Verdi as seen by Boito I
Arrigo Boito
) is a classic of Verdi literature, engrossing reading for specialists and “civilians” alike.
A second edition of the book, entitled Verdi: Interviste e incontri, was published in Italy in 2000. It includes some recently discovered notes that Arrigo Boito took for a projected biography of Verdi. Conati believes that some of the notes were taken during Verdi’s lifetime, probably after the Falstaff premiere in 1893, and others after Verdi’s death.
I will return to these notes from time to time. For now, I offer you the closing paragraphs as redacted by Conati, in which Boito wrote of people whom Verdi admired and hated.
He admires with boundless enthusiasm the great men of action: Julius Cæsar, Trajan, Napoléon. Alert, courageous, vast minds who bring together genius of action and of leadership; men who dominate, even if they are sometimes scoundrels; creators of grandiose ideas accomplished swiftly and surely.
His adorations: Jesus, Dante, Shakespeare, Pythagoras, [nome ill.]—Tacitus
His admiration for Moses borders on consternation. His rogueries do not disturb the halo of his awesome and divine glory. But he also admires very pure men: Pythagoras above all.
Jesus he sets apart as a G-d, and Verdi’s soul vibrates with emotion before the wise sweetness of the Gospel: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone; Render therefore unto Cæsar, etc. etc.
He hated and held in contempt lazy people.
I don’t know what “[nome ill.]” means (“illustrious name”?), or whether it refers to Pythagoras, Trajan, or someone else. In Conati’s book, there is no period following “Tacitus.”
He truly is full of surprises. That said, while we have many of his letters (and Giuseppina’s, and Muzio’s, and…), many of his friends destroyed most or all of their letters from him.
Verdi was a fascinating person – I always have “surprises” when reading about him. I’d love to read all his letters someday.
(I don’t know, but maybe the “[nome ill.]” refers to Tacitus?)