Verdi: Triumphs and Disappointments Course/Class February 2, 2011

Following the failure of the 1848 revolutions and the collapse of hopes for Italian unification, Verdi turned from patriotic texts to more generalised Romantic subjects, composing three great operas which are still mainstays of every opera houses repertoire Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La traviata. The first two were resounding successes at their premieres, but the third, surprisingly, was a famous fiasco which never achieved success in Verdis lifetime. There were other disappointments too his second opera in French for the Paris Opera, Les Vepres siciliennes, also failed. Nevertheless, it is a period where Verdi really begins to stretch his wings, and the operas of this middle period contain some of his most popular music.

Official Website: http://www.cce.usyd.edu.au/course/vrtd