Featured Composer

Giuseppe Verdi [1813-1901]

A giant in the world of opera, one of a tiny group of composers who set the supreme standard by which the art of opera is judged. Just consider. Of his 28 operas about a dozen form the backbone of the standard operatic repertoire.

Born in a village in the rural depths of what is now the province of Parma, Verdi received his earliest musical education from church organists in Roncole & Busseto.

He married in 1938, aged 25, and moved to Milan where, in 1839, he completed his first opera, Oberto.

Early personal tragedies followed: his first child, daughter Virginia died in infancy, their second child also. His wife Margherita died in 1840 aged 26.

Devastated and dispirited by these personal losses Verdi found solace in his work and through the 1840s and the 1850s,'60s and '70s he composed Nabucco, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, La traviata, Don Carlos, and Aida, amongst others.

Of course, more great works followed right through until old age [Messsa da Requiem, Otello, Falstaff].

Verdi died on 27 Janaury 1901 in Milano.