HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Romantic Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi

Painting: Giovanni Boldini 1886

Born on 9 or 10 October 1813 in Le Roncole, Taro (among the Italian regions annexed to France under Napoleon), Giuseppe Verdi largely ensured the continued powerful presence of Italian opera through the 19th century. Amidst his 37 operas he also wrote a nice number of songs. Verdi was sent to school at age ten in Busseto. At age twelve he began to study under opera composer, Ferdinando Provesi, with whom he remained until 1829. Verdi states that he wrote what amounts to well over two hundred works between ages 13 and 18, mostly marches and symphonies. By 1830 Verdi was a highly regarded member of the Busseto Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1832 Verdi left Busseto for Milan where he studied counterpoint and such under Vincenzo Lavigna.

Verdi's first opera, 'Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio', appeared in Milan on 17 November 1839 at the Teatro alla Scala. That was also the first of several works to come with librettist, Temistocle Solera. This work concerns the Count of Oberto who dies in a duel defending the honor of his daughter, Leonora. Verdi's second opera, 'Un giorno di regno' ('A Day of Reign'), needed to be quickly chosen from a batch by Felice Romani, none of which he liked. Nor did the public upon the failure of its premiere on 5 September 1840 at the Teatro alla Scala. Impersonation of identity is a familiar theme in opera, and in this it is one King Stanislaw who tasks one Belfiore to assume his place in France until he reaches Warsaw.

'Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio' First opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 17 Nov 1839 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan

Libretto: Temistocle Solera after Antonio Piazza's 'Rocester'

Teatro alla Scala Nicola Luisotti Milan 2002

Oberto: Giovanni Battista Parodi Leonora: Doina Dimitriu

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'Un giorno di regno' ('A Day of Reign') Second opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 5 Sep 1840 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan

Libretto: Felice Romani 1818

The Ambrosian Singers The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Lamberto Gardelli

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Verdi's two children had recently died in 1838 and 1839, his wife, Margherita Barezzi, to follow in June of 1840. In the despair of it all Verdi vowed to never compose again, then created 'Nabucodonosor' (more commonly 'Nabucco') the next year toward premiere on 9 March 1842 at La Scala with libretto by Solera. That ignited his engine again, not only putting an opera by Donizetti performing nearby to task, but showing signs of becoming a worthy successor to Rossini. This opera is set in 587 BC Jerusalem under siege by Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, as told in the Old Testament book of 'Jeremiah'. In this tale by Solera, however, Nebuchadnezzar goes mad, believing that he is God, and his throne is usurped by one Abigaille, a slave who has been pretending to be his daughter. Meanwhile his actual daughter, Fenena, has converted to Judaism, thus now shares the same threat of death as the rest of the Israelites. With the final of three acts set in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar regains stability of mind, saves Fenena and the Israelites from Abigaille and promises to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem that he had destroyed. Abigaialle meanwhile poisons herself, praying that God will be merciful to her in death.

'Nabucco' ('Nabucodonosor') ('Nebuchadnezzar') Third opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 9 March 1842 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Orchestre National d’Ile de France Roberto Servile

Stade de France Paris 27 Sep 2008

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Verdi's relationship with the love of his life, soprano, Giuseppina Strepponi [Wikipedia], commenced in 1843. She had starred as the false daughter, Abigaille, of Nebuchadnezzar in 'Nabucodonosor' above. In 1844 Verdi purchased Il Pulgaro for his parents, a farm of 62 acres. He then bought the more polished Palazzo Cavalli in Busetto (now the Palazzo Orlandi) the same year. Mozart who liked nice digs wouldn't have had much use for the farm, but he might have suffered the Palazzo where Verdi and Strepponi kept quarters together.

Giuseppina Strepponi

Soprano and wife to Giuseppe Verdi

Painting by anonymous 1840

Source: Wikipedia

'Macbeth' was Verdi's tenth opera, his first of three inspired by Shakespeare and his fourth with librettist, Francesco Piave, with whom he would create several more into the sixties. premiering on 14 March 1847 at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence. 'Macbeth' would later see revision in French for premiere in Paris at the Théâtre Lyrique on 21 April 1865. These versions of 'Macbeth' take place in Scotland where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth murder Duncan, king of Scotland. Macbeth assumes the throne as Duncan's murder is blamed on the latter's son, Malcom, who flees to England. Others, however, must be killed to secure the throne, in the process of which both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth die and Malcom becomes the rightful king.

