First performed in Rome in 1853, "Il Trovatore" is one of Giuseppe Verdi's most successful and most performed operas. Supremely melodic, vigorously paced, it is filled with arias and vocal ensembles of thrilling power. Grand opera at its most stirring, it is above all rich in opportunities for bravura singing. Music lovers can savor and study in detail Verdi's scoring of this perennial operatic favorite with this finely made full-score edition.

A group of resourceful kids start "solution-seekers.com," a website where "cybervisitors" can get answers to questions that trouble them. But when one questioner asks the true meaning of Christmas, the kids seek to unravel the mystery by journeying back through the prophecies of the Old Testament. What they find is a series of "S" words that reveal a "spectacular story!" With creative characters, humorous dialogue and great music, The "S" Files is a children's Christmas musical your kids will love performing.

I due Foscari enjoys pride of place among Verdi's early operas for its commanding music and striking use of recurring themes to identify the principal characters. Here, the young composer can be seen experimenting with new means of musical and dramatic expression. This critical edition, based on Verdi's autograph score and autograph corrections in the first manuscript copy, offers the full score including powerful passages later excised by Roman censors and appendices containing sketches, fragments, rejected passages, and a substitute cabaletta for Jacopo's cavatina. With an introduction and detailed critical commentary, this edition provides performers, conductors, students, and scholars with a superior version of the colorful drama.

Riccardo Chailly conducts the Filarmonica della Scala in this concert featuring works by Verdi, recorded at Italy's Teatro alla Scala.

(Vocal Score). Italian Only Cloth Score.

"The subject cannot fail!" exulted Verdi, when recommending Victor Hugo's play Le Roi s'amuse to his librettist. But the censors made every effort to stop it, and the baritone was not easily convinced that a hunchback role would suit him. Jonathan Keates gives a vivid insight into the composition of a masterpiece. Verdi long afterwards thought it his best work, and Roger Parker explains why. Peter Nichols, author of several bestselling books in Italy, picks out some of the peculiarly Italian attitudes and characters in the opera which make it timeless - and incredibly modern.

Andrea Battistoni leads the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Regio di Parma in this performance of Verdi's opera recorded live in 2012. Cast members include Roberto Aronica, Yu Guanqun, Roberto Frontali and Gabriele Mangione.

Mariss Jansons conducts the Chor and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in this performance of Verdi's work, recorded in 2013 at the Golden Hall of Vienna's Musikverein. The soloists featured are soprano Krassimira Stoyanova, mezzo-soprano Marina Prudenskaja, tenor Saimir Pirgu and bass Orlin Anastassov.

The third volume of a three-part set featuring all of Giuseppe Verdi's operas in celebration of the composer's bicentenary in 2013. Each performance features its own ten minute introduction. The operas included are: 'I Vespri Siciliani', 'Simon Boccanegra', 'Un Ballo in Maschera', 'La Forza del Destino', 'Don Carlo', 'Aida', 'Otello' and 'Falstaff'.

The third volume of a three-part set featuring all of Giuseppe Verdi's operas in celebration of the composer's bicentenary in 2013. Each performance features its own ten minute introduction. The operas included are: 'I Vespri Siciliani', 'Simon Boccanegra', 'Un Ballo in Maschera', 'La Forza del Destino', 'Don Carlo', 'Aida', 'Otello' and 'Falstaff'.

Leo Nucci leads the cast of this production of Verdi's opera, recorded live at the Teatro Regio Di Parma in 2006. Bruno Bartoletti leads the orchestra, and other cast members include Enrico Giuseppe Iori, Sylvie Valayre and Roberto Iulianio.

