Unlike German lieder, Verdi's songs focus on creating a 'scene' with song, balancing atmosphere with pure musical inventiveness, rather than tracing every spiritual nuance.
Compositional Technique
Verdi's early Romances, such as "Non t'accostare all'urna," feature typical figures, simple arpeggiated chord accompaniments, and 'fear' tremoli, reminiscent of operatic stage settings.
Composition History
The first volume of Verdi's six Romances was published in 1838, before the successful Milan debut of his first opera, Oberto.
Performer Biography
Friedrich Haider, the pianist on this album, was praised by Maestro James Levine for his inspiring debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York with Verdi's Rigoletto in 2006.
Composer Biography
Giuseppe Verdi, the composer of these lieder, is primarily known for his two dozen operas, having composed only about as many songs.
Composition History
Verdi's "Stornello" was composed in 1867 to help his long-time librettist Francesco Maria Piave, who had suffered a stroke, as part of a planned benefit album.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Verdi, as quoted in Franz Werfel's novel, believed Italian music was based on the 'free, vibrant sound of the voice, on song, only on song,' unlike German music's reliance on tempered instruments.
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