-
The Life and Operas of Verdi
- Narrated by: Robert Greenberg
- Series: The Great Courses: Fine Arts & Music
- Length: 24 hrs and 18 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Entertainment & Celebrities
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $52.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Symphony
- By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Greenberg
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From its humble beginnings in the 17th-century Along the way, it has embraced nearly every trend to be found in Western concert music.In this series of twenty-four 45-minute lectures, Professor Greenberg guides you on a survey of the symphony.
-
-
Another wonderful series from Robert Greenberg
- By Kindle Customer on 09-09-17
By: Robert Greenberg, and others
-
Great Music of the 20th Century
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Robert Greenberg PhD
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 20th century was a hotbed of musical exploration, innovation, and transformation unlike any other epoch in history. Ranging across the century in its entirety, these 24 lectures present a musical cornucopia of astounding dimensions - a major presentation and exploration of the incredible brilliance and diversity of musical art across a turbulent century. Far more than simply a series of lectures, the program comprises a huge and many-sided resource for discovering the endless riches of 20th-century concert music across the globe.
-
-
Disappointment
- By MAdison on 03-11-18
-
William Shakespeare: Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies
- By: Peter Saccio, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Peter Saccio
- Length: 18 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shakespeare's plays - whether a comedy like A Midsummer Night's Dream, a history like Henry IV, or a tragedy like Hamlet - are treasure troves of insight into our very humanity. These 36 lectures introduce you to Shakespeare's major plays from each of these three genres and explain the achievement that makes him the leading playwright in Western civilization.
-
-
“If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle.."
- By Kristi R. on 07-01-16
By: Peter Saccio, and others
-
How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance
- By: William Landon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor William Landon
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance, you’ll study the remarkable trajectory of the Medici from the late 14th century to 1737, when the Medici dynasty ended. Across that span of time, you’ll witness the birth of the Italian Renaissance, and the rise of the Medici as an economic powerhouse under founder Giovanni de’ Medici. You’ll learn how the Medici came to dominate Florence and how they played diverse roles in politics, religion, and culture.
-
-
Not for non history buffs
- By Amazon Customer on 01-06-22
By: William Landon, and others
-
The Life and Works of Jane Austen
- By: Devoney Looser, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Devoney Looser
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Born to the ranks of the lower English gentry in 1775, Jane Austen led what some have mistakenly described as an ordinary and unremarkable life - a life that ended all too soon at the age of 41. But from this life, Austen drew inspiration for six novels that all rank as literary masterpieces, including the widely beloved Pride and Prejudice. So, what do we really know about Austen’s life and influences?
-
-
A great class!
- By Miamigrrl on 04-14-21
By: Devoney Looser, and others
-
Masterpieces of Ancient Greek Literature
- By: David J. Schenker, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David J. Schenker
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Greeks left the world that came after them-particularly our own and our ways of seeing it-an incalculable legacy. Mention politics, philosophy, law, medicine, history, even the visual arts, and we barely scratch the surface of what we owe this extraordinary culture. How can we best learn about these people who have given us so much, who have deepened and enriched our understanding of ourselves, and whose world remains far closer than we might imagine? The 36 lectures of this sparkling series from a frequently honored teacher is an outstanding place to begin.
-
-
Great Overview of Greek Literature!
- By Christopher on 04-04-15
By: David J. Schenker, and others
-
The Symphony
- By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Greenberg
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From its humble beginnings in the 17th-century Along the way, it has embraced nearly every trend to be found in Western concert music.In this series of twenty-four 45-minute lectures, Professor Greenberg guides you on a survey of the symphony.
-
-
Another wonderful series from Robert Greenberg
- By Kindle Customer on 09-09-17
By: Robert Greenberg, and others
-
Great Music of the 20th Century
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Robert Greenberg PhD
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 20th century was a hotbed of musical exploration, innovation, and transformation unlike any other epoch in history. Ranging across the century in its entirety, these 24 lectures present a musical cornucopia of astounding dimensions - a major presentation and exploration of the incredible brilliance and diversity of musical art across a turbulent century. Far more than simply a series of lectures, the program comprises a huge and many-sided resource for discovering the endless riches of 20th-century concert music across the globe.
-
-
Disappointment
- By MAdison on 03-11-18
-
William Shakespeare: Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies
- By: Peter Saccio, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Peter Saccio
- Length: 18 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shakespeare's plays - whether a comedy like A Midsummer Night's Dream, a history like Henry IV, or a tragedy like Hamlet - are treasure troves of insight into our very humanity. These 36 lectures introduce you to Shakespeare's major plays from each of these three genres and explain the achievement that makes him the leading playwright in Western civilization.
