KINGDOM OF ITALY AUTHOR · OPERAS · LIBRETTOS
Giuseppe Verdi
Also known as: Verdi Giuseppe, G VERDI
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( VAIR-dee, Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe ˈverdi]; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the modern province of Parma, to a family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the help of a local patron named Antonio Barezzi. Verdi came to dominate the Italian opera scene after the era of Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gaetano Donizetti, whose works significantly influenced him. He was also strongly influenced by the French Grand opera style, particularly Giacomo Meyerbeer and Gaspare Spontini. In his early operas, Verdi demonstrated sympathy with the Risorgimento movement which sought the unification of Italy.
The harbor of the island of Cyprus.
— from Otello
Most acclaimed
Aida
Retells the story of Verdi's opera in which the love of the enslaved Ethiopian princess for an Egyptian general brings tragedy to all involved.
Macbeth
This volume features the full text of the play, a complete glossary, production notes, excerpts of important scenes and passages from multiple productions, and interviews and essays from notable Shakespeare scholars and performers. The audio CD with this edition of Macbeth contains a series of unique recordings to illustrate how different actors place their own interpretation on the play. Hear Orson Welles in a 1940s recording reciting Macbeth's famous soliloquy 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow'. Compare that to a contemporary version by Stephen Dillane from 1998. There are also superb performances from Sir Alec Guinness, Simon Russell Beale, Harriet Walter, Fiona Shaw and David Tennant. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs from notable productions including Trevor Nunn's 1976 RSC production with Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench, Roman Polanski's 1971 film, and Michael Kahn's 2004-5 production at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. The book also takes you behind the scenes with reproductions of set drawings, costume designs and scene edits, including images from the 1937-38 production at the Old Vic starring Laurence Olivier and Judith Anderson. As well as the playtext, there are articles covering a range of topics including 'In Production: Macbeth through the Years' by William Proctor Williams, 'Macbeth in Popular Culture' by Douglas Lanier, 'A Voice Coach's Perspective on Speaking Shakespeare' by Andrew Wade and 'In the Age of Shakespeare' by Thomas Garvey. The Sourcebooks Shakespeare Macbeth is an invaluable tool for students of all ages from GCSE to A Level and beyond.