The heart of Giuseppe Verdi’s production and icon of an Italy experiencing rapid changes within the society of the new millennium, the female figure – the “fickle woman” – is the main character of the video-installations specifically realized by the architect, project and set designer Peter Bottazzi for the rooms of Palazzo Morando, museum of fashion of the city of Milan, to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the Master.

The project, with the sound settings and music technologies of the Music Research Centre – MRC – and the artistic support of Fortunato D’Amico, was funded with the extraordinary contribution of the National Committee for the Verdi Centenary Celebrations ex. L. 12/11/2012 n. 206 and was promoted in collaboration with the Polo Raccolte Storiche (History Research Base) and the Case Museo (Museum Houses) of the Municipality of Milan and the participation of Ricordi & C. and Volume S.r.l.

“Veni Vidi Verdi. La donna è mobile” – which will be screened from the 19th November 2013 to the 26th January 2014 in the Courtyard of honour and the museum spaces on the first floor of Palazzo Morando – is part of “Verdi a Milano” (“Verdi in Milan”), the programme of over 80 events promoted by Edison and the Municipality of Milan for the Verdi anniversary celebrations.

Giuseppe Verdi’s works show the high cultural complexity of the man of the Risorgimento, a movement which will bring, in 1861, to the Unification of Italy and the spread of values inspired by romantic and patriotic ideals – says Peter Bottazzi. Music and its composition process are in many aspects similar to the growth trends and developments of a society and they empathetically recall all those elements which favour the shaping of the educational thought. In this sense “Veni Vidi Verdi. La donna è mobile” is an interdisciplinary project as well as a non-conventional homage to the artist, artisan, philanthropist, senator, cosmopolitan, man of the public sphere and of the people. That is to say, an undisputed protagonist of the cultural life of the XIX century.

Peter Bottazzi proposes an artistic reinterpretation which summarizes Verdi’s view. Here the woman – like the Italy of which she is a symbol – is fickle, continuously changing and constantly in search of new values and roles to interpret. Praised in songs and dreams, almost the only protagonist of the work of Giuseppe Verdi, here we find a surprising, reinventing and charming “fickle” woman. These unique attributes are combined with the concept of “industriousness”, where the making, assembling and handling of objects become essential tools to redefine the sound element and have a deeper grasp of the immense universe of Verdi’s art and culture.

Palazzo Morando will thus be enriched with sound settings and installations which in some cases will actively involve the visitors, by guiding them into an extraordinary sensorial experience of the many facets of the Verdi’s phenomenon. Some of Giuseppe Verdi’s personal documents and materials, which are now kept in the Archivio Ricordi (Ricordi Historical Archive) will complete the exhibition, which will provide a broad view of the ideas and thoughts of the most important and famous composer of our country.

Palazzo Morando
Via Sant’Andrea 6
Milan 20121 Italy
Ph. +39 02 88465735
www.civicheraccoltestoriche.mi.it

Opening hours
Tuesday - Sunday
From 9.00am to 1.00pm and from 2.00pm to 5.30pm