'Macbeth' Tenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere Italian 14 March 1847 Premiere French 21 April 1865

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave after Shakespeare

Direction: Giorgio Strehler

Macbeth: Piero Cappuccilli Lady Macbeth: Shirley Verrett

C & O del Teatro alla Scala Claudio Abbado 1975

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Libretto Metropolitan Opera Effie Papanikolaou Wikipedia

Verdi's 11th opera, 'I Masnadieri', premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on 22 July 1847 with libretto by Andrea Maffei. In this tale set in Germany, Carlo, who is the son of an ailing Count Massimiliano Moor, falls in with a band of robbers who make him their leader, this due to betrayal by his brother, Francesco, who schemes to steal his place as heir. Greedy Francesco attempts to bury his father alive, but the Count escapes into a forest where Carlo finds him. Carlo has his bandits attempt to capture Francesco, but instead of defeating him he ends up killing his cousin and sweetheart, Amalia, to the tune of another Verdi tragedy missing Hollywood's happy ending.

'I Masnadieri' ('The Robbers') Eleventh opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 22 July 1847 at the Queen's Theatre in London

Libretto: Andrea Maffei after Schiller's 1781 'Die Räuber'

C &O of the San Carlo Theater Nicola Luisotti Naples 2012

Massimiliano: Giacomo Prestia Carlo: Aquiles Machado

Francesco: Artur Rucinski Amalia: Lucrecia Garcia

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Verdi premiered 'Jérusalem' in Paris at Salle Le Peletier on 26 November 1847 was a revision his 1843 'I Lombardi alla prima crociata' ('The Lombards on the First Crusade') with libretto by Solera [Glaubitz / IMSLP], now given a French text by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz. 'Jérusalem' is the story of a love affair between Helene, daughter of Count Toulouse, and Gaston, a crusading knight, both of whom have been captured by the Emir of Ramla. Gaston escapes and is in the process of rescuing Helene when Count Toulouse captures him, the latter having been led to falsely believe that Gaston had attempted to murder him. The opera ends when Roger, brother of Count Toulouse, develops sufficient conscience to clear Gaston's name by confessing that it was he who had attempted to murder the Count and must now die by execution.

'Jérusalem' Twelfth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 26 Nov 1847 at Salle Le Peletier in Paris

Libretto: Alphonse Royer / Gustave Vaëz after Solera

RAI Orchestra Turin Gianandrea Gavazzeni 1975

Count Toulouse: Alessandro Cassis Gaston: José Carreras

Roger: Siegmund Nimsgern Hélène: Katia Ricciarelli

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In May of 1848 Verdi purchased the house previously owned by his family at Sant'Agata in Busseto where he and Strepponi would winter through the years when manageable. Though preferable to keep travel to more accommodating warmer months it wasn't always possible. It had been January of 1848 when the Italian Risorgimento (Italian Unification) began. This had been sparked on 12 June of 1844 when two Venetian brothers raided the Kingdom of Two Sicilies toward the object of unifying Italy. The revolution began en force on 5 January 1848 in Lombardy to spread to Tuscany in February. It was March when Milan and Venice expelled Austrian forces. The Italian Unification of Italy required twenty-three years, ending in 1871 upon the defeat of Papal forces to establish Rome as Italy's capital.

Verdi premiered 'Il Corsaro' ('The Pirate') at the Trieste Grande on 25 October 1848. Inspired by Lord George Byron's poem, 'The Corsair', that was another with libretto by Piave. 'Il Corsaro' opens in the early 19th century on a Greek Island run by pirates whose head is the exiled Corrado. His love is Medora who would rather he stay than sail off to battle against Seid, the Turkish Pasha of Coron. As Corrado attacks Seid during a banquet he also saves women from a burning harem, including the Pasha's favorite, Gulnara. This results in Carrado's capture and he is sentenced to death, from which Gulnara saves him by killing the Pasha. They make their escape back to Corrado's island where, meanwhile, Medora poisons herself in despair of never seeing Corrado again. Yet they finally do just that, and embrace before Medora dies and Corrado tosses himself off a cliff. Pretty passionate stuff.

