Arrigo Boito was an Italian composer, poet, and librettist, renowned for his opera "Mefistofele," based on Goethe's Faust. Born on February 24, 1842, in Padua, Italy, Boito was a prominent figure in the development of Italian opera in the late 19th century, known for his attempts to introduce Wagnerian concepts and dramatic integrity to the Italian stage. He was a central personality of the so-called "Scapigliatura," a movement that sought to shake up the conservative world of Italian art.

His magnum opus, "Mefistofele," first performed in 1868, was both hailed for its musical innovation and criticized for its departure from traditional Italian opera forms. Though it had a tumultuous reception initially, the work went on to be one of the cornerstones of Boito’s legacy, encapsulating his flair for rich orchestration and compelling theatricality. Aside from his compositions, Boito also contributed significantly as a librettist, collaborating with Giuseppe Verdi on the operas "Otello" and "Falstaff," which are considered some of the composer's finest works. Arrigo Boito's impact on opera continued to resonate long after his death on June 10, 1918, with artists and conductors revisiting his music, particularly "Mefistofele," for its dramatic intensity and expressive power.

Genres

Italian Opera

Italian Romanticism

Post-romantic Era

Latest Release

100 Best Maria Callas - Her Hundred Greatest Classics

Maria Callas•

Alfredo Catalani•

Ambroise Thomas•

Amilcare Ponchielli•

Arrigo Boito•

Camille Saint-Saëns•

Carl Maria von Weber•

Charles Gounod•

Christoph Willibald Gluck•

Francesco Cilea•

Gaetano Donizetti•

Gaspare Spontini•

Georges Bizet•

Giacomo Meyerbeer•

Giacomo Puccini•

Gioachino Rossini•

Giuseppe Verdi•

Gustave Charpentier•

Hector Berlioz•

Jules Massenet•

Ludwig van Beethoven•

Léo Delibes•

Pietro Mascagni•

Richard Wagner•

Ruggero Leoncavallo•

Umberto Giordano•

Vincenzo Bellini•

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Album - 100 Tracks - Released December 9, 2023