1826.Verdi: A Documentary Study. Comp., ed., and trans. William Weaver. London:
Thames & Hudson, 1977. 256p. ISBN 0-500-01184-2. ML410 .V4 V29.
A fine assemblage of 118 illustrations, 54 in color—pages from scores, pictures
of documents, and of all Verdi’s persons and places, sets, and costumes. Also
an annotated selection of letters. Index of names and titles.- Pauls, Birgit. Giuseppe Verdi und das Risorgimento: Ein politischer Mythos
im Prozess der Nationenbildung. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1996. 353p. ISBN
3-05-003013-5. ML410 .V4 P18.
Based on the author’s dissertation, U. of Frankfurt, 1996. A revisionist view of
Verdi’s long-acclaimed role in the Italian unification movement, finding the so-
called political messages of the operas illusory. There were social themes in the
texts, however, and Verdi as a person did take part in political life (he served as
a senator). The whole Risorgimento movement is carefully presented. Bibliog-
raphy, name index. - Phillips-Matz, Mary Jane. Verdi: A Biography. New York: Oxford U.P., 1993.
xxx, 941p. ISBN 0-19-313204-4. ML410 .V4 P43.
A strong life and works, the longest in English, drawing on archival and little-
known sources. Family background and youth are stressed, as well as Verdi’s
relationships with women. Verdi’s composing is approached from a business
viewpoint. The book is scholarly and sensible, without dramatization. - Basevi, Abramo. Studio sulle opere di Verdi. Florence: Tofani, 1859. xi, 324p.
ML410 .V53 B3.
Consists of 20 chapters, one on each opera up to Aroldo. Determines that
Verdi was an eclectic composer who drew upon the styles of Rossini,
Donizetti, the French school, and even (in Simon Boccanegra) the German
school. Expansive index. See Powers (#1852) and Parker (#1853) for discus-
sions related to Basevi’s book.
See also NGDO4, 932–953, the most up-to-date biography, by Roger Parker, and
New Grove Masters of Italian Opera (#2480), a fine study by Andrew Porter.
Operas in General
- Budden, Julian. The Operas of Verdi. Rev. ed. New York: Oxford U.P., 1992.
3v. ISBN 88-7063-038-2; 88-7063-042-0; 88-7063-058-7. ML410 .V4 B88.
First edition, 1973–1981. This edition is only slightly altered; in fact, Budden
refers to it in the preface as a reprint. Some corrections are made passim, and
there is some updating in the notes. It remains the most satisfactory commen-
tary on the operas, presenting historical and technical viewpoints in great
detail, with ample reference to earlier research. Strong sections explicate the
opera scene of Verdi’s time. Relevant letters are given (in English only). The
operas are analyzed, with about 1,000 musical examples to illustrate the argu-
ments. On the negative side, Budden reveals a blind spot toward macroanaly-
sis (tonal, structural), which leaves him uncertain about an opera’s formal
plan. And the bibliography—unchanged from the first edition—is a disap-
342 Opera