Giuseppe Verdi’s
first love was rather sweet, but his second began as a scandal. This month Clef
Notes is looking at composer love stories. While some are sweet and romantic,
others are just plain dirty and complicated.
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| Giuseppe Verdi Courtesy of wikimedia.org |
When Verdi was just
18, he went to live with a merchant and patron of the arts by the name of
Antonio Barezzi. This man would later finance the young composer so that he
could further his studies in Milan. Following his studies, Verdi secured a
position teaching lessons at a music school and conducting the philharmonic
society concerts in Busseto. At this point, he married his young love
Margherita, Barezzi’s oldest daughter.
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| Margherita Barezzi Courtesy of wikimedia.org |
Margherita loved
her husband and supported his work. She bore him two children, Virginia Maria
Luigia and Icilio Romano Carlo Antonio. Sadly, both of the children and
Margherita died within a couple-year span, leaving Verdi devastated. At the
same time, he had an opera fail and vowed to quit composing forever. Good thing
he didn’t stick to his claim!
After a period of
mourning, Verdi came back to the arena with a huge success in his opera Nabucco. It was around this same time
that he became acquainted with soprano Giuseppina Strepponi, who sang the role
of Abigaille during Nabucco’s
premiere. Strepponi had a bit of a reputation, having two illegitimate
children. Their paths crossed again in 1847 after Strepponi had retired from
the stage and was making a living as a teacher. The two fell in love and soon
moved in together. At this point in time, an unwed couple residing together was
considered a scandal, and Verdi’s father-in-law, Barezzi, was at first enraged
by the ordeal. He eventually came to accept Strepponi as a daughter and the
couple finally married in 1859. It is unknown why the couple waited so long, or
why they finally chose to marry after so many years.
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| Giuseppina Strepponi Courtesy of wikimedia.org |
Strepponi believed that
she didn’t deserve Verdi. She spent the remainder of her life loving and
supporting him, helping him to find a good balance between his work and
leisure.
Next time, let’s
travel back in time a bit further, and look at another sweet love story between
J.S. Bach and Anna Magdalena.
