Born into the Roman Catholic Verdi family (during the Napoleonic War period) was their first and only son, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi. Giuseppe was born October 10, 1813, in the city of Le Roncole (near Busseto, Italy). His father and mother, Carlo Verdi and Luigia Uttini, were innkeepers.
Young Giuseppe grew to love music from the sounds of the old church organ just a few feet from his home. After years of begging, his father broke down and purchased an old spinet on which eight year old Giuseppe was able to take lessons and practice. In 1825, just four years later at the age of 12, Giuseppe became the church organist.
A more serious study of music began when he was taught by Antonio Barezzi, a merchant of Busseto and his future father-in-law; he was quickly introduced to the best musical society. He later took lessons from the accomplished Giovanni Provesi (head of the local philharmonic society). At the age of 15, Verdi wrote his first symphony. Giuseppe had only one other sibling, a younger sister, Giuseppa. Born in 1816, she only lived to 1833, when she died at the age of 17, just before the launching of her brother’s career. In 1834, while rehearsing “Haydn's Creation” the conductor became ill and Verdi was asked to step in. Sitting at the piano, Verdi played with one hand and conducted with the other. The musicians were so impressed, Verdi was asked to conduct their performance, which went extremely well and Verdi became a success at the age of 21.
True happiness for Giuseppe Verdi began with the marriage of his wife, Margherita Barezzi, on May 4, 1836. Ten months later, they both were exuberant with the birth of their daughter, Virginia, who was born March 26, 1837. One year and four months later, they were joined by a baby boy, Icilio (born July 11, 1838). What joy they felt. Verdi’s family was growing, and life was going well. (Little did they know that in one month’s time, things would drastically change.)
Verdi’s Opera: Rigoletto
Act I
A grossly deformed hunchback, Rigoletto, works as a court jester for the Duke of Mantua and does anything the Duke asks of him. The handsome Duke has a reputation of ordering the speedy execution of his enemies, as well as seducing any woman he chooses on a whim. He went to far, however, when he seduced the daughter of Count Monterone.
When the angry Count bursts into the court to denounce the Duke, he is quickly arrested and sentenced to death; all the while Rigoletto is in the act of mocking him. Before he is carried away, the Count leaves a
verbal curse which is specifically addressed to Rigoletto. Feeling remorse, Rigoletto returns home to spend
time with his beautiful 16 year old daughter, Gilda, who has been kept hidden from the knowledge of the
Duke and his court. Unbeknownst to him, his daughter and the Duke have already met and she likes him.
Meanwhile, the courtiers devise a detailed strategy to kidnap Gilda (thinking she was Rigoletto’s mistress), using the aid of Rigoletto. Unsuspecting, because he had been told they were kidnaping a neighbor’s daughter, Rigoletto helped with the plan. As time passes, Rigoletto realizes what he’s done and is overcome,as he remembers Monterone’s curse.
Act II
Back at the palace, the courtiers inform the Duke of their abduction of Gilda. Delighted, the Duke goes to Gilda and seduces her. Distraught, but trying to act indifferent, Rigoletto enters the palace in search for his...
* A Glossary is provided for further explanation of musical terms.
