Offers a brief overview of the life and work of nineteenth-century Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.

Considered the greatest of all opera composers, Verdi was a zealous nationalist who wrote his music not to please critics or the aristocracy but to entertain the masses. Known for his soaring arias and unforgettable melodies, his goal was to infuse dramatic power into opera. With paintings, photos, and extensive musical excerpts, this program looks at the life and enduring works of Verdi. Opera and stage directors Gerard Mortier and Lucchino Visconti...

In Venice, Italy, in the 1890s, a stray cat draws attention to a coffee shop in which he inspired composer Guiseppi Verdi, and as the feline's fame grows, the shop's owner entertains royalty, the Pope, and many others. Includes historical notes about the real Nini and his visitors.

On this episode of Camera Three, Geraint Evans, Regina Resnik, and Maynard Mack discuss the character of Falstaff as seen in Henry the IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor and Falstaff. Resnik and Evans perform the roles of Mistress Quickly and Falstaff in scenes from Verdi's opera.

This miniseries, filmed in Leningrad, London, Paris, and Verdi's home region of Italy's Po Valley, required more than 100 actors, 1800 extras, and over 4000 costumes. The program gives a complete overview of Verdi's life and is filled with music from the composer's works sung in the original Italian and taken from past rare recordings featuring such opera artists as Renata Tebaldi, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, and Birgit Nilsson.

Examines the historical events and influences that shaped the life of the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.