Verdi’s middle period 1849–1859: Source studies, analysis and d by Martin Chusid

Abstract

This is an extensive volume covering aspects of Verdi's operatic production during the period indicated in the book's title—the period which witnessed the appearance of his first universally celebrated operas, Rigoletto (1851), II trovatore (1853), and La traviata (1853), as well as Luisa Miller (1849), Stiffelio (1850—reworked as Araldo in 1857),Les Vépres siciliennes (I vespri siciliani ) (1855), Simon Boccanegra (first version 1857), and Un ballo in maschera (1859). However, it should be stated at the outset that this book is not a detailed narrative study of Verdi's middle-period operatic development (this has already been covered in numerous publications anyway) but rather a series of separate studies by a number of Verdi scholars on highly specific aspects of the composer's work at this time. Most of these studies had their origins in a selection of papers delivered at the International Verdi Congress in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March 1993—and there is also a major essay by Harold Powers originally planned as a paper for the Belfast Congress but not delivered owing to the author's inability to attend.