Giuseppe Verdi, composer
Nabucco, an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, was given its
premier performance at La Scala in Milan on March 9, 1842. Its success
proclaimed a new hero of the Italian opera, placing Verdi in the company of
the mastersRossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. Verdi went on to compose
such great operas as Aida, Rigoletto, and La Traviata.
Melodies in this overture depict Verdi’s affinity for fleeting tunes that
seem to leave an indelible impression on the listener.
The crescendo employed here, which builds over lengthy spaces, became known
as the "Rossini’s Crescendo" and was a popular device of opera composers of