Verdi's Life and Style Flashcards
Date of Birth/Death
1813-1901
Location of Birth/Death
Roncole, Parma region of Italy; Milan, Italy
Father was a ___ who valued ___. He bought Verdi an old ___ (a ___) when he was ___
Tavern-keeper, Education, Spinet, Small Keyboard Instrument, 7
18__: Began lessons in ___ with ___ ___, a ___ and ___ of the municipal ___ ___ and local ___ ___
1825, Busseto, Ferdinando Provesi, Church musican, Director, Municipal music school, Philharmonic Society
18__: Moved to ___ to live in the home of ___ ___, a wealthy ___ and enthusiastic amateur ___
1831, Busseto, Antonio Barezzi, Merchant, Musician
At the Barezzi household, he taught ___ and ___ lessons to ___ ___, his ___, whom he later ___ in ____ and had __ children
Singing, Piano, Margherita Barezzi, Daughter, Married, 1836, 2
____’s patronage helped finance Verdi’s musical ___ in ___. There he found work as a ___ at the ___, which was next to the renowned ___
Barezzi, Education, Milan, Conductor, Piccolo Scala, La Scala opera house
Briefly moved back to Busetto to ___ the ___ ___ ___, and give ___ ___. Later returned to Milan in ____ with breakthrough in his opera ___
Direct, Local Philharmonic Society, Private Lessons, 1839, Oberto
His first commission ___ (___) was unsuccessful and Verdi later had to deal with:
Un giorno di regno (King for a Day), The death of his wife and both children in the span of 2 years
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 ___
1842, Nabucco, International, Creative period, 9 months, Italy, Europe
18__: Began a romantic relationship with ___ ___, an ___ ___. The married ___ years later
Giuseppina Strepponi, Opera singer, 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__)
Italian nationalism, King Victor Emmanuel, Viva Vittorio Emmanuele Re D’Italia
18__: Italy was ___, and Verdi accepted a seat in the new ___ ___ where he served for ___ years
1861, Unified, Italian Parliament, 4
18__: Exotic opera ___ (set in ___ ___), premiered successfully at new opera house in ___
1871, Aida, Ancient Egypt, Cairo
Composed ___ __ ___ in honor of ___ ___, an Italian ___
Messa da Requiem, Alessandro Manzoni, Writer
___ ___, his ___, encouraged Verdi to work with ___, ___ ___. The partnership produced his final triumphs ___ and ___
Giulio Ricordi, Publisher, Librettist, Arrigo Boito, Otello, Falstaff
Died on January 27 ___, of ___. Gave a significant sum of money to a ____ for musicians in ___: The ____
1901, A stroke, Retirement home, Milan, Casa di Riposo per Musicisti
Known as the greatest ___ composer of ___ in the 19th century. Works remain a staple of ____ repertory worldwide
Italian, Opera, Operatic
Influences range from early ___ to ___, from ___, ___, ___, and the Italian works of ___
Opera seria, Opera buffa, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Gioachino Rossini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Opera follows “___” approach where the ___ (or ___) is followed by a series of ___, ___, ___, and ___ alternating to provide ___ and to support the drama
Numbered, Overture, Prelude, Recitatives, Aria, Ensembles, Choruses, Variety
___ and ___ achieved through “___” themes, and recurrent motives such as the ___ motive in ___
Unity, Flow, Signature, Curse, Rigoletto
Colourful ___ and use of ___ ___ to heighten drama. Use of virtuoso ____ arias with soaring ___, spectacular ___, and vivid ___ such as:
Orchestration, Special effects, Coloratura, Melodies, Runs, Ornamentation, Violetta’s extended recitative-aria at the close of La traviata act 1
Favoured traditional ___ harmonic language with moderate use of ___. Arias featured a ___ approach with well-defined ___, and ___ phrasing. Also featured lyrical ___ occasionally reminiscent of ___ ___
Diatonic, Chromaticism, Structured, Sections, Balanced, Melodies, Folk songs
Stirring arias and choruses sometimes conveyed ___ such as in “_ ___” from ___, and libretto selected for ___ possibilities and ___ elements such as ___, ___, ___, ___ and ___
Nationalism, O patriamia, Aida, Dramatic, Human, Love, Passion, Fate, Intrigue, Courage
10 opera based on libretto by ___ ___ ___ and other sources for libretto include writers ___, ___, and ___
Francesco Maria Piave, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, William Shakespeare