'Il Corsaro' ('The Pirate') Thirteenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 25 Oct 1848 at the Teatro Grande in Trieste

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave after Lord Byron's 1814 'The Corsair'

C & O del Teatro La Fenice di Venezia Jesús López Cobos Frankfurt 2 Oct 1971

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Verdi followed 'Il Corsaro" with 'La Battaglia di Legnano' in Rome on 27 January 1849, that his second with librettist, Salvatore Cammarano. This tale commences at Milan in 1176 with the Lombard League preparing to defend the city from German Holy Roman Emperor, Federico Barbarossa. In the meantime a confusion develops such Italian Knight of Death, Arrigo, is accused of being unfaithful with Lida, wife of Rolando who had charged him with her care while off to battle Barbarossa. The Lombards defeat Barbarossa, in the process of which Arrigo is mortally wounded but able to assure Rolando that Lida is innocent before he dies having helped to save Italy.

'La Battaglia di Legnano' Fourteenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 27 Jan 1849 at the Teatro Argentina in Rome

Libretto: Salvadore Cammarano

C & O of the Teatro alla Scala Norberto Mola Gianandrea Gavazzeni

Direction: Margherita Wallmann Set design: Nicola Benois Milan 7 Dec 1961

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Verdi next partnered with Cammarano on 'Luisa Miller' which arrived to the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on 8 December 1849. Luisa is the daughter of a retired soldier. She is loved by two, the first being Rudolfo, son of Count Walter, the second being Wurm, the Count's steward. The machinations of Wurm include a deception by which he will save Luisa 's father from execution if Luisa will write a letter claiming that she loves Wurm. This leads to Rudolfo poisoning both himself and Luisa before killing Wurm by sword.

'Luisa Miller' Fifteenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 8 Dec 1849 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples

Libretto: Salvadore Cammarano after Schiller's 1784 'Kabale und Liebe'

C & O of the Parma Teatro Regio Donato Renzetti Oct 2007

Luisa: Fiorenza Cedolin

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'Luisa Miller' Fifteenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 8 Dec 1849 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples

Libretto: Salvadore Cammarano after Schiller's 1784 'Kabale und Liebe'

Opera National de Paris 2008

Direction: Girard Mortier Conducting: Massimo Zanetti Luisa: Ana Maria Martinez

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Verdi commenced the second half of the 19th century with another libretto by Piave, 'Stiffelio', premiering at the Teatro Grande in Trieste on 27 Nov 1850. Stiffelio is a Protestant minister whose wife, Lina, has a lover named Raffaele. Raffaele is killed by Lina's father, Count Stankar, in the process of Stiffelio eventually forgiving her. This opera, dealing as it does with a Protestant miinster, became the object of heavy criticism at the time.

'Stiffelio' Sixteenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 27 Nov 1850 at the the Teatro Grande in Trieste

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave

C & O of the Parma Teatro Regio Andrea Battistoni April 2012

Stiffelio: Roberto Aronica Stankar: Roberto Frontali

Raffaele: Gabriele Mangione Lina: Yu Guanqun

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Verdi's 'Rigoletto' premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. With another libretto by Piave, now borrowing from Victor Hugo's 'Le roi s'amuse'. 'Rigoletto' is the tale of an old man's curse on Rigoletto for having mocked his anger upon the Duke of Mantua seducing his daughter. Rigoletto is a court jester in service to the Duke, the latter a libertine who takes his pleasure with as many women as possible. Gilda is Rigoletto's daughter whom he has kept safe from the world, much less the Duke, as she goes nowhere but to church. The Duke disguises himself as a student and meets Gilda anyway, she to fall in love with him. She is then kidnapped by a group of courtiers who believe that she is Rigoletto's mistress. Learning the truth from Rigoletto, they release her to her father. But now she sacrifices her life in order to save the Duke from Sparafucile, an assassin whom Rigoletto had hired to murder the Duke for his designs on his daughter.