-
-
“If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle.."
- By Kristi R. on 07-01-16
By: Peter Saccio, and others
-
How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance
- By: William Landon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor William Landon
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance, you’ll study the remarkable trajectory of the Medici from the late 14th century to 1737, when the Medici dynasty ended. Across that span of time, you’ll witness the birth of the Italian Renaissance, and the rise of the Medici as an economic powerhouse under founder Giovanni de’ Medici. You’ll learn how the Medici came to dominate Florence and how they played diverse roles in politics, religion, and culture.
-
-
Not for non history buffs
- By Amazon Customer on 01-06-22
By: William Landon, and others
-
The Life and Works of Jane Austen
- By: Devoney Looser, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Devoney Looser
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Born to the ranks of the lower English gentry in 1775, Jane Austen led what some have mistakenly described as an ordinary and unremarkable life - a life that ended all too soon at the age of 41. But from this life, Austen drew inspiration for six novels that all rank as literary masterpieces, including the widely beloved Pride and Prejudice. So, what do we really know about Austen’s life and influences?
-
-
A great class!
- By Miamigrrl on 04-14-21
By: Devoney Looser, and others
-
Masterpieces of Ancient Greek Literature
- By: David J. Schenker, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David J. Schenker
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Greeks left the world that came after them-particularly our own and our ways of seeing it-an incalculable legacy. Mention politics, philosophy, law, medicine, history, even the visual arts, and we barely scratch the surface of what we owe this extraordinary culture. How can we best learn about these people who have given us so much, who have deepened and enriched our understanding of ourselves, and whose world remains far closer than we might imagine? The 36 lectures of this sparkling series from a frequently honored teacher is an outstanding place to begin.
-
-
Great Overview of Greek Literature!
- By Christopher on 04-04-15
By: David J. Schenker, and others
-
The Italian Renaissance
- By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth R. Bartlett
- Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The effects of the Italian Renaissance are still with us today, from the incomparable paintings of Leonardo da Vinci to the immortal writings of Petrarch and Machiavelli. But why was there such an artistic, cultural, and intellectual explosion in Italy at the start of the 14th century? Why did it occur in Italy? And why in certain Italian city-states such as Florence? Professor Bartlett probes these questions and more in 36 dynamic lectures.
-
-
Great Course but need written text
- By Listen on 07-04-14
By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, and others
-
The History of World Literature
- By: Grant L. Voth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Grant L. Voth
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether around the campfire, between the covers of a great book, or in the theater, the desire to tell stories has been a common human impulse for thousands of years. These 48 lectures take you on a journey through time and around the world-from the enormous auditoriums of ancient Greece to a quiet study in the home of a 19th-century New England spinster - to introduce the history of world literature. In this course, you'll sample some of the greatest literary expressions the world has known and experience storytelling in its many forms, including poetry, drama, and narrative.
-
-
Excellent introduction to world literature
- By Richard on 12-16-14
By: Grant L. Voth, and others
-
The Enlightenment Invention of the Modern Self
- By: Leo Damrosch, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Leo Damrosch
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 24 lectures that let you see the world through the eyes of the Enlightenment's greatest writers, follow the origin of new ways of thinking-ideas we today take for granted but are startlingly recent-about the individual and society. You'll discover how these notions emerged in an era of transition from a world dominated by classical thought, institutional religion, and the aristocracy to one that was increasingly secular, scientific, skeptical, and middle class.
-
-
Might be the best of the Great Courses
- By GEC on 08-23-16
By: Leo Damrosch, and others
-
The Rise of Rome
- By: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Republic is one of the most breathtaking civilizations in world history. Between roughly 500 BCE to the turn of the millennium, a modest city-state developed an innovative system of government and expanded into far-flung territories across Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. This powerful civilization inspired America's founding fathers, gifted us a blueprint for amazing engineering innovations, left a vital trove of myths, and has inspired the human imagination for 2,000 years.
-
-
Great for the Beginner
- By Amazon Customer on 03-05-18
By: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Ottoman Empire
- By: Kenneth W. Harl, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth W. Harl
- Length: 18 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By understanding the dramatic story of the Ottoman Empire - from its early years as a collection of raiders and conquerors to its undeniable power in the 15th and 16th centuries to its catastrophic collapse in the wreckage of the First World War - one can better grasp the current complexities of the Middle East. Befitting a story of such epic scope and grandeur, every lecture is a treasure trove of historical insights into the people, events, themes, and locales responsible for shaping the story of this often-overlooked empire.
