Biography: Giuseppe Verdi Compiled by Zoë Ludski

Born: October 10, 1813 in Roncole, near Busseto; Died January 27, 1901 in Milan Italy

Verdi is known as the father of Italian opera. He revitalized When Verdi died in January of 1901 he was still considered Italian music in his time and gave it an easily recognizable a patriarch of Italy. Approximately 30,000 people crowded sound. Giuseppe Verdi lived during The Age of Revolution; the streets of Milan and were said to have spontaneously a time when people across America and Europe were joined together in singing “Va, pensiero”, a chorus from fighting for democracy and freedom from oppression. The Verdi’s opera Nabucco. American Revolution was closely followed by revolts in France, Belgium, Poland and Italy. At this time Italy was made up of kingdoms and small states as well as the Zoë Ludski is the COC’s Education Associate. Papal States and it was mostly under Austrian rule. Italians were fighting for a unified and free country. Verdi, like the composer Tchaikovsky, used his art to reflect the political upheaval in his country.

Verdi’s music education began with church organists in his town and his skills impressed a local merchant who A scene from Simon Boccanegra (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 2008). Photo: Catherine Ashmore financed a year of study for Verdi in Milan with a composer and maestro (conductor) at the famous opera house La Scala. He finished his studies, returned to his home town and married his childhood sweetheart, Margherita Barezzi, and they had two children together. Tragically both children died within 2 years of each other and Margherita died shortly after them when Verdi was only 27 years old. Verdi’s professional life also took a turn for the worst when his second opera was considered a flop. Regardless of these challenges, between the ages of 29 and 40, Verdi would become famous throughout the country. He composed 16 operas with numerous performances in Milan, Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence, Trieste, Paris and London. By this point Verdi was not only the great man of opera, but also a national hero who gave his people a distinctive voice on the musical map. In 1860 Italy finally achieved unity and Verdi was convinced to become a deputy in the Turin parliament representing his local district. In the 1880’s and 90’s Verdi composed three more operas. He reworked his earlier version of Simon Boccanegra and produced Otello and Falstaff. (The Canadian Opera Company presented the latter in the 2003-2004 season. It has been almost 20 years since the COC last performed Boccanegra, while Otello is a part of the 2009-2010 season.)

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