Sunday 24 August 2008

Weekly update: Viva Verdi!

I love Giuseppe Verdi's operas.



Description of Opera
Libretto(126k)
26
1839
Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio
opera in 2 acts
Libretto by Antonio Piazza
revised by Temistocle Solera
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, November 17, 1839












Description of Opera
Libretto(209k)
27
1840
Un giorno di regno (Il finto Stanislao)
comic opera in 2 acts
from the farse Le Faux Stanislas
by Alexandre-Vincent Pineux-Duval
Libretto by Felice Romani
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, September 5, 1840




Description of Opera
Libretto(227k)
Nabucco_1.mp3 (2.4 Mb)
Nabucco_2.mp3 (3.4Mb)
29
1842
Nabucodonosor
(the title was abbreviated to Nabucco after the first performance)
opera in 4 parts
Libretto by Temistocle Solera
First performance - Scala Theatre - Milan, March 9, 1842
Description of Opera
Libretto(302k)
Lombardi.mp3 (1.93 Mb)
30
1843
I Lombardi alla prima crociata
opera in 4 acts
from the poem of the same name
by Tommaso Grossi
Libretto by Temistocle Solera
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 11, 1843
(2nd version, see Jérusalem)












Description of Opera
Libretto(242k)
31
1844

Ernani
opera in 4 acts
from the play Hernani by Victor Hugo
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance La Fenice Theatre - Venice, March 9, 1844
(also given with the titles: Il proscritto, Elvira d'Aragona, Il corsaro di Venezia)

Description of Opera
Libretto(242k)
31
1844

I due Foscari
tragic opera in 3 acts
from the tragedy The two Foscari by George Byron
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance Argentina Theatre - Rome, November 3, 1844

Description of Opera
Libretto(285k)
32
1845
Giovanna d'Arco
opera in a prologue and 3 acts
from the play Die Jungfrau von Orléans by Friedrich Schiller
Libretto by Temistocle Solera
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 15, 1845
(also given with the title: Orietta di Lesbo)

32
1845

Alzira
tragic opera in a prologue and 2 acts
from the tragedy Alzire, ou Les Américains by Voltaire
Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano
First performance San Carlo Theatre - Naples, August 12, 1845









Description of Opera
Libretto(152k)
33
1846
Attila
opera in a prologue and 3 acts
from the tragedy Attila, König der Hunnen by Zacharias Werner
Libretto by Temistocle Solera
The libretto was completed by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance La Fenice Theatre - Venice, March 17, 1846
(also given with the title: Gli Unni e i Romani)
Description of Opera
Libretto(197k)
Macbeth.mp3 (1.94 Mb)
Macbeth_2.mp3 (2.33 Mb)
34
1847
Macbeth
opera in 4 acts
from the tragedy by William Shakespeare Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
(with some modifications by Andrea Maffei)
First performance Pergola Theatre - Florence, March 14, 1847
(also given with the title: Sivardo il Sassone) (2nd version in French, Paris, Théâtre Lyrique, April 21, 1865)
Description of Opera
Libretto(296k)
34
1847
I masnadieri
opera in 4 parts
from the tragedy Die Räuber by Friedrich Schiller Libretto by Andrea Maffei
First performance Her Majesty's Theatre - London, July 22, 1847
Description of Opera
34
1847

Jérusalem
remake of I Lombardi alla prima crociata Libretto by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Väez First performance Académie Royale de Musique - Paris, November 26, 1847





Description of Opera
Libretto(276k)
Corsaro.mp3 (2.08 Mb)
35
1848

Il corsaro
tragic opera in 3 acts
from the poem The corsair by George Byron Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance Teatro Grande - Trieste, October 25, 1848









Description of Opera
Libretto(340k)
Battaglia_Legnano.mp3 (2.45 Mb)
36
1849
La battaglia di Legnano
tragic opera in 4 acts
from La bataille de Toulouse by Joseph Méry Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano
First performance Argentina Theatre - Rome, January 27, 1849
Description of Opera
Libretto(238k)
36
1849
Luisa Miller
tragic opera in 3 acts
from the play Kabale und Liebe by Friedrich Schiller
Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano
First performance San Carlo Theatre - Naples, December 8, 1849




Description of Opera
Libretto(332k)
37
1850

Stiffelio
opera [in three acts]
from the play Le Pasteur ou L'Evangile et le foyer by Emile Souvestre and Eugène Bourgeois
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance Teatro Grande - Trieste, November 16, 1850
(also given with the title: Guglielmo Wellingrode)





Description of Opera
Libretto(271k)
38
1851
Rigoletto
opera in 3 acts
from the play Le Roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance La Fenice Theatre - Venice, March 11, 1851
(also given with the titles: Viscardello, Clara di Perth, Lionello)
Description of Opera
Libretto(235k)
40
1853

Il trovatore
drama in 4 parts
from the play El trovador by Antonio-García Gutiérrez
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
The libretto was completed by Leone Emanuele Bardare
First performance Apollo Theatre - Rome, January 19, 1853

Description of Opera
Libretto(243k)
Traviata.mp3 (1.46 Mb)
Traviata_2.mp3 (1.79 Mb)
40
1853
La traviata
opera in 3 acts
from the novel La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance La Fenice Theatre - Venice, March 6, 1853




Description of Opera
Libretto(519k)
Vespri_Siciliani.mp3 (2.07 Mb)
42
1855
Les Vêpres siciliennes
opera in 5 acts
Libretto by Eugène Scribe and Charles Duveyrier
from Il duca d'Alba by Eugène Scribe
(for Gaetano Donizetti)
First performance Académie Impériale de Musique - Paris, June 13, 1855
Description of Opera
Libretto(519k)
Vespri_Siciliani.mp3 (2.07 Mb)
42
1855
Giovanna de Guzman
first title of the Italian version of Les Vêpres siciliennes
opera in 5 acts
translation by Arnaldo Fusinato
First performance Ducale Theatre - Parma, December 26, 1855
(also given with the titles: Giovanna di Sicilia and Batilde di Turenna)