-
-
Lecture 34
- By Chris on 04-07-21
By: Kenneth W. Harl, and others
-
The Catholic Church: A History
- By: William R. Cook, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: William R. Cook
- Length: 19 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How did the Catholic Church become one of the most influential institutions in the world-a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members? Explore these and other questions as you follow the development of this important institution in 36 informative, fascinating lectures. With Professor Cook by your side, you'll step into the world of the early church, witness the spread of Christendom, and learn about the origins of fundamental church institutions.
-
-
Great presentation of a selective history
- By Amazon Customer on 01-18-19
By: William R. Cook, and others
-
The Development of European Civilization
- By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth R. Bartlett
- Length: 24 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In almost every way that matters, historical Europe was the laboratory in which the world you now live in was conceived and tested. And you'll be living with the consequences for the rest of your life. These 48 lectures lead you through the doors of that laboratory and guide you through the development of Europe from the late Middle Ages through the eve of World War II.
-
-
To sum up; Globalism Good - Nationalism Bad
- By Oliver Murray on 02-13-20
By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, and others
-
European History and European Lives: 1715 to 1914
- By: Jonathan Steinberg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jonathan Steinberg
- Length: 18 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet 35 of the most influential people who lived during the 200 most difficult years in the history of the West. Between the years 1715 and 1914, the lives of these artists, writers, scientists, and leaders shaped our times and reflected their own.You'll meet such figures as Charles Darwin, Sir Robert Walpole, David Lloyd George, Mary Wollstonecraft, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, Napoleon Bonaparte, and others whose lives represent the crucial forces that shaped European history during two decisive centuries.
-
-
Loved this!! Compelling, Intellectual and Fun
- By Lisa on 06-24-15
By: Jonathan Steinberg, and others
-
George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons
- By: Michael Shelden, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael Shelden
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
George Orwell was more than just a writer. He was a political and social sage who valued, above all else, individual freedom. His works aren’t just entertainment - they’re cautionary tales and red flags of warning. And if we ever hope to understand threats to freedom and how to stop them, we must learn from them. In these 24 lectures, learn how the man born as Eric Blair forged himself into a writer of international importance and renown.
-
-
A breath of fresh air to a book weary soul
- By Mike miller on 03-18-20
By: Michael Shelden, and others
-
How Music and Mathematics Relate
- By: David Kung, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Kung
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Great minds have long sought to understand the relationship between music and mathematics. Both involve patterns, structures, and relationships. Both generate ideas of great beauty and elegance. Music is a fertile testing ground for mathematical principles, while mathematics explains the sounds instruments make and how composers put those sounds together. Understanding the connections between music and mathematics helps you appreciate both, even if you have no special ability in either field....
-
-
No visuals provided! Very hard to follow without.
- By Anonymous User on 03-23-20
By: David Kung, and others
-
Charlemagne: Father of Europe
- By: Philip Daileader, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Philip Daileader
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some say Charlemagne was a great king, while others believe the many atrocities committed under his reign make him the first in a line of political disasters throughout Europe. This debate has been going on for over a millennium.
-
-
A good look at European history.
- By Anonymous User on 05-01-22
By: Philip Daileader, and others
-
History of Science: Antiquity to 1700
- By: The Great Courses, Lawrence M. Principe
- Narrated by: Lawrence M. Principe
- Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For well over 2,000 years, much of our fundamental "desire to know" has focused on science. Our commitment to science and technology has been so profound that these stand as probably the most powerful influences on human culture. To truly understand our Western heritage, our contemporary society, and ourselves as individuals, we need to know what science is and how it developed. In this 36-lecture series, one of science's most acclaimed teachers takes you through science's complex evolution of thought and discovery.
-
-
Would give it 6 stars if I could
- By Kat Cat on 10-22-18
By: The Great Courses, and others
Publisher's Summary
The Italians have a word for the sense of dazzling beauty produced by effortless mastery: sprezzatura. And perhaps no cultural form associated with Italy is as steeped in the love of sprezzatura as opera, a genre the Italians invented. No composer has embodied the ideal of sprezzatura as magnificently as Giuseppe Verdi, the gruff, self-described "farmer" from the Po Valley who gave us 28 operas and remains to this day the most popular composer in the genre's 400-year-old history. His operas are produced more than those of any other composer, and one source claims that his La Traviata (1853) has been staged live somewhere around the world every evening for the past 100 years!
