Verdi: The Man Revealed

by John Suchet

Giuseppe Verdi remains the greatest operatic composer that Italy, the home of opera, has ever produced. Yet throughout his lifetime he claimed to detest composing and repeatedly rejected it. He was a landowner, a farmer, a politician and symbol of Italian independence; but his music tells a different story.

An obsessive perfectionist, Verdi drove collaborators to despair but his works were rightly lauded from the start as dazzling feats of composition and characterisation. From Rigoletto to Otello, La Traviatato to Aida, Verdi’s canon encompassed the full range of human emotion. His private life was no less complex: he suffered great loss, and went out of his way to antagonise many erstwhile supporters, including his own family. An outspoken advocate of Italian independence and a sharp critic of the church, he was o‑ en at odds with nineteenth-century society and paid the price.

In Verdi: The Man Revealed, John Suchet attempts to get under the skin of perhaps the most private composer who ever lived. Unpicking his protestations, his deliberate embellishments and disingenuous disavowals, Suchet reveals the contradictory and sometimes curmudgeonly character of this great artist, convicted throughout much of his life but ultimately unable to walk away from the art for which he will be forever known.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Biography, Italy

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

John Suchet presents Classic FM's flagship morning programme. His informative style of presentation, coupled with a deep knowledge of classical music, has won a wide spectrum of new listeners to the station. Before turning to classical music, John was one of the UK's best known television newscasters, regularly presenting ITN's flagship News at Ten, as well as all other bulletins, over a period of nearly 20 years. John has been honoured for both roles. He is the author of several bestselling composer biographies, including Beethoven: The Man Revealed.

Reviews

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another opulent written work of John Suchet. I must admit I still favour Beethoven far more than Verdi. Indeed, this is another warts and all, love him or loathe him. Unlike Beethoven I'm not moved to Verdi's case. He still came across to me as abusive, tyrannical, but wrote works that many people favour. Not me. Somehow Verdi was never one of the greatest musicians that touched by life. That is a personal preference that needs not deflect from the writing and the musician. I enjoyed immensely Suchet's book on Beethoven and the book on the Strauss family and I was sure that reading this would also be a treat to read. I wasn't disappointed in Suchet's style, it's still as compelling as ever. Verdi was as complex a man in a way like Beethoven, however, given his relatively contemporary period harder to track down certain motives. But unlike Beethoven Verdi was not a tortured soul. Although, his early life was marred by death of loved ones, indeed, these personal tragedies haunted him for the rest of his life. Suchet does a great job trying to get to the heart of the man and showcase all of Verdi's apparent marvels of music. As always Suchet's enthusiasm is vibrant and the reader gets carried away in by the emotion that Suchet excels in his writing.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

ith wonderful glossy pages, this meticulously researched biography is easy to read and wonderfully informative, and if, like me, you have little knowledge of the life of these great composers...well, to have everything you need to know in one lovely, glossy volume is a wonderful idea. I really enjoyed flipping through the book and reading chapters at whim, always finding something interesting and fascinating to learn about this most complex of individuals.

The author writes with real authority and includes, in this biography, all those snippets of information about Verdi's greatest works which are so important. From Rigoletto to Othello, La Traviata to Aida, all human emotion is to be found within his great catalogue of works, and the author ensures that all these are included and described in a very readable way. I particularly enjoyed reading of Verdi's early life in Italy, and the confusion surrounding his date of birth made me smile.

Beautifully illustrated, the book is a sumptuous and beautiful journey through the whole of Verdi's very eventful life which I am sure will appeal to music lovers everywhere.

Verdi: The Man Revealed would make a perfect Christmas present for any classical music lover. My copy is definitely one to keep and cherish.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 36: VERDI: THE MAN REVEALED by John Suchet. Verdi was arguably one of the most determinedly private artists who ever lived. Drawing extensively on diary entries, journalist, correspondence and every other documentary source he can locate, Suchet does a commendable job of sketching a portrait of a composer whom other biographers have candidly admitted remains an enigma to them. The hardback edition is beautifully produced and lavishly illustrated.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and accessible little biography of Verdi. I am surprised though that the editor didn’t address some of the author’s more obnoxiously misogynistic statements. Annoying sexism aside, the life and work of the man are well presented.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Verdi, but nothing brilliant like the writing of Jan Swafford, Maynard Solomon or Alex Ross. But Verdi is a hard nut to crack- that’s one thing I learned. Not much musical description. I gave four stars instead of three because of the great color pictures.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, a very fine read.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by John Suchet. I look forward to reading his Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

[Paul Servini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revealing and interesting. A real eye-opener. I never realised he had such a volatile temper.

[LA · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most visually appealing books I have read in many years. The pages are a delight to read and the author's writing is terrific.

[Magyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully researched. Purchased because of the author's work on Beethoven biography. Highly recommend.

[Aletheia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an utterly fascinating man. Many composers in the Romantic era, particularly those who followed directly after Beethoven struggled to escape his shadow—a challenge that persists even today. Similarly, it seems Italian composers who came after Verdi found themselves working in the immense cultural space he left behind. After spending many hours reading about Verdi, I’ve come to realize that part of what makes his influence so enduring isn’t only his music and prowess but also the very specific historical moment in which he composed. His music is directly associated with the creation and birth of Italy as a country itself, embedding it within the very fabric of Italian identity. The phrase “Viva V.E.R.D.I.” is forever cemented as part of Italian political history, which elevates Verdi beyond the realm of just music or academic musical study. His influence extends into broader historical, political, and cultural discussions. No Italian composer who follows can really ever replicate that historical alignment, making his legacy feel almost insurmountable. Timing seemed to work just perfectly for Verdi’s career.