alla prima Crocrata
(The Lombards at the First Crusade)
Lyric drama in four acts
Libretto by TemistocLe Solera
Music by Verdi
(Continued in next column)
Chorus and Orchestra of Radio Italiana, Milan
Conducted by Manno Wolf-Ferrari
(Recording made available by courtesy of Radio Italiana. Milan)
The action takes place towards the end of the eleventh century
Act 1: Milan
Act 2: Antioch
Writing of / Lombardi, one of Verdi's earliest operas, the late Ferruccio Bonavia said that if Verdi had meant to write a national opera and nothing more, he succeeded admirably; ' acclaimed in every Italian theatre, the opera was accepted as a national work which set the seal on his reputation as patriot and composer.' / Lombardi, shortly before its production in Milan in 1843. brought Verdi his first tussle with the censorship; but after explanations had been made the opera was allowed to be staged with only one minor alteration, the substitution of ' Salve. Maria ' for ' Ave Maria.' Verdi himself, apprehensive of failure, confided his doubts to the prima donna. Either your opera will be a great success,' she said, ' or I will die on the stage.' Harold Rutland