This series of 32 lectures from one of music's most acclaimed teachers combines biography with a variety of musical excerpts to reveal the treasures of creativity that account for this popularity. It explores in depth and detail both the famous and not-so-famous Verdi operas, as well as his one great concert work, the Requiem Mass of 1874; his early songs; and his very last composition, a setting of the Stabat Mater. You trace his development from a more or less conventional composer of operas in the traditional Italian bel canto (beautifully sung) style to a creator of truly innovative musical dramas in which the power of music to intensify and explore human emotion is exploited to the fullest degree.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What listeners say about The Life and Operas of Verdi
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul
- 01-30-15
Viva Verdi!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
An excellent review of an amazing man
What other book might you compare The Life and Operas of Verdi to and why?
How to Listen to and Understand Great Operas, Operas of Wagner
Which character – as performed by Professor Robert Greenberg – was your favorite?
Excellent review of Verdi
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
From Italy with Love
Any additional comments?
Prof. Greenberg does and excellent job with these courses. I signed up for Audible 19 months ago and have listened almost exclusively to his courses. Having just finished Verdi, I have listened to all of his courses. It took over 13 days worth of listening according to the Audible clock. My appreciation for music and its composers has been greatly enhanced by listening to Prof. Greenberg's courses. I highly recommend listening to his courses.
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alifa
- 12-06-13
The Life and Operas of Verdi
I came late to an appreciation of opera, and found this course to be a fantastic adjunct to my growing knowledge. Sometimes I think the professor was a bit snarky and tried too hard to be funny, but that is merely a quibble. He provided an amazing amount of detail about Verdi's life, and much valuable information about the major operas. I did think he dwelt too long on Verdi's last opera, Falstaff, but that is quite understandable, since it was a radical departure for Verdi (whose operas tended toward the tragic). Now I want to go visit Buzetto and see Verdi's home, and I can hardly wait until June, when La Traviata will be performed at Masada.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J. E. Obrien
- 10-16-16
Informative and Interesting Course
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Overall I would recommend it with reservations. The Italian and Latin pronunciation of Professor Greenberg is atrocious. It is very hard on the ears at times. The professor should know better...It shows a lack of preparation...
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Life and Operas of Verdi?
The most memorable moment was when the professor clearly plagiarizes the Otello section of Bridget Paolucci's 1995 Talking about Verdi audio lecture...
What does Professor Robert Greenberg bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The music
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The music...I am looking for information about the casts and recordings used...
Any additional comments?
He leaves out a discussion of some of the pivotal operas in Verdi's career, especially Simon Boccanegra and the revision with Boito...Why? I would like to know?
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- ka1225
- 12-02-13
Brilliant narration but too much focus on the man
Where does The Life and Operas of Verdi rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It would be among the top 5. It is well narrated but too much focus is on the man and not soo much on his music.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Life and Operas of Verdi?
The episode of the creation of Otello and Verdi's passion and patience with composing.
Which scene was your favorite?
Same as above
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
At moments it made me feel sad with the way the author defined the pains of Verdi.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Timothy J. Smith
- 07-17-20
The Passion of Verdi vs the wit of the Borscht Bel
This series, originally given in the 90s, is hard to fully evaluate. You will either find Greenburg's OTT somewhat contrived informality irritating and distracting, or--as I did--a welcome counterbalance to the detail-laden treatment of Verdi's life and development as a composer. I am something of a Verdi scholar myself, and thought I had a pretty thorough knowledge of his works etc. - but Greenburg's use of correspondence from other people, early biographies, contemporary newspaper articles informs us and gives us a wider understanding of Verdi than would be true if we were left with Greenburg's own reverent passion for him--which is seldom critical and often drenched in operatic hyperbole. Even so, again, as an audio course, i have suffered through too many lifeless lecture series to really whinge on about this guy. I learned a lot, and rediscovered a pleasure in experiencing some of Verdi's middle operas that I had long forgotten. If you can get past or get along with the Borscht Belt bits, you will come away knowing a good deal about Verdi and his operas. I don't write many reviews (no time) but I do want to draw attention to this worthwhile course in what is otherwise an often mediocre product from the "Great Courses" company.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cruz
- 03-01-20
The over acting from the narrator was a shame
The shouts and screeches hurt my ears quite often. Besides the over acting and screeching loudly, I do recommend it, just be prepared to lower the volume whenever he starts acting out the opera.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Roger
- 12-10-21
Bravo, Verdi! Bravo, Greenberg!!
