Verdi: Essential Works for Beginners

Verdi: Essential Works for Beginners

Requiem
Rigoletto
Aida

[dennischiapello]

Another virtue of Rigoletto is that its dramatic structure is clean and compact, and the music is the perfect expression of each moment along the way. There are no problematic spots or need for cuts, etc. It's perfect as is.

[murraylow]

When I glanced at this, I thought it was terribly minimalist. But then I thought about it, and you’re exactly right.

[Warp]

I’ve only just begun to get into Verdi. I started with Rigoletto & La Traviata :) liked them a lot.

[bbailey]

A good entry point strategy, I agree. These days, Traviata seems to be the most popular Verdi opera so that might be the place to go for No.4. Of the rip-roaring, rough and ready, incredibly energetic early works, you can't go wrong with Nabucco.

[ezekielthiessen]

1:28 Personally, I find the tutti chromatic scale (including all the brass!) in the Sanctus of Verdi's Requiem quite humorous.

[MichaelCattermole]

Absolutely spot on Dave, you've nailed it in a very elegantly expressed nutshell. But what is more, so many other treasures await for those folk who decide to explore and expand their experience of Verdi further - indeed, they have a multitude of masterpieces to look forward to. All in all Il Trovatore is my favourite on account of its consistently inspired musical invention and powerful dramatic impulse, even though the narrative is far fetched to say the least - but then it wouldn't be alone in that, would it?

[dmntuba]

Don't forget Eric Kunzel, "Verdi Without Words!"
If nothing else it's just fun 👍

[jeffheller]

Idea for a tee shirt: "I Like Tchaik"