Verdi's Simon Boccanegra exists in two versions: that of the 1857 original and that of the 1881 revision. The texts of the libretto of both versions are included in this guide, with a number of essays which focus on the differences between the two. Rodolfo Celleti provides the story's historical context, setting the events of the real life of Simon Boccanegra against the unification of Italy, which formed the political backdrop to the composition of both versions of Verdi's opera. James A. Hepokoski gives a detailed synopsis of the 1881 score, and indicates the ways in which Verdi radically revised the original and reworked it to fit his late style. Lastly, Desmond Shawe-Taylor discusses Verdi's attitude to his singers, and the critical reception that performances of both versions of the opera received. This edition contains over twenty illustrations, a thematic guide and the texts of the libretti in the original with literal translations. There is also a bibilography, discography and DVD guide, together with a list of websites that will allow the reader to explore the opera further.

The Black Dog Opera Library is the best, easiest and most informative and budget-friendly way to enjoy four of the greatest operas of all time.

Finally available again, and packaged with gorgeous new covers, each book in the library includes the complete opera on 2 CDs, featuring world-class performances and orchestras; the complete libretto, plus its English translation; an exciting history of the opera; a biography of the composer; a synopsis of the story, broken down by act and scene; and dozens of photographs and drawings depicting performances, singers, sets, costumes, and more.

La Traviata featuring Beverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda, and Rolando Panerai, with Aldo Ceccato conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Also available:

La Boheme featuring Nicolai Gedda and Mirella Freni, with Thomas Schippers conducting the Orchestro e Coro del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma; The Marriage of Figaro featuring Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Heather Harper, Judith Blegen, Geraint Evans, Teresa Berganza, and Birgit Finnila, with Daniel Barenboim conducting the English Chamber Orchestra. Carmen featuring Grace Bumbry, Jon Vickers, Mirella Freni, and Kostas Paskalis, with Rafael Fru beck de Burgos conducting the Orchestra of the Theatre National de l'Opera.

Listen. Enjoy. Learn."

In this guide, Julian Budden reviews the difficulties that faced the management that had commissioned La Traviata and how, in some previously unpublished letters, Verdi fought their views on casting the leading lady. Denis Arnold contributes a musical commentary. April FitzLyon discusses the social background of the 'lady of the camellias' in fact, fiction and on the stage, and Nicholas John compares the libretto with the play to show how skilfully it was adapted for the operatic stage.

"A lyric comedy unlike any other", wrote Verdi about his last opera. That the last work of a composer who was almost notorious for his preference for tragic and gloomy subjects should be a brilliant human comedy was and remains one of the wonders of music. Michael Rose considers its status in Italian comic opera tradition. Davis Cairns pours his enthusiasm for the piece into a detailed and illuminating musical analysis. Andrew Porter, whose translation almost matches Boito's original libretto for elegance and wit, explains the challenges and risks of the undertaking in his fascinating introduction. Contents: Introduction, Nicholas John; 'A Lyric Comedy Unlike Any Other', Michael Rose; 'Full of Nimble, Fiery and Delectable Shapes', David Cairns; Translating 'Falstaff', Andrew Porter; Falstaff: Libretto by Arrigo Boito; Falstaff: English Translation by Andrew Porter

"Verdi's War and Peace", writes Peter Conrad of this epic opera composed 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. Here translated into English by Andrew Porter, La forza del destino deserves a serious reassessment. Contents: War and Peace, Peter Conrad; The Music of 'The Force of Destiny', Richard Bernas; The Revision of 'The Force of Destiny'; 'That Damned Ending', Bruce A. Brown; La forza del destino: Libretto by Francesco Piave (1862) with additions by Antonio Ghislanzoni (1869); The Force of Destiny: English translation by Andrew Porter

Famous soprano Maria Callas is captured performing live in Hamburg in May 1959 and March 1962. Her programme includes excerpts from Verdi's 'Don Carlo' and 'Macbeth', Rossini's 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia' and 'La Cenerentola', plus pieces by Bellini, Massenet and Gounod.

Double bill of operas from the 1980s starring tenor Luciano Pavarotti. In 'Aida' Pavarotti performs the role of Radamès alongside Maria Chiara and Ghena Dimitrova. Lorin Maazel conducts the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus. In 'La Bohème' Pavarotti stars as Rodolfo with Tiziano Severini leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The rest of the cast includes Mirella Freni, Sandra Pacetti and Gino Quilico.