Verdi’s Operas: An Illustrated Survey of Plots, Characters, Sources, and Criticism

Giuseppe Verdi’s operas have a special place in the hearts of audiences and in music history. They are grand in scale and yet intensely human in their ability to convey the joys and sorrows of ordinary people. Celebrated as a national treasure and venerated for his civic, historical, and musical influence, Verdi enjoyed an enviable and almost uninterrupted success with the public throughout his long lifetime and a corresponding posthumous glory that never seems to wane. In Verdi’s Operas, each of Verdi’s 26 operas is studied in detail, the plots are described act by act, and the works are analysed and placed in the context of history and of the composer’s creative career. The book also examines the literary sources that inspired the maestro’s dramaturgy and presents profiles of the librettists who worked with him at the time. Lavishly illustrated with striking artwork, photos, and scenes from Verdi productions, this book will delight opera buffs and casual readers alike.