Premiere Preludes

At opera houses around the world, Giuseppe Verdi is one of the most frequently performed composers. No wonder: his music is always an exhilarating feast for the senses. The 200th anniversary of his birth will only intensify the situation – if only because unknown, forgotten works will be performed. The opera Attila – with libretto by Temistocle Solera – premiered on 17 March 1846 in Venice. In Poland, by 1852 Attila had not been performed even once. It’s a shame. Since this is a concert version, perhaps we in Warsaw will avoid the bad luck of the world premiere in Venice, when the tenor and baritone fell ill and the candles started smoking so much as to cause a collective coughing fit among the audience during act two…