Giuseppe Verdi

At the age of eight, Verdi became the paid organist of his village church.

Verdi wrote an eight-movement cantata when he was fifteen; it was performed to great acclaim.

Verdi's first wife and two small children all died within a two-year period, leaving the composer devastated.

Verdi's operas continue to be performed hundreds of times each year all over the world.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert attended the premiere performance of Verdi's opera, I masnadieri.

Verdi was the greatest composer of Italian opera in history.

Three of Verdi's operas are based on plays by Shakespeare.

The most popular opera in the world is Verdi's La traviata.

Verdi's opera Aida was commissioned by the Egyptian government to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal.