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 As I tuned in to one of my favourite local fine-music radio stations, it was the lovely haunting sound of Giuseppe Verdi's "Slaves Chorus" from his highly acclaimed opera, Nabucco, his first major triumph. It was Nabucco (1842) that catapulted his soaring success, much earlier than La Traviata (1853) or even Aida (1871.)
When it comes to opera, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) is considered the most successful and widely performed composer. Granted that he is not given the grand accolade as musical pioneers in the likeness of Mozart or Wagner, Verdi's immortal operas are much a part of the musical scene and what opera is today.
Going back to Nabucco. Before success came to Verdi through this masterpiece, Verdi vowed never ever to write any musical note again. His earlier works failed, and worse, his private life was in ruins after the deaths of his wife and children.
One day, Morelli, the impresario of Milan's La Scala gave him an encouraging passage based on the Bible's Old Testament for inspiration. Verdi won't hear of it. The story has it that weeks later, without knowing why, he decided to look at the biblical poem. The words were about life struggles, the hardships and sufferings of the Israelites in Babylon. Suddenly, inspiration sparked. Verdi started writing one note after another. Before long, Nabucco began to take shape in the hands of the maestro, Giuseppe Verdi.
The rest is history. Verdi's success after Nabucco followed one after another, including later famous works like Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata and Aida, among others.
A tale has it that during his anniversary, birth or death, the sound of Nabucco's "Slaves Chorus" can be heard across the countryside of Italy from the singing of the peasants. Perhaps this is yet the greatest tribute deserving of their Giuseppe Verdi, who communicated his life, his music, through this inspired opera.
Link:
Giuseppe Verdi Raised Opera's Heights
CDs:
CD, Verdi Nabucco, Box Set, Deutsche Grammophon, amazon.com
CD, Verdi Nabucco Highlights, Placido Domingo & Lucia Popp, DG, iClassics.com
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