LAELIA FINNEBERG (Soprano) and FRANZ OSBORN (Pianoforte)
Verdi had his failures; this opera, I Masnadieri, is one of them. The libretto was adapted from a play by Schiller, and is of a conventionally operatic and sanguinary order, complete with brigands. It has the distinction, however, of being the only one of Verdi's operas to have had its first production on a London stage - Her Majesty's Theatre, in 1847. It was a brilliant first night, Verdi himself conducted, Jenny Lind was the star artist. The Queen, the Prince Consort, Prince Louis Napoleon, and the Duke of Wellington were in the audience. The opera seems to have been well received and was given four times that season, though through no fault of the Press. This is how Chorley, the chief critic of the day, recorded his impressions: 'We take this to be the worst opera that has been given in our time at Her Majesty's Theatre. Verdi is finally rejected. The field is left open for an Italian composer.' He praised Jenny Lind, but declared that her 'Amalia could not have pleased had it been given by Cecilia and Melpemone in one, so worthless was the music.' The management, however, was satisfied. An offer to undertake the musical direction of Her Majesty's Theatre for three years was actually made to Verdi, and seriously considered by him, though it came to nothing. The opera now is completely forgotten.
Veccio castello; Promenade; Tuileries; Bydlo; Promenade; Ballet des poussins dans leur coques; Samuel Goldenberg and Sohmuyle; Limoges - Le Marche; Catacombae (Sepulcrum eomanum); Con mortius in lingua mortua; La cabane sur des pattes de poules; La grande porte de Kiev