Exhibits from the Ricordi Archive travel to London

Advertisement for arrangements for domestic use from the successful opera Nabucodonosor, as it was still called at that time, in the Ricordi magazine Gazzetta Musicale di Milano, 1843

The exhibits from the Ricordi Archive being unpacked at the V&A.

First printed edition of the Nabucco vocal score by Luigi Truzzi. Milan, 1842.

Contract dated March 19, 1842 between the Teatro alla Scala, represented by the impresario Bartolomeo Merelli, and Giovanni Ricordi, in which the Scala transfers its share of the rights to Nabucco to Ricordi for the price of 3,000 Austrian lire.

A page from the libretto with the names of the principal singers, including Giuseppina Strepponi, Verdis later wife. Milan, Teatro alla Scala, 9 March 1842.

Contract between Verdi, Bartolomeo Merelli and Francesco Lucca, in which Verdi transfers 50% of his rights to Nabucco to the publisher Lucca for 3,000 Austrian lire.

The libretto for the Nabucco premiere being packed for its voyage to London.

Advertisement for arrangements for domestic use from the successful opera Nabucodonosor, as it was still called at that time, in the Ricordi magazine Gazzetta Musicale di Milano, 1843.

Contract between Verdi, Bartolomeo Merelli and Francesco Lucca, in which Verdi transfers 50% of his rights to Nabucco to the publisher Lucca for 3,000 Austrian lire.

Letter from Giuseppe Verdi to Tito I. Ricordi, Paris, 22 March 1862.

The exhibits from the Ricordi Archive being unpacked at the V&A.

The exhibits from the Ricordi Archive being unpacked at the V&A.

Advertisement for arrangements for domestic use from the successful opera Nabucodonosor, as it was still called at that time, in the Ricordi magazine Gazzetta Musicale di Milano, 1843.

The exhibits from the Ricordi Archive being unpacked at the V&A.

Contract register, Ricordi publishing house. The entry for Nabucco is dated 19 May 1842.

The new Sainsbury Gallery

Letter from Giuseppe Verdi to Tito I. Ricordi, Paris, 22 March 1862.

Giuseppe Verdi, Nabucco, premiered on 9 March 1842, “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves” Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate Original handwritten score, Folios 189v-190r.

First printed edition of the Nabucco vocal score by Luigi Truzzi. Milan, 1842.

The original score of the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, “Va, pensiero” from Verdi's “Nabucco” in front of art photographs by Matthias Schaller of opera houses from all over Italy