Greenberg‘s lectures on music from the Teaching Company are always golden. This in-depth dive into the life and operas of Verdi is one of his best. Greenberg is habit-forming for any concert music lover. Very highly recommended.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Brad Romney
- 04-25-21
Energetic, detailed review of Verdi's life and contributions
Beautifully detailed exposition on the story of Verdi's life, music, and contributions to society, locally, nationally, and to the entire world. Verdi's story is a powerful and inspiring journey from near poverty to wealth and notoriety.
I enjoyed the performance and yet found it at times overbearing.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MH
- 12-16-20
Verdi very much alive
Professor Greenberg breathes life into Verdi and his fellow sojourners, and brilliantly recreates Verdi’s works but does not overshadow their creator with the accolades that the passage of time accords to the famous. I never was able to appreciate Falstaff until now. Thank you Professor. I find fault at times with the professor’s sexual stereotype joking but nobody’s perfect, to quote Joey Brown. Professor Greenberg never bores me, which is great.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mike
- 07-23-20
Superb
Once again Professor Greenberg has given a superb summary;this time of the life and operas of Verdi.It is long and detailed,just as it should be.Bravo Robert Greenberg
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Zuzana
- 10-27-14
Comprehensive picture of music and society
Would you listen to The Life and Operas of Verdi again? Why?
Yes, I discover new enjoyable moments every time I listen to
Who was your favorite character and why?
Giuseppina Strapponi, a supporting wife
Have you listened to any of Professor Robert Greenberg’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Yes, for me as an enthusiastic but amateur listener this book helps to understand dimensions I did not access before
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. You have to return to it from time to time. But this is worth to do it.
Any additional comments?
I can only recommend it to everybody.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- A
- 12-21-13
Elmer Fudd explains Verdi
What would have made The Life and Operas of Verdi better?
A narrator who did not belittle every opera he discusses by assuming the voices and characteristics of a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Some synopses may be problematic, but to adopt a pseudo-comic voice and kindergarten slang is unnecessary and inappropriate to a 'college-level' lecture series.
What will your next listen be?
Probably the Naxos Verdi audiobook, which, although shorter, will be unlikely to wallow in flippancy.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Professor Robert Greenberg?
Anybody else: maybe one of the narrators of the Modern Scholar series, who take their lectures seriously.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Life and Operas of Verdi?
Lengthy retelling of the story of each operas should be cut, with more college level musical information in its place (narrated properly, of course). Biographical information is fine as is, as are the musical extracts.
Any additional comments?
This could have really been a 'great course'. Pity.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Gregory
- 12-05-20
Disappointing
This could have been very good. Clearly Mr Greenberg knows the subject well and is enthusiastic about it. But he also has ambitions as a comedian and unfortunately he isn't a very good one. The silly voices he puts on when explaining the plots of the operas are painful to listen to and the facetious tone continually belittles the great works he is describing (even though he tells us over and over that he considers them to be great works). Also he could have taken a little more trouble to learn the correct pronunciation of the Italian words he pronounces. He continually gets the stress wrong; for example, the names Cesare, Modena and Foscari should all be stressed on the first, not the second syllable.
It's a pity, because without these irritating distractions the narrative is fascinating. The lectures, of course, contain wonderful excerpts of great music.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Rob Sedgwick
- 12-30-18
Not enough music
This is the third series I have listened too by Robert Greenberg and definitely the worst. There is far too much detail on some of the operas, especially Rigoletto and Falstaff where Greenberg spends literally hours just going through his spin on the story in his excited voice. There is very little music in these lectures, a lot lower percentage than there was in the other series. If there is not to be music I'd rather hear about Verdi's life than listen to a blow by blow account of the librettos.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Gareth Newton-Williams
- 08-21-16
First class lecture series from Robert Greenberg
What did you like best about this story?
Verdi was quite the character and this series of lectures is an excellent introduction to both the significant experiences of his life, his professional relationships, and the development of his music.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Professor Greenberg wants us to get a sense of Verdi's personality and characteristics as a window to his music and his passion and sincerity lend colour and verve to these lectures. Dry this material is not!
Any additional comments?
Professor Greenburg's soapbox moments are a real highlight. Agree or disagree there's something about a passionate opinion, eloquently expressed, which captures the attention and rewards the listener. Bravo!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Joseph Bertolini
- 11-06-19
Sensational
Breathtakingly informative and entertaining. Robert Greenberg is the ultimate communicator and leverages his unsurpassed erudition.