Written as a commission from the Teatro Argentina in the "beleaguered republic" of Rome while the composer was still living in Paris, he traveled to Rome in late 1848 to prepare the opera for its first performance, which was given on 27 January 1849. Musicologist Roger Parker describes the première as "a clamorous success, with the entire final act encored" and the audience wild with enthusiasm. He goes to add that act 4 was encored at every performance of the run. However, we learn elsewhere that the opera failed in its 1850 production in Genoa.
| Original Name | La battaglia di Legnano |
| Librettist | Salvadore Cammarano (based on the play La Bataille de Toulouse by Joseph Méry) |
| Date of composition | 1849 |
| Premiered | 1849, January 27th (Teatro Argentina) in Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy |
| First published | 1849 |
| Type | Opera |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
Chorus/Choir
- Mixed Chorus ;
Orchestra Voice (Bass) - Federico Barbarossa, German emperor Voice (Bass) - First Consul of Milan Voice (Bass) - Second Consul of Milan Voice (Bass) - Mayor of Como Voice (Baritone) - Rolando, Milanese leader Voice (Soprano) - Lida, his wife Voice (Tenor) - Arrigo, Veronese Warrior Voice (Tenor) - Marcovaldo, German prisoner Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Imelda, Lida's servant Voice (Tenor) - Arrigo's squire Voice (Tenor) - A herald |
| Autotranslations beta |
Giuseppe Verdi: The Battle of Legnano Giuseppe Verdi: The Battle of Legnano Giuseppe Verdi: The Battle of Legnano |