Verdi, Giuseppe. (1813–1901). Il Poveretto. Romanza. Milano: Francesco Lucca. [1847]. First edition. Song with piano accompaniment. Illustrated title (lithograph of a beggar by Focosi); 1 - 5 pp. 34 cm. Engraved. [PN] 6162 a. Stiff marble paper contemporary wrappers. Foxed, final leaf with expertly repaired tears and child's drawing on blank verso, else fine. Hopkinson 26A. OCLC records 2 copies.
A very rare early Verdi publication, a "single romanza to words by Maggioni which Verdi probably composed during his visit to London in the summer of 1847, where Maggioni was resident poet at the Royal Italian Opera. 'Il poveretto' concerns a soldier crippled in the service of his country and constrained to beg from passers by. The setting is distinguished from Verdi's earlier serious romanze by a short expressive piano preamble full of wistful suspensions. Though hardly up to the best of the 1845 set, 'Il poveretto" has a curious history. In 1858 'Rigoletto' was given in French at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Maddalena insisted on having an aria to herself; accordingly, Verdi's French publisher, Escudier, adapted the music of 'Il poveretto' to a French text, in which Maddalena begs her brother to spare the Duke's life ('Prends pitié de sa jeunesse'). He even had it published in this form as a separate 'Mélodie.' Neither he nor Verdi could have foreseen that the 'newly discovered aria for Maddalena' would one day prove a red herring to be drawn across the path of Verdian scholars." (Julian Budden: Verdi, p. 306 - 307)
A very rare early Verdi publication, a "single romanza to words by Maggioni which Verdi probably composed during his visit to London in the summer of 1847, where Maggioni was resident poet at the Royal Italian Opera. 'Il poveretto' concerns a soldier crippled in the service of his country and constrained to beg from passers by. The setting is distinguished from Verdi's earlier serious romanze by a short expressive piano preamble full of wistful suspensions. Though hardly up to the best of the 1845 set, 'Il poveretto" has a curious history. In 1858 'Rigoletto' was given in French at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Maddalena insisted on having an aria to herself; accordingly, Verdi's French publisher, Escudier, adapted the music of 'Il poveretto' to a French text, in which Maddalena begs her brother to spare the Duke's life ('Prends pitié de sa jeunesse'). He even had it published in this form as a separate 'Mélodie.' Neither he nor Verdi could have foreseen that the 'newly discovered aria for Maddalena' would one day prove a red herring to be drawn across the path of Verdian scholars." (Julian Budden: Verdi, p. 306 - 307)
Verdi, Giuseppe. (1813–1901). Il Poveretto. Romanza. Milano: Francesco Lucca. [1847]. First edition. Song with piano accompaniment. Illustrated title (lithograph of a beggar by Focosi); 1 - 5 pp. 34 cm. Engraved. [PN] 6162 a. Stiff marble paper contemporary wrappers. Foxed, final leaf with expertly repaired tears and child's drawing on blank verso, else fine. Hopkinson 26A. OCLC records 2 copies.
A very rare early Verdi publication, a "single romanza to words by Maggioni which Verdi probably composed during his visit to London in the summer of 1847, where Maggioni was resident poet at the Royal Italian Opera. 'Il poveretto' concerns a soldier crippled in the service of his country and constrained to beg from passers by. The setting is distinguished from Verdi's earlier serious romanze by a short expressive piano preamble full of wistful suspensions. Though hardly up to the best of the 1845 set, 'Il poveretto" has a curious history. In 1858 'Rigoletto' was given in French at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Maddalena insisted on having an aria to herself; accordingly, Verdi's French publisher, Escudier, adapted the music of 'Il poveretto' to a French text, in which Maddalena begs her brother to spare the Duke's life ('Prends pitié de sa jeunesse'). He even had it published in this form as a separate 'Mélodie.' Neither he nor Verdi could have foreseen that the 'newly discovered aria for Maddalena' would one day prove a red herring to be drawn across the path of Verdian scholars." (Julian Budden: Verdi, p. 306 - 307)
A very rare early Verdi publication, a "single romanza to words by Maggioni which Verdi probably composed during his visit to London in the summer of 1847, where Maggioni was resident poet at the Royal Italian Opera. 'Il poveretto' concerns a soldier crippled in the service of his country and constrained to beg from passers by. The setting is distinguished from Verdi's earlier serious romanze by a short expressive piano preamble full of wistful suspensions. Though hardly up to the best of the 1845 set, 'Il poveretto" has a curious history. In 1858 'Rigoletto' was given in French at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Maddalena insisted on having an aria to herself; accordingly, Verdi's French publisher, Escudier, adapted the music of 'Il poveretto' to a French text, in which Maddalena begs her brother to spare the Duke's life ('Prends pitié de sa jeunesse'). He even had it published in this form as a separate 'Mélodie.' Neither he nor Verdi could have foreseen that the 'newly discovered aria for Maddalena' would one day prove a red herring to be drawn across the path of Verdian scholars." (Julian Budden: Verdi, p. 306 - 307)