In his lifetime Verdi's popularity rivalled that of today's pop stars, and he still remains the most performed of all operatic composers.
Conductor Mark Elder journeys through Verdi's life and music in these two films. The orchestra and chorus of the English National Opera, and singers including Josephine Barstow, Dennis O'Neill and Willard White feature in operatic scenes, directed by David Alden. The words of Verdi and his wife are read by Bob Peck and Juliet Stevenson.
(Part 2 is on tomorrow at 5.00pm)