Giuseppe Verdi (jyu-SEP-ee   VARE-dee)

Born October 9 or 10, 1813 near Busseto, Italy

Died January 27, 1901

Nationality: Italian

Period/Style: Romantic

About the composer:

Giuseppi Verdi was one of the greatest and most famous Italian opera composers.  By the age of ten he had a full-time job as an organist in the village where he lived. When he was a teenager he took jobs in other towns, and he would walk six miles, in all kinds of weather, to get to work. Verdi wrote music for choir, but mainly for opera. He made lots of money doing this, and later he used some of the money to buy a farm. He loved animals! Besides farm animals, he had cats, parrots, peacocks, and a spaniel named “Loulou.”  He also became a senator in the Italian legislature and he tried to convince the Italian government that they should provide free musical education in the schools.

About the music:

Triumphal March from the opera “Aida”  (I-EE-da)(approx. 5 min)

Aida was written to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal.  The story is set in Egypt under the rule of the Pharoahs.  It is known as Grand Opera, with over a hundred performers, beautiful music, big ceremonial scenes, and lots of drama. Sometimes when an opera company produces this opera, they bring in live elephants!  The march you’ll hear is very grand and stately.

Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from “Nabucco” (na-BOO-koh) (approx. 5 min)

The story of Nabucco is set in Jerusalem around 500 B.C.  The terrified Jews in captivity in Babylon, and they fear the cruel Babylonian king, Nabucco. They sing of their fear as they await their fate in captivity, but also of their faith, unity and courage which overcomes their fear.

Suggested activities:

Find the Suez Canal and find out why it was built, and when it opened for the first time.

Discover what this composer’s name would be in English.