Giuseppe Verdi

Italian musician and composer who became known as the Grand Old Man of Italian opera. His first opera, "Oberto," was written at the age of 20 and was followed by 30 more, including "Rigoletto," 1851, La Traviata," 1853, "Aida," 1871 and "Falstaff," 1893.

Verdi's dad was keeper of a tavern and grocery, illiterate and too poor to give his son an education. However the boy showed his musical gift at an early age and attracted the attention of Antonio Barezzi, a merchant who loved music. Barezzi helped Giuseppe with his education. At 18, he went to Milan to study for three years.

Verdi took the post of musical director of Busseto, near his birth village, and in 1836, he married the daughter of his patron, Margherita Barezzi. He had an opera produced in 1839 that was so successful that he was commissioned to compose three more for the Milanese theater.

His work came to a tragic stop, however, when he lost his family. He and his first wife Margherita (who died 18 June 1840) had two children, Virginia (26 March 1837 - 12 August 1838) and Icilio Romano (11 November 1838 - 22 October 1839). His opera "un giorno di regno" was a total flop that was soundly jeered by the audience on 5 September 1840, leaving a lasting psychological imprint on his attitude toward critics and the press. Overcome with despair, he vowed he would never compose again.

Two years later, he reluctantly accepted a commission. The result established his reputation in Italy with the release of "Nabucco," in 1842, taking him to Paris where he lived from 1847-1849.

He returned to Busseto with his mistress, Giuseppina Strepponi. Now a man of some wealth, he purchased Sant'Agata, which was his home for the rest of his life. After a scandal-ridden interlude in which both Verdi and Strepponi seemed reluctant to marry, they finally legalized their union in 1859.

From 1855, Verdi reigned as an international figure and outstanding success.