Verdi's People and Works

Question 1

Ferdinando Provesi

Answer 1

First musical teacher in Busseto, a church musician and director of the municipal music school and local philharmonic society

Question 2

Antonio Barezzi

Answer 2

Wealthy merchant and amateur musician whose household Verdi stayed in in Busseto and his greatest financial supporter

Question 3

Margherita Barezzi

Answer 3

Daughter of Antonio Barezzi who Verdi taught singing and piano to. They were married in 1836

Question 4

Giuseppina Strepponi

Answer 4

Opera singer whom he met in 1847 and married as his 2nd wife after Margherita died

Question 5

King Victor Emmanuel

Answer 5

The King would who reunited Italy under the rising tide of Italian nationalism and Verdi

Question 6

Alessandro Manzoni

Answer 6

Writer whom Verdi wrote the Messa da Requiem for

Question 7

Arrigo Boito, Giulio Ricordi

Answer 7

Librettist recommended by the publisher Giulio for Verdi to work with and produced final works Otello and Falstaff together

Question 8

Roncole

Answer 8

Italian city of birth in 1813

Question 9

Busseto

Answer 9

Italian city of musical upbringing and where he stayed and met the Barezzis. Also directed the local philharmonic society and gave private lessons there

Question 10

Milan

Answer 10

Italian city where Verdi worked as a composer, and conductor at the Piccolo Scala, adjacent to the La Scala opera house. Stayed there from 1839 until death in 1901

Question 11

Casa di Riposo per Musicisti

Answer 11

Reitrement home for musicians that Verdi gave funding towards after his death

Question 12

Chamber:

Answer 12

1 string quartet

Question 13

Vocal:

Answer 13

Works such as Messa da Requiem, sacred choral work, solo songs

Question 14

Opera:

Answer 14

28, including Macbeth, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, La traviata, Un ballo in maschera, La forza del destino, Don Carlos, Aida, Otello, Falstaff