Essential Pieces by Verdi Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (1813-1901), known as Giuseppe Verdi is considered the greatest Italian composer of the 19th century. Verdi, who became well-known for his operas, is considered the successor of Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini. He was a contemporary of German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883). Together they enriched the musical scene of their time. While Wagner based his operas on myth and legend and prepared his librettos, Verdi based his work on the works of Schiller, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, and Shakespeare and produced his booklets in partnership with well-known librettists.

Verdi from early childhood received a solid education and turned to music. He began his career singing in the local church choir and at age 12 began his formal musical education under the tutelage of Ferdinando Provesi, conductor of the local philharmonic. At the age of 20, Verdi went to Milan to continue his studies, and a few years later he presented his first operas: "Oberto" (1837) and "Un giorno di regno" (1840). After the death of his two children and his wife, Verdi thought about giving up music; however, encouraged by friends, he composed "Nabucco", first performed at La Scala in Milan in March 1842. This was the opera that established his fame. Verdi declared that "This is the opera with which my artistic career begins". Many think that "Va, Pensiero", also known as the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves", from the opera "Nabucco" and similar choruses from other Verdi operas show his sympathy for the movement for the reunification of Italy.

Verdi composed almost 30 full operas during his lifetime. The first was "Oberto" in 1837 and the last was "Falstaff" in 1893, a brilliant comedy. Even today, more than 100 years after his death, his works constitute an important part of the world's operatic repertoire. He is not only famous in the world of opera but in popular culture especially for "The Drinking Song" from "La Traviata", "The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" from Nabucco, and "La Donna è Mobile" from Rigoletto.

Other composers: "L'Orfeo" (Monteverdi), "Giolio Cesare" (Handel), "The Marriage of Figaro" (Mozart), "The Barber of Seville" (Rossini), "Norma" (Bellini), "Pagliacci" (Leoncavallo), "Madama Butterfly" (Puccini), "Fidelio" ( Beethoven), "Lohengrin" (Wagner), "Carmen" (Bizet).