The Works of Italian Composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

FAIN: RQ-266224-19

University of Chicago (Chicago, IL 60637-5418)
Francesco Izzo (Project Director: December 2018 to present)

Preparation for print publication of a critical edition and score of the opera La trouvère and a collection of early works by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), as well as editorial work on four additional volumes. (36 months)

The Works of Giuseppe Verdi makes available to scholars and performers reliable editions of the music of a major historical figure. It includes operas at the core of the repertory, e.g., Rigoletto, Il trovatore, La traviata, Otello, and Falstaff, as well as the Messa da Requiem and other non-operatic works. Seventeen out of thirty-four titles are now in print, with three more appearing in 2019-2022 and a target completion year of 2040. Entirely based on original sources, the edition produces musical scores freed from inauthentic interventions that have become the standard for performance and recording worldwide. It also presents detailed histories of the works—from composition, to early performance, to broader cultural influence up to the present day. Greeted with acclaim since its inception, the edition brings audiences closer to a full understanding of Verdi’s works and upholds for scholars and performers a new level of probity in a repertory that previously suffered neglect.

Associated Products

Un giorno di regno (Book)
Title: Un giorno di regno
Author: Giuseppe Verdi
Editor: Francesco Izzo
Abstract: Un giorno di regno, which premiered at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala in September 1840, is Verdi’s second opera and one of only two comedies (with Falstaff) ever written by the composer. Rooted in Felice Romani’s libretto Il finto Stanislao, Un giorno di regno experienced a tumultuous history: the opera’s first performance was poorly received, a result that has been often attributed to a personal tragedy—the sudden death of his first wife—that befell Verdi during the work’s composition. Research for this edition, however, reveals that Verdi worked on it with the utmost care. In recent times, new audiences have embraced revivals of Un giorno di regno, and the opera is now celebrated as a fine expression of Verdi’s robust style, offering enticing glimpses into the world of comedy at mid-century. This critical edition, based on Verdi’s autograph manuscript, offers the first publication of the opera in full score. Editor Francesco Izzo contextualizes Un giorno di regno in his introductory discussion of the work’s origins, sources, and performances. In addition, appendices provide alternative musical readings and reconstruct lost versions of segments of the musical numbers, while the critical commentary explores editorial problems and answers.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo8281632.html
Primary URL Description: Home page for the publication on University of Chicago Press website
Publisher: University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi
Type: Scholarly Edition
ISBN: 9780226388786
Copy sent to NEH?: Yes

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