After his success with Ernani, Verdi received a commission from Rome's Teatro Argentina and he went to work with Piave in considering two subjects, one of which eventually became this opera. I due Foscari was given its premiere performance in Rome on 3 November 1844 and was generally quite successful, although not on the scale of Ernani, which remained Verdi's most popular opera until Il trovatore in 1853.

Original Name I due Foscari
Librettist Francesco Maria Piave (Lord Byron's historical play, The Two Foscari)
Premiered 1844, November 3rd (Teatro Argentina) in Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy
First published 1844
Type Opera
Spoken language Italian
Instruments Chorus/Choir
Orchestra
Voice (Baritone) - Francesco Foscari, Doge of Venice
Voice (Tenor) - Jacopo Foscari, his son
Voice (Soprano) - Lucrezia Contarini, Jacopo Foscari's wife
Voice (Bass) - Jacopo Loredano, Member of the Council of Ten
Voice (Tenor) - Barbarigo, a Senator
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Pisana, Friend and confidant of Lucrezia
Voice (Tenor) - Attendant on the Council of Ten
Voice (Bass) - Servant of the Doge
Autotranslations beta Giuseppe Verdi: The Two Foscari "Tragedia lirica in tre atti"
Giuseppe Verdi: The Two Foscari "Tragedia lirica in tre atti"
Giuseppe Verdi: The Two Foscari "Tragedia lirica in tre atti"