Primary School no. 7 in Ostrów Wielkopolski

Gabriela Blandzi – class V A

Giuseppe Verdi

Portrait painted by Giovanni Boldini - 1886

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi - Italian composer

He was born on 10th of October in 1813 in Le Roncole.

He died on 27th of January in 1901 in Milan.

He was one of the most prominent operatic creators.

His music contains underlining stage action melodies, giving back great feelings and dramas.

He studied in Milan.

He won a great fame and acknowledgement.

Family and youth

Verdi’s parents were unassuming and kindly people.

His father had a small shop and a small pub.

His whole family loved music.

When he was seven years old, Giuseppe found an instrument on the attic – spinet, on which he began playing. Soon, his father began sending him to a country organist to study reading, writing and playing the organs.

Signature of G. Verdi

EducationAt the age of seventeen he was supported by the Barezzi family.

He applied for a place in Milan’s conservatory, but his request was thrown down.

Verdi finished studies in Milan.

Vincenz Lavigna, the best teacher of music, helped him in this city. Giuseppe was his student.

He watched operatic performances in Milan's La Scala.

Verdi became the town music master in Busseto.

Family life

He was in love, with reciprocity, with the oldest daughter of the Barezzi family, Margherita.

They got married in 1836.

A daughter - Virginia (1837), and a son - Icilio (1838), were born to them. When the boy was 4 weeks old, Virginia died from an unknown disease.

The family moved to Milan.

Spinet

Bad fate persecuted the young family in Milan as well.

Little Icilio died in October. Verdi's wife, Margherita died in June next year.

The composer fell in despair.

It was the worst period in his life.

Verdi’s Successes

The first Verdi's opera - Oberto, Count San Bonifaccio took place in November 1839 in Milan.

Then Bartolomeo Merelli ordered more operas from the composer.

Many years passed, during which Verdi delivered new operas to the Italian public.

He wrote fourteen operas during nine years.

His operas were staged in Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples and Florence.

Successe’s Verdiego

His fame grew in the whole Europe.

In 1843 the work of Nabucco was issued in Vienna, and in 1847 in London and Paris.

Verdi earned money and paid off his old debts.

He bought some ground in his family village.

Casa di Riposo per Musicisti, Milan

Further life

Giuseppe fell in love with a sopranist - Strepponi.

The relationship with Giuseppina was stormy; people despised Giuseppina, because she was not his wife.

In 1848 Verdi sold his estate in Le Roncole, and he bought a larger property.

With age he came back to his country seat. He called himself ”a villager from Parma".

Further life

Verdi began saying that he would work over a "chocolate project''.

The Boito was going to create librettos music on the basis of Shakspeare’s drama - Otello.

The premiere took place in Milan in 1887. It was the largest success of Verdi's life.

Monument of Giuseppe Verdi in Milan

Last years

Then he wrote the comedy – the Falstaff, one of the most beautiful comic operas.

In 1895 Verdi established Casa di Riposo per Musicisti in Milan – a house for retired musicians.Then Giuseppina Strepponi-Verdi died in 1897.

In January 1901 he got a stroke. His sufferings finished on 27 January.

Verdi wanted his funeral to be humble, without music. Half of Milan’s people stood in silence over his grave, until suddenly the crowd spoke music - Va, pensiero.

Thank you for your attention.