'Rigoletto' Seventeenth opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 11 March 1851 at Teatro La Fenice in Venice

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave after Victor Hugo's 1832 'Le roi s'amuse'

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Javanshir Jafarov

Rigoletto: Evez Abdullayev Simon

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Verdi's 'Il Trovatore' premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. With another libretto by Piave, now borrowing from Victor Hugo's 'Le roi s'amuse'. The troubador in this story is Manrico who is also an officer in the army of the Prince of Urgel. His rival in the love of one Leonora is Count di Luna in the service of the Prince of Aragon. Leonora loves Manrico, leading to her suicide by poison, for she'll not give herself to the Count who then executes Manrico.

'Il Trovatore' ('The Troubadour') 18th opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 19 Jan 1853 at the Teatro Apollo in Rome

Libretto: Salvadore Cammarano from Gutiérrez' 1836 'El Trovador'

Coro e Orchestra Arché Marco Bargagna Marco Guidarini

Direction: Enrico Stinchelli

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Verdi's first grand opera (staging and such to magnificent proportion) was 'Les vêpres siciliennes' performed at the Paris Opera (also called "the grand opera") on 13 June 1855. That was a setting to 'Le duc d'Albe' written by Charles Duveyrier and Eugène Scribe in 1838.

'Les vêpres siciliennes' ('The Sicilian Vespers') 20th opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 13 June 1855 Commissioned by the Paris Opera

Libretto: Eugène Scribe / Charles Duveyrier 1838

Riccardo Muti conductin at the Teatro alla Scala 1989

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'Simon Boccanegra' arrived to the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on 12 March 1857. It was revised for performance in Milan in 1881. This tale opens with Simon Boccanegra becoming the first Doge of the Republic of Genoa on 23 December 1339. Twenty years and more quickly elapse to when he is reunited with his missing daughter, Amelia, whom the aristocrat, Jacopo Fiesco, had imprisoned as revenge against Boccanegra for the death of his daughter, Maria, Amelia's mother. Amelia is now courted by the goldsmith, Paolo Albiani. Because she finds this disagreeable Boccanegra forbids Paolo from seeing her. So Paolo kidnaps her, though she is rescued by the Genoese gentleman, Adorno. Paolo now incites a revolt against Boccanegra. He is captured and condemned to death, but not before poisoning the Doge who now appoints Adorno his successor in marriage to Amelia.

'Simon Boccanegra' 22nd opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 12 March 1857 at Teatro La Fenice in Venice

Premiere revised: 24 March 1881 at Teatro alla Scala in Milan

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave Revised: Arrigo Boito

C & O of the Teatro dell'Opera Roberto Gabbiani Riccardo Muti

Direction: Adrian Noble Boccanegra: George Petean

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'Un ballo in maschera' appeared at the Teatro Apollo in Rome on 17 Feb 1859 with a libretto by Antonio Somma after Eugène Scribe's 'Gustave III'. This opera opens with Riccardo, Earl of Warwick and governor of Boston, reviewing a list of the invited to an upcoming masked ball. He is delighted to see that his love, Amelia, may be expected. Amelia, who loves Riccardo as well, is the wife of Renato who is Riccardo's friend, secretary and confidant. One might guess that this arrangement could present some problems, such that Renato ends up killing Riccardo when they attend the masked ball. Riccardo remains alive long enough to inform Renato that Amelia had maintained her innocence.

