7 Richard Wagner 7

performance in the new Festspielhaus at Bayreuth on
Aug. 13, 14, 16, and 17, 1876.
Wagner spent the rest of his life at Wahnfried, making
a visit to London in 1877 to give a successful series of
concerts and then making several to Italy. During these
years he composed his last work, the sacred festival drama
Parsifal, begun in 1877 and produced at Bayreuth in 1882.
He died of heart failure, at the height of his fame, and was
buried in the grounds of Wahnfried in the tomb he had
himself prepared. Since then, except for interruptions
caused by World Wars I and II, the Festspielhaus has
staged yearly festivals of Wagner’s works.

Giuseppe Verdi

(b. Oct. 9/10, 1813, Roncole, near Busseto, duchy of Parma [Italy]—d.
Jan. 27, 1901, Milan, Italy)

T

he leading Italian composer of opera in the 19th
century, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi is
noted for operas such as Rigoletto (1851), Il trovatore (1853),
La traviata (1853), Don Carlos (1867), Aida (1871), Otello
(1887), and Falstaff (1893) and for his Requiem Mass (1874).

Early Years

Born to a poor family, Verdi showed unusual musical talent
at an early age. A local amateur musician named Antonio
Barezzi helped him with his education. At Barezzi’s
expense Verdi was sent to Milan when he was 18. He stayed
there for three years, then served as musical director in
Busseto for two years before returning to Milan. By 1840,
just as he had established a reputation and begun to
make money, he was discouraged by personal tragedies.
Within a three-year period his wife and both of his
children died.