Giuseppe Verdi Biography

Giuseppe Verdi

Sometimes we need a little help from our “Grand March” from friends. That’s what the composer Giuseppe Verdi Aida, are some of the learned as a young man, when he almost gave up most recognizable his career in music. tunes around. Verdi Giuseppe Verdi was born in a little town in might not have had the province of Parma, Italy, in 1813. By the age the greatest education, of seven, it was obvious that Verdi had musical but his operas were talent. As a boy, he began to study music and certainly successful. even assisted the church organist. But his family Verdi was successful was too poor to give him a formal education. in part because he Verdi wanted to study at the conservatory in worked very hard. During the 1840s and 1850s, Milan, but he wasn’t accepted to the music the composer was constantly writing and school. Verdi didn’t give up. Instead, he studied directing new works. In fact, the composer called with a famous composer from Milan thanks to the this period “the galley years.” He felt like a support of a patron. laborer on a boat who must row and row and row In 1834, Verdi got his first job in the musical to keep the boat going. field. He was hired as a conductor and a church As he wrote and directed, Verdi was always organist in the town of Busseto. There he met his refining and improving his abilities. He also wife, Margherita. While he was working in developed his own style, which was different from Busseto, Verdi composed his first opera, and an earlier composers. Verdi thought that opera was opera house in Milan agreed to stage it. more than glorious singing. He filled his works Verdi’s first opera was a success, and the with vibrant scenery, dramatic stories, and opera house asked Verdi to write three more passionate characters. For Verdi, all these things works. Things seemed to be going fine, but soon were important parts to the operas as well. a series of tragedies struck. Verdi and his wife Verdi also wrote great ensemble scenes, in had two children, but both died when they were which many singers are on stage performing still babies. Then, in 1840, Verdi’s wife also died. together. In Nabucco, a chorus of Hebrew slaves The composer was heartbroken. Shortly after his sings together about how they long for their wife’s death, Verdi’s second opera was performed. homeland. This scene was so popular in Italy, that The critics didn’t like it at all. It was a total flop. the melody became the unofficial anthem of a Verdi became even more depressed. It was all political movement of the time. The “Grand too much. Verdi vowed that he would never March” from Verdi’s opera Aida is another compose another opera. example of a popular ensemble tune. Luckily for Verdi – and for us – his friends After Verdi wrote Aida in 1871, he planned didn’t want him to stop writing music. One of to retire and stop writing. Again, he couldn’t these friends worked at the opera house in Milan. stay away. In 1873, a famous Italian writer died. He gave Verdi a project to work on, and the Verdi had admired this poet very much, so the composer accepted it. It wasn’t easy, but when it composer resolved to write a mass for him. Some was done, Verdi’s opera Nabucco premiered. It was say that this work is one of Verdi’s greatest. a huge success. Verdi was back! After that, Verdi continued to write until his Giuseppe Verdi would go on to become one of death in 1901. the best-known composers in history. In fact, one We are lucky that Verdi’s early decision to of his works, La Traviata, is performed more often give up composing didn’t happen. Verdi’s operas than any other opera today. You’ve probably also dominated the Italian opera scene in the 19th heard Verdi’s music on television and in the century, and we are still enjoying them today. movies. The melodies from his operas Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, and La Traviata, as well as the - Katie Ebel