Transcript Giuseppe Verdi - cloudfront.net




Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) is called
the greatest Italian opera composer
of the Late Romantic period.
Verdi was part of the “Verismo”
(realism) movement that began
writing music for the mass public
rather than the elite rich. Verismo
operas had more realistic plots and
music that expressed extremes of
emotions: love, jealousy, hate, etc.
Most of Verdi’s famous operas –
Rigoletto, La Traviata, Aida, Otello, etc. – are more
serious and end unhappily.



Verdi was involved with the Italian
unification movement (risorgimento)
that was trying to take Italy back
from foreign powers (France and
Austria) and unite it one nation.
Even his name was used by
nationalists as a coded rallying cry:
At his operas, nationalists yelled
“Viva Verdi!” which was actually
an acronym for Victor Emmanuel,
Re Di Italia. (King of Italy)
After the Italian War of Independence in 1861, Verdi
served as a member of the new parliament for 4 years.



Verdi’s first successful opera
Nabucco follows the biblical story
of the Jews being defeated and
exiled by King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon.
Italian Nationalists likened their
own situation to the exiled Jews
and used the opera to rally support.
The famous “Chorus of the
Hebrew Slaves” became so popular
for the Italian cause that it is now the unofficial anthem
of Italy and is frequently sung by the public at national
events.



Fly, my thoughts, on wings of gold;
Go settle upon the slopes and the hills,
where, soft and mild, the sweet airs
of our native land smell fragrant!
Greet the banks of the Jordan
and Zion's toppled towers...
Oh, my country, so beautiful and lost!
Oh, remembrance, so dear and so fatal!
Golden harp of the prophetic seers,
why dost thou hang mute upon the willow?
Rekindle our bosom's memories,
and speak to us of times gone by!



Mindful of the fate of Jerusalem,
give forth a sound of crude lamentation,
or may the Lord inspire you a harmony of voices
which may instill virtue to suffering.
As you watch the video of this song, notice the
expressions of the chorus on the stage. Do they fit the
words they are singing?
https://youtu.be/rUUVnJjkcAM?t=23s