The most important study of the opera, including all known letters and docu-
ments, a performance history (1847–1852) with reprints of articles, and a dis-
cussion of changes made by censors. Marvin has also written a number of
articles, for which see Harwood, p.243–244.Nabucco
ASO86 (1986; 1991; 1994).
- Cancelled entry.
- Parker, Roger. “The Exodus of Nabucco.” In Studies in Early Verdi(#1831),
111–141.
A performance history, with casts and survey of the reviews. Parker notes that
the famous chorus was not singled out at the time as especially notable. See
next item. - Parker, Roger. “Va pensieroand the Insidious Mastery of Song.” In Leonora’s
Last Act(#1808), 20–41.
Links with the Risorgimento have given the opera great external significance.
The chorus Va pensierowas sung at Verdi’s funeral. But no reliable pre–1848
evidence indicates that it was any sort of rallying cry for Italian independence.
The piece “moved fairly uneventfully through a historical period of great polit-
ical tension” and only later “emerged as the representative of that period.”
See also #278.
Oberto
1903.Kimbell, David. “Poi... diventò l’Oberto.” M&L 42 (1971): 1–7.
Genesis: the opera was a revision of the earlier work called Rocester. The auto-
graph and 1839 libretto are compared.- Parker, Roger. “The Autograph Score of Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio.” In
Studies in Early Verdi(#1831), 64–82.
Supports Kimbell’s view that the opera was a refashioned Rocester. A thor-
ough account of the revisions and the compositional process is given.
Otello
ASO3 (1976; 1990), COH (1987), ENOG 7 (1981), Rororo (1981).
- Busch, Hans. Verdi’s “Otello” and “Simon Boccanegra” (Revised Version) in
Letters and Documents.New York: Oxford U.P., 1988. lx, 891p. ISBN 0-19-
313207-9. ML410 .V4 V36.
A valuable compilation of 656 letters and numerous other documents dealing
with the genesis of Otelloand the revision of Simon Boccanegra. Among the
interesting materials are production books, complete with diagrammed stage
directions compiled by Ricordi and the first Iago, Victor Maurel. There is also
a reception account. Bibliography and index.
Giuseppe Verdi 355