Giuseppe Verdi was born on 10 October 1813 from a humble family from Roncole di Busseto which is now called Roncole Verdi in his honor. One of the greatest musicians in history saw the light not far from Parma which was then under French rule.
As a child, Verdi showed great musical talent, and in the early days his teacher was the town organist, Don Pietro Baistrocchi. The old and shabby spinet on which he practiced when he was not helping in the family tavern still remains a symbol.
Even then, the tuner who repaired the spinet, struck by the boy's talent, wanted to affix a small plaque, which would remain for future reference.
Giuseppe Verdi and his mentor Barezzi
Giuseppe Verdi's life changed very soon with the decisive meeting of his life with his pygmalion Barezzi, who would always have believed blindly in him. From the age of twelve he went to Busseto, the good Barezzi began to help him economically, continuing for a very long time. Giuseppe Verdi attended the gymnasium, without ever neglecting music with the teacher Provesi, director of the Philharmonic and Latin Society with the canon Seletti. His parents would have liked him to be an organist in the village, but Barezzi, urged Verdi to study again, by integrating a scholarship with an appropriate income. At nineteen he tried to enter the Conservatory, but was rejected because, according to the examiners, he had a serious defect in setting.
Barezzi again intervened subsidizing him in his studies with the harpsichord teacher of the Scala Vincenzo Lavigna. In 1835 Giuseppe Verdi married Barezzi's daughter, with whom he had two children and moved to Milan.
From the mess tin to La Traviata
For Giuseppe Verdi began a troubled career with a first contract with the publishing house Remember as a composer. With mixed fortunes one of his works, A day of reign, a comic subject was heavily booed and canceled. Both his wife and children died and the despair completely enveloped the Busseto musician. Once again Barezzi intervened and urged him on, while Giuseppe Verdi was contemplating abandoning music forever. Thanks also to the decisive support of the famous singer Giuseppina Strepponi who decided to sing a Verdi opera, the doors of success finally opened wide. From Nabucco, to I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata, Ernani, and then I due Foscari, Giovanna d'Arco, Alzira, Attila, Macbeth, Verdi passed from success to success.
Both in Italy and abroad, with works such as Luisa Miller, Giuseppe Verdi finally saw his works represented in theaters from all over Europe.
Verdi philanthropist loved by all
Giuseppe Verdi knew how much he owed to his father-in-law Barezzi and was always infinitely grateful, since without him he would never have been successful.. He later married Strepponi with whom he had lived for ten years and they moved to Sant'Agata, near Busseto. His most loved works saw the light as Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, The Sicilian Vespers, Simon Boccanegra, and a masked ball. After the opera The force of Destiny, Giuseppe Verdi slowed down his work, even though he composed the Don Carlos, and Aida. In Verdi's production we also remember one Requiem Mass for Alessandro Manzoni and returned to Milano, he composed Otello, and Falstaff.
Verdi, however, had not forgotten the campaign, to which he devoted himself for a long time, even if politics tugged at him. In his life he was elected councilor in the council of the province of Piacenza, and became a member of the first Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy and was a senator.
Verdi in the twentieth century
That country boy in him didn't like politics. He had a hospital built, and one property resting place for musicians that still exists and hosts not only old artists, but also young students. Giuseppe Verdi died in Milan on January 27, 1901. Under his rooms, on the public street, the citizens scattered straw, so that the carriages passing by would not disturb him.
Busseto's musical genius and his music are represented all over the world. The greatest musician in history, author of unique musical pages and timeless melodramas, still carries our pride in the world.
