Renzo Allegri and Maria Valtorta

Born in 1934 in Verona, Renzo Allegri is an Italian journalist and music critic who has contributed to widely circulated periodicals such as Gente, Noi, and Chi. He is the author of about fifty books, the most famous being "Padre Pio un santo tra noi" (Padre Pio, a saint among us). Renzo Allegri was indeed specialized in the case of Padre Pio, on whom he wrote several works that helped Emilio Pisani write his book Padre Pio and Maria Valtorta. The connection between the two mystics is all the more relevant since the journalist was also interested in the case of Maria Valtorta.

1978: publication of the first report on Maria Valtorta

According to what Emilio Pisani reports:

"One day in the summer of 1978, he went to Maria Valtorta's house with his reporter equipment. He had made an appointment and was expected by Marta Diciotti and Mr. and Mrs. Pisani, the publishers. Thanks to his expertise, the interview was easy and went smoothly. At the end, Allegri took some photos and left because another report was waiting for him (he was to interview, in a nearby seaside resort, Luciano Pavarotti, who was not yet famous in the world of opera).

His report made the cover of issue 34 of Gente, on August 26, 1978. Few articles on Maria Valtorta have not contained or still contain inaccuracies or erroneous interpretations.

Renzo Allegri’s article did not have any; it was successful and made an impact.          

In the days that followed, it was discovered that it had caused a ...diversion. Readers interested in the work of Maria Valtorta sent letters to Viareggio addressed to the Pisani publishing house. The Viareggio post office inquired and, with commendable zeal, daily gathered these letters into a parcel which it forwarded to the post office of Isola del Liri."

The facsimiles and the text of this article have been reproduced by the Italian forum Club amici valtortiani.

1984: promotion of the reconstructed hymns

Renzo Allegri was also a music critic and as such he reviewed, in issue no. 6 of Gente on February 10, 1984, the publication of three hymns extracted from the work which included a musical score and a record. Maria Valtorta had indeed inserted in her great inspired work on the life of Jesus, the verses of three songs as she had "heard" them. The first is the "slow and joyful song," which expresses Saint Anne's joy knowing she is pregnant (EMV 4.1). The second is the "prayer" of the Virgin at the age of twelve, invoking the coming of the Messiah (EMV 10.1). The third is a gentle "lullaby" sung by the Mother to lull the little Jesus to sleep (EMV 33.2).

"Valtorta the writer also knew how to sing but she was not a musician. A priest who was going to confess her and who was a musician made her sing these three hymns whose notes he transcribed on the score. But the three melodies remained unpublished for forty years. In 1983, the publisher had the opportunity to present them to maestro Sergio Calligaris, an eminent pianist and composer, who was amazed by them. Respecting the original themes, he performed an arrangement which he had expertly transcribed. Furthermore, one of his masterful piano interpretations of the three pieces was recorded. The record sleeve is now unobtainable. [...] Renzo Allegri’s review in Gente ended as follows: "For music lovers who know Maria Valtorta and who believe in her mysterious mystical phenomena, these three hymns are undoubtedly those sung two thousand years ago by the Virgin and Saint Anne her mother; for those who do not believe, the record offers evocative melodies, skillfully elaborated by a composer who, moreover, performs them wonderfully on the piano." This article sparked immediate interest. The publishing house telephone rang continuously for an entire day. The last call, shortly before closing, came from the Presidential Palace of the Quirinal."