La Forza Del Destino: The Force of Destiny

Description

Verdi's 'War and Peace', writes Peter Conrad of this epic opera composed for the Bolshoi Theatre in St Petersburg in 1862. It encompasses the extremes of a religious and secular existence - the worlds of the lovers pursued by an uncompromising fate and of the people in the scenes at the inn and on the battlefield. Despite its beautiful score, this opera has often seemed perplexing: Richard Bernas shows us how the music is devised as a convincing entity, and Bruce A. Brown traces the tortuous but fascinating history of its revisions. Is it an exercise in Brechtian detachment? How far are the values of the gipsy girl a dramatic counterweight to the spirituality of Leonora, Verdi's most haunted heroine? Such questions are prompted by a consideration of this vital text in Andrew Porter's new English translation. At least as great as Don Carlos - which Verdi wrote between the two versions of this opera - La forza del destino deserves a serious reassessment.

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 1901) is one of Italy's most celebrated opera composers. His best-known operas include "Rigoletto," "Il trovatore," "La traviata," and "Aida.""

"Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series." "TLS""