Thou singest ye carol

Giuseppe Verdi

Aria da camera

Italian composers of the 19^th century are best known for their operas. Yet composers such as Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi have also composed chamber music. It is only in recent years that the music world regularly pays attention to these nearly forgotten works.

In this episode of Thou singest ye carol, you will hear several of these unknown ‘Arie da camera’ by Giuseppe Verdi. Far from the song tradition of Schubert, Schumann or Hugo Wolff. ‘Prima le parole….poi la musica’ First the lyrics, than the music, does not always apply to this Verdi, even though he used texts from Goethe. All in all, the composer has composed around 30 or so songs, not much at all compared to Donizetti who composed over 200 songs.

Playlist:

1. Giuseppe Verdi – 5 Romanze (1845) 1. ‘Ad una stella’ (Andrea Maffei) 2. ‘Il tramonto’ (Maffei) 3. ‘Il Mistero’(Felice Romani) 4. ‘Lo Spazzacamino’(Romani) 5. Brindisi (Maffei)
   Marielle Devia (soprano), Sergei Larin (tenor), Michele Pertusi (bass), Parma Opera Ensemble
2. Giuseppe Verdi – 1. Nocturne for 3-part , flute and piano, “Guarda che bianca luna” (Arr.) (Patavino) 2. L’esule (Temistocle Solera)  3. L’abandonnée (M.L.Escudier].
   Marielle Devia (soprano), Sergei Larin (tenor), Michele Pertusi (bass), Parma Opera Ensemble
3. Giuseppe Verdi – ‘La Preghiera del poeta’ (Nicola Sole)
   Michele Pertusi (bass) and the Parma Opera Ensemble.
4. Giuseppe Verdi – ‘Perduta ho la pace’ (Goethe/ Luigi Balestra)
   Mariella Devia (soprano) and the Parma Opera Ensemble.
5. Giuseppe Verdi – 1. Brindisi (Maffei) 2.‘il poveretto’ (Maggioni) 3. ‘Stornello’ (anoniem) 4. ‘Ave Maria’ 5. ‘Pieta Signor’ (Boito)
   1,2,3,5 Marielle Devia (soprano), Sergei Larin (tenor), Michele Pertusi (bass) and the Parma pera Ensemble 4. Maria Callas, soprano.
6. Giuseppe Verdi – ‘Romanza senza parole’
   Roberto Galetto, piano.

Giuseppina Strepponi 

Picture: Museo Casa Barezzi, Busseto