VERDI AND VARIATION

VERDI AND VARIATION
The flipside of Wagner’s contempt for his audience was the deep respect and affection which Giuseppe Verdi held for his audience. He understood the impact he had on the people. He championed their causes often, as we discussed earlier in his association with the risurgimento (revolution). He exercised significant responsibility as a composer who recognized his influence on the shaping of a nation. The system that operated critics of Verdi’s day was much different than the one we use today. Today, critics come after the fact to view a work, then give their opinion. In the popular arts such as movies, Broadway Musicals, recordings, etc, which derive longevity based upon public consumption, it may have some influence. However, when there is only one performance, as is often the case with serious music being presented in our days, the critic’s only influence is to spread abroad his own personal bias or announce to the world his ignorance. The critics of Verdi’s day were knowledgeable people who held the public’s best interest at heart. Their role was to examine the work BEFORE it was presented before the public and judge if there was anything in it’s content that might insight unfortunate public response. We know today, by information retrieval, that when movies portray successful, or even unsuccessful bank robberies, hi-jackings, computer conspiracy etc., that these incidents accelerate in our society. The arts have a significant influence in shaping behavior. In 18?? Verdi completed a wonderful work for premiere in Milano at La Scala. The work dealt with the political assassination of Gustav III, King of Sweden, an actual event which took place in 18??? The critics were very concerned that such a portrayal would be pernicious to the people of Italy, who were struggling with great political unrest. They feared that such a musical drama would cause someone to act out a similar scenario in Rome. Being the pragmatist (problem solver) that Verdi was, he asked for the ability to re-write the work, to their, and his satisfaction. He moved the location for away, to Boston, Massachusetts, and the role of Gustav was replaced with Riccardo (Richard), mayor of Boston. The critics felt confident that the remote setting of Boston, and the lower political figure of mayor made the work more acceptable, and it opened. It is a good things as it is one of the pivotal works in the canon of Verdi’s output. It tells us something about Verdi’s willingness to do what was perceived to be the best good of the public. Would that such responsibility were exercised by creators and critics today.