'Un ballo in maschera' ('A Masked Ball') 23rd opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 17 Feb 1859 at the Teatro Apollo in Rome

Libretto: Antonio Somma after Eugène Scribe's 1833 'Gustave III'

Corpo di Ballo e Tecnici dell'Arena di Verona Andrea Battistoni

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Having lived together for fifteen years, Verdi and Strepponi finally decided to marry on 29 August 1859. Having by then composed 23 operas, Verdi and his wife retired to Sant'Agata where he gardened and hunted when not involving himself with politics as a member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Verdi was a firm Italian patriot, having no patience for the Austrian threat, but Parliament wasn't his bag. So he took another trip across the Channel in 1862 to perform his choral cantata, 'Inno delle nazioni' ('Hymn of Nations'), on 24 May at Her Majesty's Theatre. Text for that was authored by Arrigo Boito [Wikipedia]. The work incorporates 'God Save the King', 'La Marseillaise' and 'Il Canto degli Italiani'.

'Inno delle nazioni' ('Hymn of Nations') D major Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 24 May 1862 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London

Text: Arrigo Boito

Corpo di Ballo e Tecnici dell'Arena di Verona Andrea Battistoni

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Strepponi, not one for lounging about only because the climate was pleasant, was all for taking 'La forza del destino' to St. Petersburg in 1862. After premiering on 22 November at the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre they took it to Moscow. Again, Piave wrote the libretto which opens in Seville with Don Alvaro in love with Donna Leonora. Her father violently objects upon discovering them together, whence Alvaro accidentally kills him when he surrenders but drops his pistol. Alvaro and Leonora take flight together, but get separated. Act 2 opens about a year later with Carlo, Leonora's brother, yet seeking vengeance against both her and Alvaro for his father's death. Leonora now commits herself to a monastery, then becomes a mountain hermit. Though she has learned that Alvaro is still alive, Alvaro believes her to be dead as he joins the Spanish army under an assumed named. It happens that Don Carlo also joins the army under an assumed name, and the two become friends as they march toward the Battle of Velletri (1744). Carlo, of course, discovers Alvaro's true identity and challenges him to a duel. Soldiers pull them apart and Alvaro disappears to a monastery. Don Carlo finds him there and the two end up dueling again. Leonora, who is living as a hermit nearby, hears their clashing swords. Alvaro mortally wounds Carlo whom Leonora now embraces. Carlo remains alive long enough to avenge his dead father by stabbing her in the heart.

Overture to 'La forza del destino' 24th opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 22 Nov 1862 at the Bolshoi Kamenny in St. Petersburg

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Giuseppe Sinopoli

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'Don Carlo' or 'Don Carlos' is a grand opera which premiered on 11 March 1867 at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris with libretto by Camille Du Locle and Joseph Méry. The story is taken after both the Prince of Asturious and Schiller's 1847 play, 'Don Carlos'. Verdi revised this work in 1883, omitting its entire first act in which the love between Don Carlos and Elisabeth is related. The 1883 version begins with Elisabeth married to King Philippe II of Spain, father of Don Carlos and son of Charles V who is thought to be dead. Carlos is unhappy that the woman he once loved is now his stepmother. During preparations for an auto-da-fé Carlos, who wishes to rule Flanders, violently defies Philippe but is arrested and jailed. Philippe then comes to falsely believe that Elisabeth and Carlos had been having an adulterous relationship. Carlos escapes from prison during an insurrection and meets Elisabeth at the tomb of Charles V where they bid one another farewell. A brief time later Philippe and the Grand Inquisitor of the Roman Church decide that both Elisabeth and Carlos must be executed. Carlos escapes back to the tomb of Charles V where the lead monk of those who had been preparing the woodpile for executions by fire reveals that he is Charles V. This recognized by Philippe and the Grand Inquisitor as well, the curtain falls with Carlos and Charles entering the cloister.

'Don Carlos' (sometimes 'Don Carlo') 25th opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 11 March 1867 at Salle Le Peletierin in Paris