43
1856
I Vespri siciliani
definitive title of the Italian version of Les Vêpres siciliennes
with translation by Eugenio Caimi opera in 5 acts
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 4, 1856
Description of Opera
Libretto(332k)
44
1857
Simon Boccanegra
opera in a prologue and 3 acts
from the play Simón Bocanegra by Antonio-García Gutiérrez
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
(with interventions by Giuseppe Montanelli)
First performance La Fenice Theatre - Venice, March 12, 1857
(2nd version Milan, Scala Theatre, March 24, 1881)
Description of Opera
Libretto(316k)
44
1857
Aroldo
remake of Stiffelio
opera in 4 acts
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance Teatro Nuovo - Rimini, August 16, 1857












Description of Opera
Libretto(247k)
Ballo_Maschera.mp3 (2.48 Mb)
46
1859
Un ballo in maschera
opera in 3 acts
from the historical drama Gustave III ou Le Bal masqué by Eugène Scribe
Libretto by Antonio Somma
First performance Apollo Theatre - Rome, February 17, 1859
Description of Opera
Libretto(333k)
Forza_Destino.mp3 (2.64 Mb)
49
1862

La forza del destino
opera in 4 acts
from the play Don Álvaro o La fuerza del sino by Ángel Perez de Saavedra, duque de Rivas Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performance Imperial Theatre - St. Petersburg, November 10, 1862
(also given with the title: Don Alvaro)(2nd version, Milan, Scala Theatre, February 27, 1869)









Description of Opera
Libretto(197k)
Macbeth.mp3 (1.94 Mb)
Macbeth_2.mp3 (2.33 Mb)
52
1865
Macbeth (2nd version in French)
opera in 4 acts trans.
Charles Nuitter and Alexandre Beaumont
First performance Théâtre Lyrique - Paris, April 21, 1865




Description of Opera
Libretto(443k)
54
1867
Don Carlos
grand opéra in 5 acts
from the tragic poem Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien by Friedrich Schiller
Libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle First performance Académie Impériale de Musique - Paris, March 11, 1867
(version in 4 acts, Milan, Scala Theatre, January 10, 1884)




Description of Opera
Libretto(333k)
Forza_Destino.mp3 (2.64 Mb)
56
1869
La forza del destino (2nd version)
opera in 4 acts second version revised
(with text added by Antonio Ghislanzoni)
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 27, 1869




Description of Opera
Libretto(323k)
Aida.mp3 (2.27 Mb)
Aida_2.mp3 (2.74 Mb)
58
1871
Aida
opera in 4 acts
Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
taken from a subject by Auguste Mariette
First performance Opera Theatre - Cairo, December 24, 1871
First Italian performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 8, 1872





61
1874
Messa da requiem
for soloists, chorus and orchestra
First performance San Marco Church - Milan, May 22, 1874








Description of Opera
Libretto(332k)
68
1881
Simon Boccanegra (2nd version)
Second version revised with additions and modifications by Arrigo Boito
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, March 24, 1881
Description of Opera
Libretto(443k)
71
1884
Don Carlo
revised version in 4 acts
revision of French text by Camille du Locle
Italian translation by Angelo Zanardini based on the original version by Achille De Lauzières
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, January 10, 1884
Description of Opera
Libretto(321k)
Otello.mp3 (1.87 Mb)
Otello_2.mp3 (2.48 Mb)
74
1887
Otello
opera in 4 acts
from the tragedy Othello, or the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 5, 1887




Description of Opera
Libretto(443k)
Falstaff.mp3 (2.66 Mb)
80
1893
Falstaff
opera in 3 acts
from the play The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
First performance Scala Theatre - Milan, February 9, 1893










I have seen some of his operas live, still many I haven't:
Verdi: 56
08 Aida 1984-11-16, 1997-06-26, 2002-06-16, 2003-07-27, 2005-06-23, 2005-06-24, 2005-06-26, 2005-08-28
01 Attila 1998-10-18
02 Un Ballo in Maschera 1990-09-13, 2005-04-30
04 Il Corsaro 2005-02-03, 2005-02-06, 2005-05-14, 2005-05-15
04 Don Carlo 2003-03-12, 2003-03-14, 2006-11-25, 2006-12-18
01 Don Carlos 2002-06-19
01 La Forza del Destino 2004-11-06
01 Jérusalem 1998-05-30
01 Luisa Miller 2000-03-04
07 Nabucco 2002-01-12, 2005-07-01, 2007-06-29, 2007-08-11, 2008-02-22, 2008-07-14, 2008-07-17
06 Otello 1989-11-28, 2002-07-13, 2004-05-29, 2004-06-05, 2005-07-02, 2005-07-05
03 Rigoletto 2000-05-18, 2005-10-22, 2005-10-23
09 Stiffelio 1997-06-23, 2004-09-26, 2004-10-07, 2004-11-19, 2006-03-24, 2006-03-26, 2007-05-05, 2007-05-08, 2007-05-10
05 La Traviata 1984-06-20, 1993-01-15, 2002-12-14, 2003-07-31, 2006-03-22
02 Il Trovatore 1989-05-03, 2002-05-11
01 I Vespri Siciliani 2004-06-02

For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

I am listening a lot Verdi Tenor Arias on my IPOD:
Verdi Arias - José Carreras (Philips Classics) - Worth it, if you can get it.
Verdi Arias - José Cura
Verdi: the tenor arias, Placido Domingo, DG 471 335-2 (four discs)
Verdi Tenor Arias (Decca 476 8437)