1 What did you do as a kid? I mean, what made you interested in composition?
As a kid, I led a rather poor life. Frugal would be a nice way to put it. My parents ran a grocery store and a tavern. Perhaps our money went more into supporting the business than it did in living in gold, but we didn't have that much to begin with. My parents were really clueless about culture, and I'm sure they were illiterate. We went to churches rather often, remembering the terrible event that happened when I went to my first church. I didn't make it up, really. I loved the sound of the church organ, and I wanted to play one, make even more beautiful pieces.
My dad, doing his best to support my love of music despite not having enough money, brought home an old, beat up spinet. I was saddened by how beat up it was, but I'm aware that we couldn't afford better. We just have enough to live each day, so he must have saved his money to get the spinet. In retrospect, I should've been a little more grateful, but I was only seven at that point. Two years later, Cavalletti, a harpsichord player, looked at the spinet, and frowned, fixing it for us, at no cost. He said it was for, “the good disposition of young Giuseppe Verdi for learning to play this instrument.” (Giuseppe-Verdi.net) In other words, that the effort I took to play the spinet made it worth his time to fix it.
2 Did you have anyone teach you, or were you self-taught?
I had several people teach me throughout my rather long life, beginning with the village organist, Pietro Baistrocchi. If I remember right, I exceeded his skills at about eleven, making thirty-six francs a year. (Music with Ease)
As they said, I had this "good disposition" which led me Ferdinando to Provesi’s music school near Busetto in 1823, becoming an assistant conductor of Busetto's orchestra two years later. (Giuseppe-Verdi.net)
At Busseto there was a musical amateur named Barezzi. He seemed to like me, and opened his door to me in his warehouse, and allowed me to practice on his piano straight from Vienna. There was a girl there who I tutored and we fell in love, had kids, both dying in 1840, and she died weeks later. I suppose it must be my fault, the marriage feeling somewhat rushed. (Music with Ease)
3 Before you graced the world with your operas, what were most operas like?
Are you perhaps implying that the world of operas were turned upside down by my existence? A rather amusing thought, I'd say. Operas are still best described in two words as musical dramas, as they have been since their birth. I was simply one of the better known writers of Opera during their "Golden Age." Sometimes called one of the leaders during this time. (Essentials of music) It's flattering, and I will not take your time to deny it, as there is basis in the statements.
Operas are relatively profitable, since many people, rich or poor can attend. My first opera had failed, being asked to write a comedy soon after my dear wife's death. They had no effect. I vowed to write nothing too light, except for my last work, Falstaff. It was a successful plan, seeing as I became known as one of the leading faces of the golden age of operas.
4 Did politics, culture, and government help or hurt you?
Operas are perfect places to voice your opinions about the world, I hope you realize. In the third part of Nabucco, my first success in opera had quite a lot of political subtext.
For Italians in 1842, the situation of the Israelites in Egypt was my reference to Italy's distress under Austrian domination, and this chorus became a mob crying for the Risorgiamento, the struggle for an independent Italy. (UChicago Press) Because of that, I became an honorary senator for a full year. I had managed to help make a nationalist Italy. (Classical Composers Suite 101)
5 What did you do that was so great?
People really are unaware? They must have lived in a lonely cave, never going to school once in their life. Then again, I suppose music isn't as much a part of our education as it should be, making uncultured people. Very well, though.
I composed operas, writing the plot as well. If you were to go to the music section of a bookstore, you could likely find books of them in a neat stack. My first opera was Operto, Conte di San Bonifacio, my last being Falstaff. My early works were typical operas, but my later works became much more Shakespearian in nature.
I was considered one of the greatest opera composers in Italy, so I consider that an accomplishment.
6 What were some turning points in your life that changed your career?
Well, most of my Operas around 1840 were used so I could continue music. At the time, I was so poor, I had to pawn my wife's goods just to eat. (Giuseppe-Verdi.net) Of course, that all changed when I created Nabucco. I've heard that is still played in theaters today.
