Giuseppe Verdi

Oberto

Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio is an opera in two acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on an existing libretto by Antonio Piazza probably called "Rocester". It was Verdi's first opera, written over a period of four years, and was first performed at the "Teatro alla Scala", Milan, on 17 November 1839. "Oberto" is not one of the most successful Verdi operas and is therefore not frequently programmed these days, but that does not mean that "Oberto" as an opera is as weak as one would assume on the basis of its low reputation. Even here the music is already "utterly Verdi" on several points. An example of this is the well-constructed, warm-blooded overture that distinguishes itself from what Rossini and Donizetti had previously delivered on this point. Italian arranger Matteo Firmi transcribed the overture ('sinfonia") of "Oberto" for a wind ensemble.