Most famous of Italian opera composers, writer of some its most familiar melodies – “La donna è mobile” (Rigoletto) the Brindisi in La traviata and the “Anvil” chorus from Il Trovatore, parodied in A Night at the Opera – Giuseppe Verdi was born 10 October 1813 at Romcole, near Busseto in the Duchy of Parma, and died in Milan 27 January 1901. He began opera-writing in 1836 in Busseto. The first opera by which he became known, Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio, was put on at Milan, 1839, followed by Un giorno de regno (1840), his only comedy until Falstaff (Milan 1893). The contrast with Rossini is striking. Popularity came with Nabucco (Milan, 1842), to a libretto by Temistocle Solera (1815-1878) who specialized in theatrical effects. Its unison chorus “Va pensiero”, sung by the exiled...
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Citation: Tambling, Jeremy. "Giuseppe Verdi". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 March 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4534, accessed 10 June 2026.]
