Book Of The Week: Master Musicians
Conductor Mark Elder opens this series of readings, marking the start of the Proms, with an account of Verdi's early life.
Having struggled to get a foothold in the world of music, Verdi suffered terrible setbacks. Trying to make ends meet, his wife sold her jewellery, but they were still destitute. Then, in quick succession, his son, daughter and wife died, leaving Verdi utterly bereft.
He turned his back on music, but the director of La Scala opera house nagged him to look at the libretto for a new opera, Nabucco.
Verdi took it home reluctantly, but by accident his eye fell on the words of the chorus of the Jewish slaves in exile.
Slowly, note by note, verse by verse, the music came to him...
Most watched News videos
- New video shows Epstein laughing and chasing young women
- Epstein describes himself as a 'tier one' sexual predator
- Buddhist monks in Thailand caught with a stash of porn
- British Airways passengers turn flight into a church service
- Skier dressed as Chewbacca brutally beaten in mass brawl
- Sarah Ferguson 'took Princesses' to see Epstein after prison
- Jenna Bush Hager in tears over disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
- Forth Bridge fireball fall into village streets
- China unveils 'Star Wars' warship that can deploy unmanned jets
- Melinda Gates says she feels immense sadness for Epstein victims
- Amazon driver's furious rant about deliveries captured on ring camera
- Authorities give update on search for Savannah Guthrie's mom
