Table of Contents

Introduction: truth and theatre; 1. The innkeeper's son, 1813–1842: Oberto to Nabucco; 2. The galley slave, 1842–1847: Nabucco to Macbeth; 3. Turning-points, 1847–49: I masnadieri to La battaglia di Legnano; 4. The people's composer, 1849–1859: Luisa Miller to Un ballo in maschera; 5. Complications, 1859–1872: La forza del destino, Don Carlos, and Aida; 6. Evergreen, 1872–1901: the Requiem, Othello and Falstaff.

Promotional Information

Relates the life of a boldly innovative composer whose operas still fill theatres today.

Reviews

'... in the last 50 years ... has also brought a mighty growth of serious critical interest in Verdi. ...That Mr Rosselli - one of the three or four best interpreters of 19th-century Italian opera, who died last week at 73 - could write this beautiful little book proves the point.' Sunday Telegraph 'John Rosselli's latest contribution to this admirable series has all the virtues of his earlier Bellini study ... both man and musician are worthily served.' Julian Budden, Gramophone ' [a] beautiful little book.' Frank Johnson, Sunday Telegraph 'I would require students, both performers and incipient musicologists, to read extensively from this volume, with full confidence that it would open their minds to the myriad problems inherent in editing and performing music and engender lively, thoughtful discussion.' The Opera Quarterly