Brittany Kennedy
September 7, 2012
4th period
Mr. Hall

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was born October 10, 1813 in Le Roncole in the former duchy of Parma. He had four brother and five sisters. Verdi was the 1st to studied music in the neighboring town of Busseto, he was rejected in 1832 because he was too young by the Milan Conservatory he was a pupil of the Milanese composer Vincenzo Lavigina. Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. His works are frequently performed in opera houses throughout the world and, transcending the boundaries of the genre, some of his themes have long since taken root in popular culture. In 1833, Verdi returned to Busseto as conductor of the Philharmonic Society. He produced his 1st opera known as “Oberto”, in 1839. His next work was a comic opera “Ungiorno di regno(King for a Day , 1840) “, but it was a failure. During the time when his comic opera failed he lost his wife and his two children. After that he decided to give up on composing. One year after the deaths of his wife and his two children, the director of La Scala inducting him write “Nabucco” (1842), this opera created a lot of sensations. The Italian public regarded it as a symbol of the struggle against Austrian rule in northern Italy. “Lombardi “(1843) and “Ernani “(1844), was a great success. Verdi’s most popular of all operas are the “Rigeletto” (1851), “IlTravatore (1853)” and “LaTraviata (1853)”. All of the operas brought him international fame and remain among the most popular of all operas. “Rigeletto” was performed on March 11, 1851 at the Teatro La fenice in Venice. “Rigoletto” is an opera filled with curses and irony. Initially named La Maledizione, Verdi later changed the title to that of the opera's most unfortunate of characters. At a Ball in the Ducal Palace, Rigoletto taunts Count Ceprano whose wife is the target of the Duke's wandering eye. Monterone, whose daughter was seduced by the Duke bursts in and calls a curse upon the Duke for destroying his daughters honor and Rigoletto for making jest of it. Through trickery, Rigoletto's daughter is carried off to the Duke to suffer the same fate as Monterone's daughter. Rigoletto plots his revenge through use of the assassin Sparafucile and his sister Maddalena. Things do not go as planned for Rigoletto as the curse comes back to haunt him. This opera had triumphant premiere and is considered by many to be the first of the operatic masterpiece. “Il Travatore” was first performed at the Teatro Apollo in Rome on January 19, 1853, it was about an old Gypsy, Azucena's mother, had been discovered in the room with one of the sons. The child's health began to fail and it was believed she had bewitched the child. She was caught and burned at the stake. Azucena, the old Gypsy's daughter, witnessed these events and swore vengeance. One evening, she kidnapped the baby her mother had "cursed" and hurried to the scene of the execution. She was about to throw the baby into the flames when overcome with emotions, she tossed her own child into the flames. She told no one her secret and instead raised the boy herself - Manrico. Manrico is in love with Leonora whom is also coveted by Count di Luna. The two fight over her until the Count gains the upper hand by imprisoning Azucena and Manrico. He orders Manrico be-headed and learns only too late that Manrico is his long-believed dead brother. His last most famous work was “La Traviata”. It was performed on March 6, 1 1853 at the La Fenice opera house in Venice. The opera was about at a party in Violetta's house; Alfredo is introduced to Violetta whom he has admired from a distance. Together they offer a toast to the revelers. The crowd leaves to dance, but Violetta, who feels faint remains. Alfredo joins her and expresses the deep concern he feels for her. She cuts him off telling him to look for love elsewhere. Alfredo begins to leave when Violetta gives him a