One of the events this year that was held in celebration of Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th birth anniversary was the traveling multimedia exhibit Giuseppe Verdi, the Composer, the Man, the Patriot. The exhibit presented various aspects of Giuseppe Verdi, from the musician to the land owner. Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno welcomed guests and delivered the opening remarks during the opening of the exhibit’s first stop at the
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| Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno delivering the opening remarks |
The
main highlight of the exhibit for me are the 39 panels showcasing the art and
the artists behind the designs of the most important original score covers of
Verdi’s operas. I have no idea if these opera scores were made available to the
public back then, but the art in the covers are a sight to behold. Much thought
were given by the artists in creating the covers that featured some intricate
line work. I think that it’s too bad that the panels only featured reproductions
of these covers. It made me wonder as to where the original first editions are
and if they have been preserved as important historical documents.
Another
feature of the exhibit are the 14 panels that presented the private and more
intimate aspect of Verdi’s life as that of a landowner, architect, engineer and
as a gracious host. This is one side of the composer outside of his music that
is rarely explored and discussed.
Lastly,
there was also a video art installation wherein a film made by Officina di
Videostoria, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic was shown.
This film intends to convey through the universal language of images and music
from Verdi’s operas, 200 years of common events that are part of the human
heritage.
After
its run at the Yuchengco Museum College
of Music
Giuseppe Verdi, the Composer, the Man, the
Patriot was organized by the Embassy of Italy, in cooperation with the
Philippine-Italian Association and Rustan’s to mark the bicentennial of
Giuseppe Verdi’s birth.
1 comment:
I love Verdi... . He was known of his greatness, to find a way of speaking to limitless crowds, and his method to adsorb himself completely into his characters. He never composed music for music’s sake, every music note has a precise dramatic implication.
I tried to write a blog about him, see whether you like it: https://stenote.blogspot.com/2019/06/an-interview-with-giuseppe.html
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