Verdi’s early life was marked by musical education with the help of a local patron, Antonio Barezzi, and despite being rejected by the Milan Conservatory, he studied privately with Vincenzo Lavigna. His career took off after the success of his early opera Nabucco in 1842, and he became known for his sympathies with the Risorgimento movement, which sought the unification of Italy.

Throughout his career, Verdi composed many operas that remain staples of the operatic repertoire today, including Rigoletto (1851), Il trovatore (1853), La traviata (1853), Don Carlos (1867), Aida (1871), Otello (1887), and Falstaff (1893). His Requiem Mass (1874) is also a significant work in the choral repertoire.

Verdi’s later years were marked by a return to composing with three late masterpieces after the success of Aida. He became a landowner and sought a quieter life, but his music continued to be celebrated. The bicentenary of his birth in 2013 was widely commemorated, reflecting his enduring legacy in the world of classical music. His works are known for their emotional depth, memorable melodies, and dramatic character, making him a beloved composer whose music continues to be performed worldwide.

This famous cello and bass solo from Verdi’s Rigoletto and arranged by David Heyes is playable by double bass sextet or larger forces. The melodic…