Libretto: Camille Du Locle / Joseph Méry after Schiller

C & O of Der Wiener Staatsoper Alain Altinoglu Vienna 2014

Don Carlos: Roberto Alagna

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It was in Cairo that Verdi premiered his popular 'Aida' on 24 December of 1871, conducted by Giovanni Bottesini with libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Aida is set sometime during the Old Kingdom of Egypt (2700–2200 BC). It opens with Egypt and Ethiopia in conflict. Radamès is Captain of the Guard in love with an Ethiopian slave named Aida. Meanwhile the Pharaoh's daughter, Amneris, is in love with Radamès. She discovers that Aida and Radamès are in love, which doesn't please her. Radamès returns to Thebes in victory over the Ethiopian threat. The Pharaoh offers to grant him any wish, to which he requests the release of all Ethiopian prisoners, it not known that Amonasro, the King of Ethiopia, is among them. Aida and Amonasro are retained as hostages to improve the behavior of any disagreeable Ethiopians. The Pharaoh further rewards Radamès the hand of his daughter, Amneris, as well as his throne when he dies. Radamès, however, leaves to hide in the desert with Aida whom he more regards than the daughter of the Pharaoh or a promised throne. Radamès then learns the true identity of Amonasro. The latter escapes with his daughter, Aida, as Radamès is apprehended as a traitor. Priests decide that he needs be buried alive, so he is taken to a vault in the Temple of Justice (Temple of Ptah) wherein he is sealed. Upon hearing a sigh he recognizes Aida who has entered the vault before him that she might die with him.

'Aida' 26th opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 24 Dec 1871 in Cairo

Libretto: Antonio Ghislanzoni

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle

Aida: Xuraman Qasımova

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Italian author, Alessandro Manzoni, died on 22 May 1873, in memory of whom Verdi composed his 'Requiem Mass' for an anniversary performance one year later at San Marco church in Milan on 22 May 1874. It was revised the next year for performance at Royal Albert Hall in London.

'Messa da Requiem' Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 27 May 1874 at San Marco Church in Milan

Premiere revised: 15 May 1875 at Royal Albert Hall in London

Dedicated to the memory of Alessandro Manzoni

Venice Monteverdi Academy Choir Sheila Rech

Orchestra Lorenzo Da Ponte Roberto Zarpellon

Cathedral Bressanone 2022

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Verdi was nominated to the Italian Senate in 1874, but as before, such wasn't his venue. After taking his oath into office he never showed up again. In 1879 he dictated his 'Autobiographical Sketch' to publisher, Giulio Ricordi. 'Otello' with its libretto fashioned from Shakespeare by Boito premiered at La Scala on 5 February of 1887. Otello is a Moorish general who strangles his wife, Desdemona, for infidelity with Cassio, one of his captains. When he learns that she is innocent he stabs himself to death. Yet more early expirations from passion upon errant beliefs.

'Otello' 27th opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 5 Feb 1887 at Teatro alla Scala in Milan

Libretto: Arrigo Boito after Shakespeare

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala Carlos Kleiber Milan 1977

Otello: Plácido Domingo

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Verdi's last crowning opera was 'Falstaff' with its main character from Shakespeare in the libretto again by Boito. This was performed on 9 February 1893 at La Scala in Milan. Falstaff in this tale is a plump knight at Windsor during the reign (1399-1413) of Henry IV. Falstaff takes everything in jest even as he receives a lot of punishment. This story opens with him writing the same love letter to two rich married women, Alice Ford and Meg Page. Upon discovering this, these women plan a revenge along with Ford's husband and daughter, Nannette, as well as Mistress Quickly. Falstaff is told that Alice loves him in return and a meeting is arranged during which he gets hidden from Ford in a laundry hamper and thrown into the Thames. Falstaff is again convinced to meet with Alice, this time to take a beating from several in masquerade. Falstaff takes this punishment lightly, declaring that in a world which is folly he who laughs well is he who laughs last.

'Falstaff' 28th and final opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere 9 Feb 1893 at La Scala in Milan

Libretto: Arrigo Boito after Shakespeare

Vienna State Opera Chorus Norbert Balatsch

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Georg Solti 1979

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Though Verdi is thought to have been an atheist, his 'Ave Maria' premiered posthumously on 13 November 1898 in Austria as part of 'Quattro Pezzi Sacri' of which he'd begun to compose 'Laudi alla Vergine Maria' in 1886 followed by the 'Te Deum' begun in 1895, the 'Stabat Mater' in 1886 and the 'Ave Maria' in 1889. Verdi reportedly wished to be buried with his 'Te Deum'.