Dehais 1
Kaitlyn Dehais
Professor Borghese
All Roads Lead to Rome
7 December 2021
Va, Pensiero: Opera and the Role of Giuseppe Verdi in the Italian Risorgimento
Introduction
Throughout time, music has had an influence on people throughout the world. From
ancient Rome to modern America, melodies and lyrics have changed lives and spawned cultural
movements. Music can be purely for pleasure and appreciation, or it can contribute meaning and
lend a voice to issues in society. For example, the opera is one of Italy’s most famous artistic
accomplishments, and one of the things Italy is most known for around the world. The beautiful
arias of Puccini and Rossini are appreciated internationally for their melodies and lyrics, but the
influence of opera goes beyond notes on a page and spills into Italian politics and culture.
Specifically, the work of Giuseppe Verdi during the Italian Risorgimento contributed
heavily to the movement for liberation and unification on the peninsula. Verdi was a voice for
change during his time, and the messages of freedom in his operas were coopted by many of the
Risorgimento’s fighters for Italian unification and the removal of oppressive Austrian rule. The
role of the arts in revolutionary movements is important to acknowledge because the meaning
behind Verdi’s music has lived on until the present through songs like “Va, Pensiero.” Italian
opera as a whole is one of the culture’s most impressive contributions, and the music style is
experiencing a resurgence in many different forms.
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History
In all Italian history, there has been an emphasis on culture and the arts. From the time of
Ancient Rome, music has been an important part of society on the Italian peninsula. Music
during the ancient Roman period was very different than modern music and did not follow
traditional patterns of melody and rhythm.1 Military and folk music were the most prominent at
the time and used for a variety of purposes. During the Renaissance, there was a resurgence of
the arts and a renewed focus on humanity, which lent itself to many developments in the visual
arts, science, literature, and music. Painters like Michelangelo and Rafael developed new artistic
styles, and other artists created new methods of presenting music. In Florence during the late
16th century, a group of musicians attempted to combine the literary mastery of Greek drama
with music.2 The first work considered an opera, Dafne, was composed by Jacopo Peri in 1597
and consisted of a small ensemble with few instruments and was one of the first works to rely on
the recitative style of musical dialogue.3 The Medici family was so impressed with Peri’s work
that they commissioned him to write another opera, Euridice, for the wedding between Maria
de’Medici and Henry IV in 1600.4
Opera is a distinct form of musical work that consists of primarily sung dialogue called
recitatives and self-contained arias. The pieces can include singers from any voice part as well as
choruses to represent bigger groups. There are two primary kinds of opera: opera seria (dramas)
and opera buffa (comedies).5 Opera seria were primarily attended by royalty and nobility,
meaning they appealed to a more refined taste, while comedies were better for the common
Jasiński, Jakub. n.d. “Roman music.” https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-art-and-culture/roman-music/.
Opera Lirica di Roma. n.d. “Dafne: the first opera in history.”
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
5
San Francisco Opera. n.d. “A Brief History of Opera.”
1
2
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people. During the Baroque period, opera gained traction in other parts of Europe with
composers like Handel who embellished on the original form of opera developed in Italy. Later,
during the Enlightenment, the Classical era of music ushered in a time when operas became less
dramatic and featured more realistic plotlines to appeal to the masses. Composers like Mozart
were prominent for their time and wrote widely produced operas that are remembered to this day.
The Risorgimento
During the 19th century, Italy was experiencing a time of significant change and
evolution due to a tumultuous political climate and pressure to unify. The economic and social
differences between the Northern and Southern regions of Italy became even more pronounced
with the development of the economy, and the continued control of the aristocracy contributed to
class differences.6 The upper classes controlled the majority of social happenings, and their
power affected both politics and society. Italy’s population was also growing more slowly than
the rest of Europe, limiting the potential for progress and leaving vacancies in sectors of the
economy. Italy specialized in low-skilled manufacturing at the time, creating a niche market due
to the role of exports.7
The Church functioned as one of the wealthiest and most powerful authorities on the
peninsula, with a very strong hold over almost every aspect of society, including politics. The
Church benefitted from a de-unified Italy because they could function as the sole power across
the entire territory rather than competing with a central Italian government.8 The role of Austrian
occupation in the North meant there was another major power in the region, but the Church
projected its strength across the peninsula because of the power of Catholicism in Italian culture.
Farrell, Jane. 2011. “The Italian Risorgimento: A timeline.”
Ibid.
8
D'Elia, Costanza. 2012. “The Risorgimento and religion. Notes on the ‘canon’ and Gramscian annotations.”
6
7
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However, with the spread of new ideas also came the spread of Protestantism in Italy, much to
the Church’s dismay. As the Risorgimento’s philosophy spread South, Protestantism grew more
popular. However, Protestantism failed to truly take hold on in Italy because of the presence of
the Holy See.9 The Church opposed the Enlightenment because of its emphasis on secularism
and the individual rationality of human beings, which meant their universal authority was
questioned to a degree.
