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The libretto for Verdi's last work, "Otello," was prepared by Boïto, who had previously assisted him in rearranging his "Simon Boccanegra," and who also wrote the poem of "La Gioconda" for Ponchielli. Boïto is a thorough believer in Wagner's doctrine that every composer should write his own opera books, and he followed this rule in his interesting opera "Mefistofele."
Louis, and paced the sentinels' pathway round the gigantic ramparts, unchanged since Boccanegra built them.
He says it was a wonderful experience, when the composer sat down at the piano, put his hands on the keys and showed the singers how he wanted his music sung! "Early in his career Maurel sang in Verdi's opera, Simone Boccanegra, which one never hears now, but it has a fine baritone part, and a couple of very dramatic scenes, especially the final scene at the close. This is the death scene.
They chose by acclamation Simone Boccanegra, who, however, seeing that he was to have no power, refused the office. "If he will not be Abbate," cried a voice in the crowd, "let him be Doge"; and seeing the enthusiasm of the people, this great man allowed himself to be borne to S. Siro, where he was crowned first Doge of Genoa for life.
"I Vespri Siciliani" and "Simon Boccanegra" were not so successful as "Un Ballo in Maschera" ; and none of them, any more than "La Forza del Destino" or "Don Carlos" , added anything to the fame of the composer of "Il Trovatore." Only now begins the interest which the student of musical history finds in Verdi's life.
It is true, that for a time in 1344 the nobles gathered an army and returned to Genoa, Boccanegra resigning and exiling himself in Pisa; but twelve years later he was back again, ruling with temperance and wisdom that great city, which was now queen of the Mediterranean sea. To follow the fortunes of the Republic one would need to write a book.
It was Guglielmo Boccanegra, the grandfather of a more famous son, who built the palace which, as we now see it on the quay, is so sad and ruinous a monument to the independent greatness of the city.
This palace, on the death of Boccanegra, Captain of the People, was used by the city as an office for the registration of the compere or public loans, which dated from 1147 and the Moorish expedition.
"Attila" was his next great triumph; and then followed in rapid succession a large number of operas, among them: "I Masnadieri" , written for the English stage, with Jenny Lind, Lablache, and Gardoni in the cast; "Luisa Miller" ; "Stifellio" ; "Rigoletto" ; "Il Trovatore," Rome ; "La Traviata," Venice ; "I Vespri Siciliani," Paris ; "Simon Boccanegra," Venice ; "Un Ballo in Maschera," Rome ; "La Forza del Destino," St.
'Les Vêpres Siciliennes, which was produced in Paris in 1855, during the Universal Exhibition, only achieved a partial success, and 'Simon Boccanegra' , even in the revised and partly re-written form which was performed in 1881, has never been popular out of Italy.
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