambition, to write a book, and began with short stories which won several prizes. More than thirty books have followed, many short-listed and winners of awards, as well as being widely published overseas. I well remember having some of her books in my former school library but oddly Song of the Dove published by Walker Books did not reach me. I do remember Gary Keebles Kitchen (I often recommended it to my library readers) and Dear Mr Sprouts which was a story told with letters. 

• Wrinkles, illustrated by Terry Dyer, Collins, 1978.
• The Smallest Koala, illustrated by Gwen Mason, Buttercup, 1987.
• Dear Mr. Sprouts, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.
• Garry Keeble's Kitchen: How One Boy Left Home and Survived with 28 Recipes That Anyone Can Cook and Everyone Will Eat, illustrated by Maya, Random House (Australia), 1992.

• Tangles, illustrated by Ann James, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 1993, Knopf (New York, NY), 1994.
• Rockhopper, illustrated by Ann James, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 1995.
• Nightwatch, illustrated by Helen Brooshooft, Fremantle Arts Centre Press (South Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia), 1995.
• Splashback: A Great Greasy Journey, illustrated by Gregory Rogers, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 1996.
• Fly with Me, illustrated by Jane Walker, Fremantle Arts Centre Press (South Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia), 1996.
• What a Goat!, illustrated by Sharon Thompson, Fremantle Arts Centre Press (South Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia), 1997.
• Quicksilver, illustrated by Anna Pignataro, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 1997.

• Tough Luck, illustrated by Sharon Thompson, Fremantle Arts Centre Press (South Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia), 1998, published as Drusilla the Lucky Duck, Annick Press (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2003.
• Magnus Maybe, illustrated by Ann James, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 1998, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.
• Away with the Birds, Fremantle Arts Center Press (South Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia), 2000.
• Missing Mem, illustrated by Ann James, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 2000, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2002.

• Cry of the Karri, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 2001.
• Some Dog, Thomson, 2001.
• Ms. Yellow Teeth, Thomson, 2003.
• The Judas Donkey, illustrated by Sharon Thompson, Fremantle Arts Centre Press (Freemantle, Western Australia, Australia), 2003.
• Gracie and the Emperor, Allen & Unwin (St. Leonards, Australia), 2003.