Verdi's Life and Style

Question 1

Date of Birth/Death

Answer 1

1813-1901

Question 2

Location of Birth/Death

Answer 2

Roncole, Parma region of Italy; Milan, Italy

Question 3

Father was a ___ who valued ___. He bought Verdi an old ___ (a ___) when he was ___

Answer 3

Tavern-keeper, Education, Spinet, Small Keyboard Instrument, 7

Question 4

18__: Began lessons in ___ with ___ ___, a ___ and ___ of the municipal ___ ___ and local ___ ___

Answer 4

1825, Busseto, Ferdinando Provesi, Church musican, Director, Municipal music school, Philharmonic Society

Question 5

18__: Moved to ___ to live in the home of ___ ___, a wealthy ___ and enthusiastic amateur ___

Answer 5

1831, Busseto, Antonio Barezzi, Merchant, Musician

Question 6

At the Barezzi household, he taught ___ and ___ lessons to ___ ___, his ___, whom he later ___ in ____ and had __ children

Answer 6

Singing, Piano, Margherita Barezzi, Daughter, Married, 1836, 2

Question 7

____’s patronage helped finance Verdi’s musical ___ in ___. There he found work as a ___ at the ___, which was next to the renowned ___

Answer 7

Barezzi, Education, Milan, Conductor, Piccolo Scala, La Scala opera house

Question 8

Briefly moved back to Busetto to ___ the ___ ___ ___, and give ___ ___. Later returned to Milan in ____ with breakthrough in his opera ___

Answer 8

Direct, Local Philharmonic Society, Private Lessons, 1839, Oberto

Question 9

His first commission ___ (___) was unsuccessful and Verdi later had to deal with:

Answer 9

Un giorno di regno (King for a Day), The death of his wife and both children in the span of 2 years

Question 10

18__: His work ____ marked a triumphant return, and launched ___ fame. A vigorous ___ ensued writing a new opera on average every ___. Works were premiered throughout ___ and all over ___

Answer 10

1842, Nabucco, International, Creative period, 9 months, Italy, Europe

Question 11

18__: Began a romantic relationship with ___ ___, an ___ ___. The married ___ years later

Answer 11

Giuseppina Strepponi, Opera singer, 12

Question 12

Became involved in rising tide of ___ ___, his surname becoming an acronym and rallying cry for unification of Italy under ___ ___ ___: Viva V__, E__, R__, D’I__)

Answer 12

Italian nationalism, King Victor Emmanuel, Viva Vittorio Emmanuele Re D’Italia

Question 13

18__: Italy was ___, and Verdi accepted a seat in the new ___ ___ where he served for ___ years

Answer 13

1861, Unified, Italian Parliament, 4

Question 14

18__: Exotic opera ___ (set in ___ ___), premiered successfully at new opera house in ___

Answer 14

1871, Aida, Ancient Egypt, Cairo

Question 15

Composed ___ __ ___ in honor of ___ ___, an Italian ___

Answer 15

Messa da Requiem, Alessandro Manzoni, Writer

Question 16

___ ___, his ___, encouraged Verdi to work with ___, ___ ___. The partnership produced his final triumphs ___ and ___

Answer 16

Giulio Ricordi, Publisher, Librettist, Arrigo Boito, Otello, Falstaff

Question 17

Died on January 27 ___, of ___. Gave a significant sum of money to a ____ for musicians in ___: The ____

Answer 17

1901, A stroke, Retirement home, Milan, Casa di Riposo per Musicisti

Question 18

Known as the greatest ___ composer of ___ in the 19th century. Works remain a staple of ____ repertory worldwide

Answer 18

Italian, Opera, Operatic

Question 19

Influences range from early ___ to ___, from ___, ___, ___, and the Italian works of ___

Answer 19

Opera seria, Opera buffa, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Gioachino Rossini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Question 20

Opera follows “___” approach where the ___ (or ___) is followed by a series of ___, ___, ___, and ___ alternating to provide ___ and to support the drama

Answer 20

Numbered, Overture, Prelude, Recitatives, Aria, Ensembles, Choruses, Variety

Question 21

___ and ___ achieved through “___” themes, and recurrent motives such as the ___ motive in ___

Answer 21

Unity, Flow, Signature, Curse, Rigoletto

Question 22

Colourful ___ and use of ___ ___ to heighten drama. Use of virtuoso ____ arias with soaring ___, spectacular ___, and vivid ___ such as:

Answer 22

Orchestration, Special effects, Coloratura, Melodies, Runs, Ornamentation, Violetta’s extended recitative-aria at the close of La traviata act 1

Question 23

Favoured traditional ___ harmonic language with moderate use of ___. Arias featured a ___ approach with well-defined ___, and ___ phrasing. Also featured lyrical ___ occasionally reminiscent of ___ ___

Answer 23

Diatonic, Chromaticism, Structured, Sections, Balanced, Melodies, Folk songs

Question 24

Stirring arias and choruses sometimes conveyed ___ such as in “_ ___” from ___, and libretto selected for ___ possibilities and ___ elements such as ___, ___, ___, ___ and ___

Answer 24

Nationalism, O patriamia, Aida, Dramatic, Human, Love, Passion, Fate, Intrigue, Courage

Question 25

10 opera based on libretto by ___ ___ ___ and other sources for libretto include writers ___, ___, and ___

Answer 25

Francesco Maria Piave, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, William Shakespeare