Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer best known for  his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the help of a local patron. Copiously illustrated by excerpts from Verdi's music, this biodrama tells how the composer rose from humble origins to become the unrivalled master of Italian opera. Living in the time of Italian unification, his music and his life became entwined with politics and patriotism and his melodies were taken up as battle cries in the Italian fight against foreign domination. This Chiron full cast and music audiobook explores the fertility of Verdi's musical imagination and his deep but unconventional religious faith. His operas remain extremely popular, especially the three peaks of his 'middle period': Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and La Traviata. The bicentenary of his birth in 2013 was widely celebrated in broadcasts and performances.