COMPOSERS
Giuseppe Verdi
(1813-1901)
Showing an interest in music by the
time he was seven – his first instrument was a spinet – at 12, Verdi studied in
Brusseto (near Parma) under Ferdinando Provesi, music teacher, organist, and
director of the local Philharmonic Society. As his assistant, Verdi played the
organ, wrote and composed music, and conducted rehearsals. After Provesi’s
death, Verdi applied to the Milan Conservatory, but was not admitted. Most
sources state that Verdi was over the age limit, and others add that his style
was already established. (Interesting side note: The Milan Conservatory [Conservatorio di Milano]
is now also known as the Conservatorio di Musica “Giuseppe Verdi.”)
Verdi was advised to seek private lessons with Vincenzo Lavigna, a composer with
connections to
La Scala. During his stay
in
Verdi returned to
Brusseto in 1836, married, took over most of Provesi’s duties, and wrote his
first opera, Oberto, which was
performed in 1839 at La Scala. He
received a contract to write several more operas – the first being a comedy –
but by following year, his two children and wife had died, and Verdi’s work was
affected. In 1842, his opera Nabucco premièred
with great success, and Verdi’s career as a composer of opera was established.
In 14 years, he wrote 15 operas, among them
Ernani,
Macbeth,
In 1868, Verdi wrote a symphony, that was to be part of a collection from various composers of a requiem, for Gioachino Rossini, but the collective piece was not completed. Several years later Verdi composed a Requiem of his own, in honor of poet and author Alessandro Manzoni, who died in 1873.
One of Verdi’s most well known operas, Aida, was composed in 1871. Like many of his other operas it is considered a standard, and in 1998 the score was rewritten to appeal to a wider audience.
Opera Italiana: Giuseppe Verdi
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Written by Janice Mancuso
