Travel tips for opera lovers – Parma and Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi in Parma

The series about historical places of opera art und culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Verdi in Parma

Overview of all destinations in google maps:

Verdi in Parma

Parma is only forty kilometers from Verdi’s birthplace, yet apart from a musical exam, the city played no role in Verdi’s biography. This does not dampen the enthusiasm of the Parmigiani and they dedicate their beautiful theater in good part to the famous countryman. Check the programm and guided tours.

Another famous musician who was to become important for Verdi’s performances was from Parma: Arturo Toscanini. We will speak about him below.

LINK TO THE COMPLETE VERDI BIOGRAPHY

TO THE TRAVEL GUIDE PO VALLEY, EMILIA ROMAGNA; TOSCANA FOR OPERA AND CLASSIC LOVERS

Destination: the beautiful Teatro Regio di Parma:

https://www.teatroregioparma.it/en/homepage/

Destination Toscanini Museum

Verdi was always enraged by the singers’ arbitrariness in enriching their pieces to their own liking. When, at a relatively old age, he heard of a young conductor named Toscanini, he was highly impressed by his faithfulness to the works and later spoke highly of his compatriot. Toscanini subsequently became the most important Verdi conductor and left his mark on the Verdi interpretation deep into the second half of the last century. Toscanini was a headstrong and sophisticated person. A fanatic, obsessive and irascible conductor feared by all musicians.

In Parma, in the house where he was born, a small but fine museum has been set up that is absolutely worth a visit.

Arturo Toscanini in his american years:

A look into the museum:

http://www.museotoscanini.it/it-IT/home-museo-toscanini.aspx

Musical Background: the authentic interpretation of “Otello” by Toscanini

For many, Vinay was the archetype of Otello after Tamagno. Equipped with thick vocal chords, the Chilean tenor first sang as a baritone and then switched to heroic tenor. Otello was the role of his life, but he ruined his voice with Wagner roles. So was singing  of Otello less than 10 years. The following excerpt is from the complete recording with Toscanini. Toscanini’s interpretation has a touch of the original. He was a cellist in the orchestra at the first performance in 1883 and later worked with Verdi as conductor of his works. Thus this recording has a historically elevated status. This complete recording is generally regarded as one of the greatest recordings in the history of opera.

Dio mit potevi scagliar tutti i mali from Verdi’s Otello sung by Ramon Vinay:

https://opera-inside.com/otello-by-giuseppe-verdi-the-opera-guide-and-synopsis/#Dio