"I complain bitterly of the editions of my last operas, made with such
little care, and filled with an infinite number of errors."--Giuseppe
Verdi
The University of Chicago Press, in collaboration with Casa Ricordi, has
undertaken to publish the first critical edition of the complete works
of Giuseppe Verdi. The series, based exclusively on original sources, is
the only one to present authentic versions of all of the composer's
works; together with his operas, the critical edition presents his
songs, his choral music and sacred pieces, and his string quartet and
other instrumental works.
The Works of Giuseppe Verdi will be an invaluable standard reference
work--a necessary acquisition for all music libraries and a joy to own
for all lovers of opera. The new series of study scores presents an
adaptation of each critical edition that provides scholars with an
affordable and portable option for exploring Verdi's oeuvre. The study
scores have been designed to distinguish editors' marks from Verdi's own
notations while remaining clear enough for use in performance. The
introduction to each score discusses the work's sources, composition,
and performance history, as well as performance practices,
instrumentation, and problems of notation. The newest editions of the
study scores examine two of Verdi's three-act operas: La traviata and
Rigoletto.