Composer Giuseppe Verdi Manages the International Distribution of His Operas

Being to his publisher Leon Escudier, and relating to another publisher, Giulio Ricordi, it thus encompasses the two men who did the most to popularize Verdi’s music

In 1839, at age 26, Verdi completed his first opera, Oberto, with the help of fellow musician Giulio Ricordi; the opera’s debut production was held at La Scala, the opera house in Milan. Over several decades following this, Verdi produced many of the greatest operas ever composed among them are La Traviata and Aida, as well as songs that have entered popular culture, such as Donna e Mobile.

Ricordi helped popularize Verdi’s music, and became the publisher of his later operas.  He had an eye for talent, also working with Giacomo Puccini, to whom he became a father figure.  Casa Ricordi remains a publishing house more than 150 years later.

Leon Escudier was a French journalist, music critic and music publisher. In 1837, he founded the weekly La France Musicale, as well as a music publishing company. This company would become a platform for the distribution of Verdi’s works, particularly in France, where Escudier had rights of publication.

Together, Ricordi and Escudier were the primary agents for promoting Verdi and publishing his work throughout Europe, together establishing Verdi’s reputation across Europe as the leading composer of opera, a reputation that persists today. Ricordi had rights in Britain and the Netherlands, where Escudier typically published in Italy, Germany and Austria, with the two sharing Spain and Portugal. Such an arrangement worked for decades.

Although reposing confidence in Ricordi and Escudier, Verdi himself managed the distribution of the rights to his works, and did so with great aplomb, assuring that his two agents worked together and that the works were disseminated throughout Europe.

Autograph letter signed, in Italian, no date, to Leon Escudier, relating to an agreement to transfer the rights to one of his works to both Escudier and Ricordi. “The conditions [of the agreement] given to me must be expressed differently.  In the third paragraph, you say, ‘M. Leon Escudier cedes to M. Ricordi and…’  Cede is not the appropriate word, as until that moment, I am the only owner. Affectionately, G. Verdi.”

This is an unpublished letter, and we are grateful to the Archives at La Scala and National Institute of Verdi Studies for their assistance.  Scholars at the latter believe this note is written to Escudier and that the date is likely in 1860s or 1870s.

It is remarkable to see Verdi asserting his rights to an opera, even as he transfers it to both Escudier and Ricordi, connecting these three central musical figures.