Composer of the Week

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Donald Macleod looks at some of the personalities who were instrumental in helping Verdi achieve success. 1/5. The Barezzi Family Antonio Barezzi, a distiller and grocer, sponsored Verdi as a child. Later on, Barezzi's daughter Margherita, also a keen supporter of Verdi's ambitions, became the composer's first wife. Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate (Nabucco) Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Claudio Abbado (conductor) Sinfonia in C Symphony Orchestra of Milan Riccardo Chailly (conductor) Leonore's Cavatina (Act 1, Oberto) Ghena Dimitrova (soprano) Munich Radio Orchestra Lamberto Gardelli (conductor) Quartet (Act 2, Oberto) Ghena Dimitrova (soprano) Ruza Baldani (mezzo-soprano) Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) Rolando Panerai (baritone) Munich Radio Orchestra Lamberto Gardelli (conductor) The Prophecy (Act 3, Nabucco) Piero Cappuccilli (baritone) Ghena Dimitrova (soprano) Kurt Rydl (bass) Chorus and orchestra of Deutschen Oper Berlin Giuseppe Sinopoli (conductor).