During the 19th century, there was a new national movement within Italy that shifted
many citizens’ ideologies and focuses, and revolutionary sentiment spread across the continent.10
A philosophical movement of liberalism and nationalism emphasized consent of the governed,
collective identity, and equality under the law. There also were important works written by
thinkers such as Rene Descartes, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes, who encouraged rationalism
and critiques of society and government.11 In this time, a national identity developed, and many
Italians became more interested in the prospect of unification because of the movements in
France and the United States. The revolutions in these other countries sparked discussion and
promoted the concept of national identity. There was a surge in interest in a national constitution
for Italy in the Southern regions of Sardinia and Sicily, and provisional governments were
created in certain regions. Meanwhile, the northern territory was under Austrian control after the
Congress of Vienna.12
There also was a political society called “La Giovine Italia” that caused revolts in certain
regions of Italy that had more regressive rulers.13 Giuseppe Mazzini, the founder of the society,
9
Ibid.
Farrell, Jane. 2011. “The Italian Risorgimento: A timeline.”
11
“Risorgimento | Italian history.” n.d. Britannica.
12
Ibid.
13
Viva L'Italia and Giosuè Carducci. n.d. “I protagonisti - Giuseppe Garibaldi.”
10
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believed in a united Italy that emphasized freedom, equality, and humanity, represented by the
tricolor flag.14 The movement spread among the youth of Italy including in the army, and many
of its members were arrested or exiled. One of the most prominent members of the society was
Giuseppe Garibaldi, who played an important role in Italian unification and ultimately became a
political leader in the newly unified Italy.15 Garibaldi led the troops to conquer the southern
portions of Italy, and after the war he served as deputy of the kingdom.
The Risorgimento is one of the most important eras in Italian history because of the
result: Italy unified in 1861, finally grouping the many individual regions and territories across
the peninsula into one collective body.16 The nationalist and revolutionary thinking of the time
was integral to unification, and without figures like Garibaldi and Mazzini to lead the people
there likely would not have been such significant progress.
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi, an important figure during the Risorgimento, was born in 1813 in the Po
Valley of Italy in a small village of only four thousand people.17 Despite their circumstances and
limited wealth, his family strove to get Verdi the best education possible, and Verdi was taught
musical instruments from a young age. As a child, Verdi showed great promise and was given a
spinet at age four and was standing in for his teacher as organist for the Church in his village by
age nine, displaying his prodigious skills.18 When he was applying for higher music education,
Verdi was rejected by the Milan Conservatory for being too old and having poor piano skills.19
He ultimately studied under Vincenzo Lavigna, an older composer who was an associate of the
Viva L'Italia. n.d. “Viva VERDI.”
Viva L'Italia and Giosuè Carducci. n.d. “I protagonisti - Giuseppe Garibaldi.”
16
Farrell, Jane. 2011. “The Italian Risorgimento: A timeline.”
17
Di Lei. 2016. “Giuseppe Verdi: biografia e curiosità sul compositore.”
18
Kerman, Joseph. n.d. “Giuseppe Verdi | Italian composer.”
19
Ibid.
14
15
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Teatro della Scala in Milan, a well-renowned composer who taught Verdi the important elements
of Italian opera through study of the classics and practice conducting.20
However, as his career was just beginning, Verdi faced tragedies such as the death of his
wife and children, as well as some critical failure such as for the opera Un Giorno di Regno,
which was hissed off stage.21 Verdi entered a stage in his life where he thought of giving up
music, but was given the libretto for Nabucco, one of his most acclaimed works, by B. Merelli.22
The opera was well-received in comparison to his previous work, and it was produced across the
world as far as Russia and Argentina.
After his first glimpse of success, Verdi entered a period of composition which he called
“the years in jail” which was a time when his work was in extremely high demand, and it became
difficult for him to complete the many commissions in the time given. In a span of six years,
Verdi composed many other successful operas, including Macbeth, Rigoletto, and Il Corsaro.23
Verdi was best known for operas that depicted people and their passions in a brief and beautiful
manner: they captured moments through music that related to everyday life in a way that many
other composers could not. His music embodied many of the most important aspects of Italian
opera, and there was an emphasis on overcoming oppression by the ordinary man.24
Verdi lived to the age of 87, when he died after contracting an illness in Milan. His
funeral was attended by nearly 300,000 people, and was a simple ceremony free of music and
20
Ibid.
Mattei, S. n.d. “Vérdi, Giuseppe nell'Enciclopedia Treccani.”
22
Ibid.
23
Di Lei. 2016. “Giuseppe Verdi: biografia e curiosità sul compositore.”
24
Mishkin, Herman, and Charles Jahant. n.d. “Giuseppe Verdi and Italian Opera - A Night at the Opera |
Exhibitions.”
