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Giuseppe Verdi (xilografia). Photo by Disegnatore: A. Cairoli – Incisore: Ernesto Mancastroppa –

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi is considered, together with Richard Wagner, the most important opera composer of the nineteenth century. Throughout his entire life, Verdi wrote operas that are still considered today to be among the very finest in the entire Italian operatic repertoire. More than half of them are in the standard repertory of every opera company today.

1. Three of Verdi鈥檚 operas are constantly among the most performed operas

Picture of Giuseppe Verdi. Photo by Ferdinand Mulnier –

According to statistics on worldwide opera performances, three of Verdi鈥檚 operas, Traviata, Rigoletto, and Aida are constantly among the most performed operas, each accumulating 300 to 400 performances a year worldwide.

2. La Traviata has exceptional music by Verdi

Giacomo Brogi (1822-1881), Portrait of Giuseppe Verdi (croped). Photo by Giacomo Brogi –

Premiered in Italy 160 years ago, La Traviata is based on the successful French Novel 鈥楾he Lady of the Camellias written by Alexandre Dumas. The tragic love story and fascinating characters, with the exceptional music by Verdi, made the opera a great success from its start.

Even in our days, La Traviata remains the world鈥檚 most-performed opera.

3. 鈥楻igoletto鈥� is one of the most famous arias

Maria Carrara Verdi, Barberina Strepponi, Giuseppe Verdi, Giuditta Ricordi, Teresa Stolz, Umberto Campanari, Giulio Ricordi, Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1900) – Archivio storico Ricordi FOTO003107 – Restoration. Photo by Giulio Rossi, Sant’Agata, 1900 –

The tenor aria 鈥楲a donna e mobile from 鈥楻igoletto鈥� is one of the most famous arias ever written for an opera, and is familiar even to people who never listen to opera.

4. Verdi sat at the piano and played a few excerpts for鈥業l Trovatore鈥�

Il primo ritratto che Boldini consacr貌 a Giuseppe Verdi, oggi custodito presso la Casa Verdi a Milano. Photo by Giovanni Boldini, Giuseppe Verdi –

Legend has it that when Verdi was finishing up his opera 鈥業l Trovatore鈥�, a famous critic stopped by. Verdi sat at the piano and played a few excerpts for him.

鈥淲hat do you think?鈥� Verdi asked.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 terrible,鈥� the critic replied

鈥淲ell, what about this?鈥� Verdi asked as he played another fragment.

鈥淩ubbish鈥� came the response.

鈥淎nd this?鈥� At which point Verdi played the now-famous 鈥淒i Quella Pira鈥�

鈥淗orrible!鈥� said the great critic as he covered his ears.

Verdi jumped up from the piano and thanked the critic, saying,鈥� I鈥檝e been writing an opera for the people of Italy not for purists like you. If you hate it, that means the whole world will whistle and play it all over Italy!鈥�

Verdi was right!

5. Verdi decided to compose a String Quartet piece

Verdi by Giovanni Boldini. Photo by Giovanni Boldini –

In the spring of 1873 during a production of Aida in Naples, Verdi decided to compose a String Quartet piece, his only known chamber music work. The piece was informally premiered in his hotel room to a small audience.

Verdi commented on the work, saying 鈥淚鈥檝e written a Quartet in my leisure moments in Naples. I had it performed one evening in my house, without attaching the least importance to it and without inviting anyone in particular.

Only the seven or eight persons who usually come to visit me were present. I don鈥檛 know whether the Quartet is beautiful or ugly, but I do know that it鈥檚 a Quartet!鈥� Despite Verdi鈥檚 humble words, his String Quartet in E minor is valued among the great classical chamber works of the 19th century.

6. Verdi鈥檚 music was used in hundreds of film scores

GIUSEPPE VERDI. Photo unattributed –

Verdi鈥檚 music was used in hundreds of film scores. One of the most famous scenes is from Pretty Woman when Richard Gere takes Julia Roberts to the opera.

 The opera they see, La Traviata, is not such a coincidence since it is the story of a courtesan falling in love with one of her suiters, a theme reflected in the film鈥檚 characters. Scenes from Act I, II, and III are featured.

7. Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner are both considered the greatest operatic composers of all time

Giuseppe Verdi, Portraitphotographie mit eigenh盲ndiger Widmung, Genua. Photo by Achille Ferrario, Milano (1856-1908) –

Born only a few months apart, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner are both considered the greatest operatic composers of all time. Although the two composers never met, there was a known rivalry between them.

Here is a fun animated video showing the glory of each composer:

8. The slogan Viva Verdi was used as an acronym for Viva Vittorio Emanuele Re D鈥橧talia

Portrait of Giuseppe Verdi, componist (1813-1901). Photo by Pietro Tempestini –

During the struggle for Italian independence, the slogan Viva Verdi was used as an acronym for Viva Vittorio Emanuele Re D鈥橧talia (Long Live Victor Emmanuel King of Italy), playing on the famous Italian opera composer鈥檚 name.

9. Verdi was also a big food fan

Portrait of Giuseppe Verdi, componist (1813-1901). Photo by Pietro Tempestini –

Besides being one of the most famous and respected composers, Verdi was also a big food fan and he loved Italian traditional dishes from his area. His favorite one was a traditional pork product named Spalla Cotta Di San Secundo.

The composer used to send this delicious ham to his friends all over the world from his villa in Sant鈥橝gata.

10. Giuseppe Verdi鈥檚 funeral in 1901 remains the largest public assembly

Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). Photographer unknown, year unknown (ca. 1850?). Photo unattributed –

Giuseppe Verdi鈥檚 funeral in 1901 remains the largest public assembly of any event in the history of Italy. During it, Arturo Toscanini conducted the 鈥楥horus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco accompanied by a huge orchestra and choir composed of musicians from throughout the country.