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MOS Composer of the Month: Previous Page, Next Page, Index |
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Composer of the Month - March, 2004 Giuseppe Verdi, 1813-1901
As his mother had rescued him from the hordes, one of his father's business suppliers rescued him from the limitations of his home village. This businessman, a Mr. Barezzi, was president of the nearby Busseto Philharmonic, and he persuaded Verdi's father to allow him to fund Verdi's move to Busseto and then to Milan for musical studies. Verdi had begun studying music at the age of eight, tutored by the parish priest in reading, writing, and music. His progress was so swift and complete that when the priest died, Verdi replaced him as church organist, even though he was only ten or eleven years old. He soon moved to Busseto to continue his education, where Mr. Barezzi assumed responsibility for his education and living expenses. When he went to Milan, his early dedication to organ and composition proved his undoing, for he was not admitted to the Conservatory—they were interested in his piano technique, which was deficient. In their rejection comments, the Director of La Scala noted that he might have a future as a composer. He began composition studies, but was dissatisfied because his tutor was rigidly old-fashioned, and did not engage Verdi's need for creativity. Verdi left Milan to return to his home province, competing for and winning the post of Teacher of the Municipal School of Busseto. There he married Margherita, daughter of Mr. Barezzi. Verdi soon resigned his post and returned to Milan. Sadly, both children and Margherita died soon after his move to Milan, leaving him to start his operatic composition career alone. He had the start that most composers can only dream of—his first compositions were performed at La Scala, recognized the world over as the premiere venue of the opera world. His first opera, Oberto, was well received, but his second was a dismal failure, almost leading to Verdi's abandonment of the opera. However, buoyed by the continued success of his first opera, his next opus was Nabucco (Italian for Nebuchadnezzar), which established him as an operatic composer non pareil. Nabucco had a profound effect on its audience, not only for its musical excellence, but because it uses the Biblical experience of the Hebrews' deliverance from bondage to express the Italian people's desire for release from Austrian domination. This chorus had such profound meaning to the Italian people that it was sung at Verdi's funeral, under the baton of Arturo Toscannini. Inclusion of the great Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves in the MOS concert "Music of the Stage" will give the audience a glimpse of this high moment in Verdi's career. At age 58, he composed Aida, in commemoration of the opening of the Suez Canal in 1871. He continued to compose through most of his life, his last work being Falstaff, composed at age 79. Altogether, Verdi wrote 29 operas, and is considered by many to be one of the great operatic geniuses of all time. The MOS is pleased to include choruses from three of his great works this Spring. For further reading on Giuseppe Verdi: Click here for more information about the MOS Composer of the Month feature . |
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MOS Composer of the Month: Previous Page, Next Page, Index
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