European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 23, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Taly \ \ Mother nature makes her own music in composer s enchanting Garden the wife of William Walton said her life s work was building Quot a Garden for an artist for 8&s Jaff Mattox Utby Jiff Matthews set foot in la Mort Ella the gardens of the late English composer William Walton located on the Island of ischia in the Bay of Naples and you will know what Francis Bacon meant when he said Quot god almighty first planted a Garden. And indeed it is the purest of human Walton and his wife Susana settled on ischia in the Early 1950s. There one of the great musical spirits of our age set about to continue his life s work. His wife set about her own life s work As she says of. Building Quot a Garden for an it was to be a place of serenity something to offset the turmoil within the composer a place which would invite him to look not just out at the Garden but within himself. That is a tall order indeed when you Start with a Rocky waterless Gully covered with Evergreen Holm Oak and some dying Chestnut Trees. The transformation from scrubby Rock Quarry to the enchanting blend of the Rock Garden and tropical rain Forest which is la Mort Ella was planned by the distinguished landscape architect Russell Page and begun in 1956. His designs evolved through 1983, but the Wou is still going on under the Quot Green fingers Quot of lady Walton who feels that gardens reflect our dreams and Are our in that spirit Over the years la Mort Ella has been magically transformed but happily not tamed. You won t find the obedient trimmed vegetation of say a japanese Garden. La Mort Ella looks More like a Forest ruled Over by a totally benevolent but mischievous goddess who delights in not picking up after herself of course the Art of True helter shelter is careful planning. Thus the paths curve at All the right places and the terraces offer Ever shifting perspectives when viewed from where Walton himself must have paused from his work to look out fountains Are arched by Trees and this Emerald Puzzle of vegetation suddenly solves itself and fits together. A at la Mort Ella you find everything from the extravagant pot bellied Chrisia Specioso tree from Argentina where they appropriately Call it Quot the drunkard Quot to purple Pink geraniums from Madeira ferns from the Canary islands and Dwarf Rosemary from the gardens of the University of Jerusalem honeysuckle from South Africa the soft Green yellow petals of California Tulip Trees water lilies Jasmine orchids Bright Green Thalia and a As you ascend a even the Lotus set off meditatively alone in its own Pond at the highest Point of la Mort Ella. Water has been brought in not just to nourish the gardens but to provide for the Alhambra like presence of fountains and pools the sounds of which remind us that even Here in the presence of the composed music of Man nature has its own music. Music of course was originally behind la Mort Ella it still is for the gardens exist As part of the William Walton foundation dedicated in 1989 As a Center of the performing arts a place for Young composers and artists to study and perform with Quot special reference Quot to Walton s music. The composer passed away in 1983. There is ample ferry and hydrofoil service to ischia from Naples and Pozzuoli once at ischia Porto you can take a Micro taxi or bus marked c5 toward the town of Forio. Get off Well before Forio however by the Sanui Ariotti san Francesco. Near the Stop is via Francesco Calise. La Mort Ella is about too Yards Down that Road on the right. The gardens Are open tuesdays thursdays and saturdays from 9 . To 7 . There is an admission charge of 8,000 lire about $4.75. For further information Telephone 081 986220 or Send a fax to 081 986237. When calling from outside july add your country s Access code Italy s country code 39 and drop the first Zero. Jott Mahdi news is a in ounce Wriler living in Italy. V of s4s left match ftps la Mort Ella Quot has been transformed but not tamed. I 14 stripes Magazine december 23, 1993
