Many of the operas on this album were written before the 1848 'March Uprising' that shook the Habsburg Empire, an event that made liberty and a united Italy seem within reach.
Composition History
Verdi often had to compose new operas at a rapid pace, sometimes writing five or six operas in as many months, in contrast to Richard Wagner's 28 years for 'The Ring'.
Composer Biography
Verdi's musical education was rudimentary, and he was rejected by the conservatory in Milan, but his patron Antonio Barezzi supported his talent.
Composer Biography
Giuseppe Verdi, born Joseph Fortunin François Verdi, was the son of poor farmers in French-controlled Italy in 1813.
Cultural Impact
After Italy's unification in 1861, Verdi became a symbol of the young country, with 'Viva V.E.R.D.I.' slogans representing 'Vittorio Emanuele Ré D'Italia'.
Interpretation
Héctor Sandoval, the tenor on this album, chose arias from Verdi's earlier works, and often the original versions, to showcase Verdi's fresh and uninhibited vocal writing.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Verdi believed that orchestral music was a 'German thing' and that Italians should focus on vocal music, as expressed when he declined to lead the Milan Concert Society.
