Verdi's ballet music gave new impetus to the genre through catchy melodies, lively rhythms, chromatic effects, vivid gestures, and incredibly colorful orchestration.
Composition History
The Paris Opéra had a strict convention requiring an extensive dance interlude, known as a divertissement, to be included in the third act of a grand opéra.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Munich at BR Studio 1 across several sessions between October 2022 and February 2024.
Historical Context
In 19th-century Italian opera, ballets were typically separate works performed between or after the opera, often with little connection to the main production.
Composer Biography
Verdi composed the most opera ballets for the Paris Opéra, creating seven divertissements between 1847 and 1894 for various operas, including 'Aida' and 'Otello'.
Performer Biography
Ivan Repušić, the conductor on this album, is the chief conductor of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester and has previously conducted a cycle of early and rarely performed Verdi operas.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Italian opera composers, including Verdi, often reluctantly submitted to the French preference for extensive dance interludes, finding it a difficult task to integrate them meaningfully.