21
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theatrics, as he had wished.25 Today, Verdi is buried in the Casa di Riposo per Musicisti, the
home for retired musicians he founded late in his life.26
Political Ramifications
Verdi’s influence was so widely felt that after the completion of Italy’s unification, the
Conte di Cavour asked him to join the Chamber of Deputies.27 However, Verdi quickly realized
the position was not appropriate for him and resigned from the chamber. While Verdi did not
desire a life entrenched in politics and debate, his music had a cultural influence that has been
perceived by many. Verdi was a wealthy man, and despite his popularity among the aristocracy
and elite of society, opera also spread among the people and had serious ramifications on the
political world.28 Verdi was criticized for his connections to the bourgeoisie, but his power came
from his relationships, which provided significant insulation from political persecution.29
Without this strong network, Verdi could never have inspired so many during his lifetime, and
his words likely would not have lived on to the present.
During the time of the Risorgimento, many works had strong political undertones and
spoke to the nationalist movement in the peninsula. Verdi specifically had many patriotic
thoughts and feelings that he expressed implicitly through his music to avoid the fate of other
composers such as Wagner, who was sentenced to death in absentia for his role in an uprising in
Germany.30 Many of Verdi’s operas referred to a group of people attempting to liberate
themselves from an oppressive regime, such as the Gauls freeing themselves from the Romans or
Mattei, S. n.d. “Vérdi, Giuseppe nell'Enciclopedia Treccani.”
Kerman, Joseph. n.d. “Giuseppe Verdi | Italian composer.”
27
Ibid.
28
Ginot, Charlotte, Camillo Paolo, and Filippo Benso. 2019. “Verdi, a political observer of his time.”
29
Ibid.
30
Settemusic. n.d. “Richard Wagner: Vita, Biografia, e Musica.”
25
26
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the Hebrew slaves in Nabucco.31 Verdi also wrote nationalistic pieces interpreted as inspired by
the glory of Italy, fueling the fire of those looking to spark revolution. The works commented on
the tumultuous political atmosphere and the undercurrents stirring in Italy at the time and served
as motivation for many members of the pro-unification forces.32 The slogan “Viva Verdi” was
used by the fighters during the Risorgimento and was an acronym for “viva Vittorio Emmanuel,
re di Italia” or “long live Victor Emmanuel, king of Italy.”33 The words struck meaning on
multiple levels, because Verdi was believed to be a supporter of the fighters of the Risorgimento
who wanted to rid Northern Italy of Austrian rule.
One of Verdi’s songs “Va, Pensiero” from the opera Nabucco became a rallying cry and
unofficial national anthem for Italians and maintains meaning to this day. The lyrics describe a
group of slaves singing about returning to their homeland and represented freeing Italy from
Austrian occupation to many listeners.34 The song was played at the 2006 Olympics in Turin to
commemorate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. However, the song has become the
official anthem of Padania, a proposed autonomous part of Northern Italy, sparking displeasure
in South and Central Italy.35 The song had one political interpretation during the time of its
composition, but another has become prominent in the last few decades.
Conclusions
Italian opera has also heavily influenced other countries in an important way. Italy is
referred to as the home of classical music, especially the opera, because of its creation and
emphasis on styles such as opera and oratorio. Italy is the first documented place where violinists
Mattei, S. n.d. “Vérdi, Giuseppe nell'Enciclopedia Treccani.”
Ginot, Charlotte, Camillo Paolo, and Filippo Benso. 2019. “Verdi, a political observer of his time.”
33
Viva L'Italia. n.d. “Viva VERDI.”
34
Huber, Ivan. 2008. ““Va, Pensiero” Ensnared in Politics.”
35
Ibid.
31
32
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gained renown, and other prominent composers also travelled to Italy to learn from some of the
best musicians and composers throughout history.36 In modern times, the influence of Italian
opera cannot be understated because of the musical touches in much of contemporary Italian
literature and poetry. The resurgence of opera as an art form can be compared to the
development of the art form originally in the Renaissance. Modern operas have expanded the
potential for contemporary adaptations of ancient works, such as Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Verdi’s music is still held in high esteem, indicating his prowess as a composer of operatic work.
The role of Giuseppe Verdi as a composer as well as a political influence is an important
one for Italian society. The ability of opera to uniquely combine literature and music allows it to
be interpreted in a wide variety of ways. While many early operas were rooted in Greek tragedy
or comedy, as time went on there became a wider range of potential subjects for adaptation to
music. One of the most well-renowned opera composers in Italian history is Giuseppe Verdi,
who lived during the Risorgimento, one of the most politically tumultuous times in the
peninsula’s history. During his lifetime, the Italian national identity gained more traction and
unification became popular. The role of artists like Verdi was to inspire the common person to
act, and the messages incorporated in many of his operas encouraged change and removal of
oppression. Verdi’s ability to subtly incorporate political messages into his operas meant his
work struck meaning with members of Italian society who were not just appreciative of its
melodic beauty. The Risorgimento was a time of massive change in Italy, and the role of Verdi’s
music contributed to the revolutionary sentiment and inspiration of the period.
36
San Francisco Opera. n.d. “A Brief History of Opera.”
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