Now one of Verdi's most beloved works, La traviata was initially far from a success--Verdi declared its 1853 premiere a "fiasco," and later reworked parts of five pieces in the first two acts, retaini
The performance history of Stiffelio as Verdi envisioned it began only in 1993. Composed with Rigoletto, and sharing many of its characteristics, Stiffelio suffered from the censors' strictures. From
Verdi had a special fondness for Macbeth, and the first version of his opera based on Shakespeare's play is arguably the most important work of his formative years. But dissatisfied with the work of h
