Giuseppe Verdi is the central figure of 19th-century Italian opera, a composer whose melodies are sung by the whole world. He raised opera to the summit of dramatic truth, combining mighty theatricality with a genius melodic gift and a deep understanding of human passions.
He composed over twenty operas, among them the immortal “Rigoletto,” “La traviata,” “Il trovatore,” “Aida,” and “Otello,” as well as the majestic “Requiem.” The chorus of the slaves “Va, pensiero” from the opera “Nabucco” came to be regarded as an unofficial anthem of the Italians' struggle for freedom and unification (the extent of this in Verdi's time is debated by historians) — and so Verdi is honoured not only as a genius of music but as a symbol of national revival. His operas are the foundation of the world operatic repertoire, and his melodies the heritage of all humanity.
