Verdi in Paris
The series about historical places of opera art. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Verdi in Paris
Overview of all destinations in google maps:
Verdi in Paris
Paris meant an important period of Verdi’s life. He often stayed in the French capital, among other reasons to meet his future wife Giuseppina in 1847, later for his opera projects, of which he wrote the “Vêpres siciliennes” and “Don Carlos” for the Paris operas, other works were given French versions (including “les Trouvères” and “Macbeth“). Verdi was at times obsessed with conquering Paris and replacing Meyerbeer as the “opera god” in Paris. His first attempt was “Vêpres siciliennes”, in which Verdi personally took care of the staging and in the process cemented his reputation as a theatrical tyrant; soon he was only called “Merdi” behind closed doors at the opera by the (unpunctual) french musicians.
After Meyerbeer’s death, he was commissioned to write a work for the Grand Opéra during the 1867 World’s Fair. The effort for the “Don Carlos” was gigantic. The fact alone that the theater had to sew a staggering 355 costumes for the premiere is proof enough.
Verdi’s relationship with the Parisians was divided. Early on he was awarded the Legion of Honor, but he refused to take part in the procedure, calling it a muck, which was resented by the Parisians. In the 1950s, Verdi also had two sensational lawsuits with the French national poet Victor Hugo over the rights to perform the operas Ernani and Rigoletto, which were based on the Frenchman’s works.
Success came rather late and Verdi, at the age of over 70, accepted the award of Commander of the Legion of Honor and even dined with Napoleon III and Eugénie in their Compiègne castle.
LINK TO THE COMPLETE VERDI BIOGRAPHY
TO THE OVERVIEW OF ALL DESTINATIONS “OPERA & CLASSIC OF PARIS“.
Destination Paris’ Opera Houses
Unfortunately, the historical Verdi cannot be experienced in Paris, all the opera houses have been burned down or demolished, nevertheless his music is very present in the four opera houses.
Opéra de la bastille:
https://www.operadeparis.fr/ (Palais garnier, Opéra de la bastille)
https://www.chatelet.com/ (Théâtre du Châtelet)
https://www.theatrechampselysees.fr/
Musical background: Don Carlos at the Grand Opéra
Verdi created this opera according to the standards of the Grand Opéra, including the requirement to create five acts, the price to be paid is that the audience has to spend five hours in the theatre, including stage alterations. The costly play for the grand opéra was only affordable for the major theatres of Paris. To keep the suspension high over 5 acts, Verdi needed big scenes. So, he instructed his librettists to create big scenes which should complement Schiller’s drama. This Autodafe scene was one of them. Musically, Verdi underscores the contrast of solemnity and terror with a change from the major of the people to the minor of the monks – we are back in the chiaroscuro world of the church. The desolate monotony is followed by the beautiful painful singing of the cello group, which accompanies the monks begging for forgiveness.
Watch and Listen to the great auto-da-fe scene from Don Carlos (Metropolitan Opera New York):
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