MUSEUM / FORMER RESIDENCE OF VERDI, "VILLA VERDI" IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS, LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN IN EFFORT TO PREVENT PERMANENT CLOSURE TO PUBLIC

Above: The former residence of Giuseppe Verdi, the "Villa Verdi" at S. Agata

The former residence of the iconic opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (presently a public museum at Sant'Agata in Northern Italy) has launched a last-minute crowdfunding campaign in the hopes of securing sufficient finances to begin what the museum has described as a "drastic" restoration on the home, which has been left severely damaged due to the infiltration of water.

The villa-museum is host to the personal possessions of the composer, who purchased the property in 1848, designed its expansion, and once complete, lived within the residence from 1851 to the year of  his death in 1901. 

First performance of Verdi's iconic Requiem,
  first performed in the church of San Marco
in Milan on 22 May 1874, conducted by
the maestro himself.

Among the property preserved within include the Viennese Fritz piano on which Verdi composed Il Trovatore and La Traviata, and the gloves worn by the composer to conduct his famous Requiem Mass for the for Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni on the occasion of its premiere in Milan in 1874. In fact, virtually every item contained within the residence has been left untouched by the composers' descendants, who have personally financed and maintained the structure, leaving the home - and the contents within it - exactly as Verdi had left it.

This is not the first time water damage has effected the museum at Sant'Agata. The descendants Verdi came under fire last spring when Director for the Archives of Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Gino Famiglietti accused the heirs of having been negligible in their conservation efforts, claiming unsuitable levels of environmental moisture had caused damage to the structure due to a damp atmosphere. The row resulted in a stand off over the return of archival material which had been sent off from the museum to Parma for digitization. 

The composer's heirs cite the cessation of public entrance fees (resulting from the museum's closure due to the ongoing pandemic) as a major factor in their current state of financial affairs. The state mandated closure has put a strain on the heirs' budget, who note that they finance the museum independently - devoid of government assistance.

Should funds not be met, the heirs Verdi forewarn, the temporary closure of Villa Verdi to the public may become permanent.

from the fundraiser website:

"Dear Verdi lover,

Villa Verdi in Sant’Agata di Villanova sull’Arda in the province of Piacenza is the home where Maestro Giuseppe Verdi lived for more than 50 years.

Here you can breathe in his music, his life, and his spirit.

In his last will and testament, Giuseppe Verdi wrote, “I compel that the garden and my family house in Sant’Agata be kept in its current state.” And thanks to his heirs, the Carrara Verdi family, this is still the case.

Verdi proudly sits in his prized garden at Sant'Agata, accompanied by his family and friends,
including the Bohemian soprano (and alleged inamorata of the composer), Teresa Stolz (rear L)

Unfortunately, it has always been only the family that has taken care of it, without the least help from the Italian government, which has made many promises, but never kept them.

The Villa needs serious renovation, and the unexpected absence of visitors caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has not helped. With the lack of the entrance fee to the museum, it risks being permanently closed to the public. A unique place, it helps us understand everything about the most performed Italian composer in the world.

Before having to make a drastic decision, the management of the museum has thought to ask for help. If you also hold this little but important piece of the cultural patrimony of Italy close to your heart we ask you to make a donation to our crowdfunding.

For anyone who knows the music of “Va pensiero” from Nabucco or the carefree Brindisi for La traviata, let us give back a little of what the Maestro has left to all of us as our heritage.

The Music and this house are for everyone: as always, “Viva Verdi”.

Above: Verdi's great-great grandson, Angiolo Carrara Verdi describes the damage to the residence, issues appeal to public for financial aid to assist in urgent restoration.

Those wishing to donate may join the fundraiser by clicking here*, and/or by contacting museum staff at 0523830000 or via email at info@villaverdi.org.

Incentives are available for fixed donations (see fundraiser site for details).


*pictures of water damage and estimated costs for restoration included on site and seen in the video posted above.

Direct link to fundraiser: https://www.innamoratidellacultura.it/projects/salviamo-il-museo-di-villa-verdi/

 
-Rose.

BACK TO HOME PAGE