I had become an honorary senator with the showing of Nabucco, the chorus of the Hebrew slaves becoming Italy's unofficial second anthem. Though I wasn't so active as a senator, slightly perplexed, really, I enjoyed it for the year it was. (Classical Composers Suite 101)
7 Did you do anything to be famous?
Indeed, to take the title as one of the greatest Italian composers, I had to work for my fame. After the comedy I wrote had failed, I began to write plenty of dramas. People seemed to love it, but I had to make each piece more and more dramatic than the last. (Cosmopolis)
My work was rather well earned though, in my eyes, though. I didn't need to bribe my way to fame, unlike many famous people today. Composing operas was not all I did. I composed quite a few instrumental orchestras, which includes the String Quartet in E. (Oxford University)
8 What stacks of lead did you break to become an artist?
At a certain point, as I have said, my works were all a bust. I attribute that to the fact that I had accepted an offer to make a comedic opera after my wife and children died. (Karadar) Thus, I decided never again to create a comedy, though Falstaff changed that. (Karadar)
I didn't go through as much difficulty as some musicians did, but I was very busy my whole time. Finding costume designers, Actors and Actresses, finding the best musicians, and finding the best audience was all difficult. There was an instance when I went to Britain, performing Nabacco, which was previously successful, only for those Britains to hate it. I vowed never to go there for a concert again, but I went once more, fool that I am, but the piece was successful! (Essentials of music) Finally, I often had bad health during my active periods. (Cosmopolis)
9 What were your limitations?
To begin with, my first comedy, a One Day Reign, failed miserably. My wife and kids had died, and I foolishly accepted an offer for the comedy. I would have never continued on, but I decided to try once again with Nabacco. I was proud of my success, and being able to show my views as a proud Italian. (Karadar)
Another limitation in my life was the censorship from those Austrians. I hate censorship more than anything. It prevents freedom from being expressed in any shape or form, and the way it tries to justify itself is sickening. I spent a whole decade against censorship, writing what I could, getting others to my side. As you can see, I am a very pro-active person. If I have a problem, I'd rather show it, and go against it, rather than continue being a doormat. (Giuseppe-Verdi.net)
10 Tell a story about your success.
Very well. I had uneducated parents, but my dad encouraged my education. Thus, I was training under priests before I was four, and at seven, when my dad got me that Spinet, I already had a job as a substitute church organist. At nine, I became the official church organist. In other words, I was a child prodigy. (Cosmopolis)
Of course, my best works came much, much later. Regardless of when you begin music, you can become amazing. What you require is effort. I've heard of people call Falstaff one of the most impressive works they have heard from me. In addition, when you are young, you may not even be able to play an organ, with how small you are. As you grow, you gain an ear for music, and the body for music. I strongly believe Falstaff to be much greater than Nabacco. (Stanford)
Works Cited
"Composers." Essentials of Music. Web. 07 Mar. 2010.
"Giuseppe Verdi Biography | Giuseppe Verdi." Giuseppe Verdi. Web. 04 Mar. 2010.
"Giuseppe Verdi." Cosmopolis Magazin Magazine Index Deutsch English Fran. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.
"Giuseppe Verdi." OperaGlass. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.
"Giuseppe Verdi Raised Heights of Opera: Greatest 19th Century Italian Composer of the Opera." Classical Composers. Web. 08 Mar. 2010.
"Giuseppe Verdi: the Life." Parma: the Best of Parma. Web. 07 Mar. 2010.
"Giuseppe Verdi 1813-1901." The Musical Times. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.
"Life of Giuseppe Verdi." Music With Ease. Web. 07 Mar. 2010.
Rosselli, John. The Life of Verdi. New York: Cambridge UP, 2000.
"Verdi Tribute - Karadar." Karadar Classical Music World - Karadar Classical Music World. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.
"The Works of Giuseppe Verdi, Series I: Operas." University of Chicago Press, Books. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.
