1. Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi
October 9 or 10, 1813 – January 27, 1901

2. Bio
Born in Italy
When he showed early talent, a music-loving grocer paid for his music education.
Verdi was one of the greatest opera composers who ever lived, and one of the few composers to die rich and famous!

3. Political Climate of the Day
Back then, Italy was not a united country, and a lot of it was under Austrian rule. Nabucco, one of the earliest operas that Verdi wrote, included a chorus of Hebrew slaves longing for their country "so beautiful and lost." Italians latched onto Verdi's "Chorus of Hebrew Slaves" as an unofficial anthem for a nation that wasn’t even born yet.

4. Political Climate of the Day
Verdi and his music became part of the Italian struggle for independence. Even his name became a political statement. The letters V-E-R-D-I are the first letters of the phrase "Vittorio Emanuele, Rei D'Italia," which translates to "Victor Emanuel, King of Italy."

5. Political Climate of the Day
Victor Emanuel was the man Italians wanted to be their ruler. When Italians shouted "Viva Verdi (long live Verdi)!" their Austrian rulers didn't know that they were talking politics, not opera, because the Austrians knew how much the Italians loved opera.

6. Famous Operas Rigoletto La donna è mobile La Traviata
Premiered on March 11, 1851, Venice (Italy)
Andrea Bocelli sings
La Traviata
Premiered in Venice in 1853
One of the most produced operas of all time
The original premiere of the work was initially considered a “fiasco” by Verdi himself.