A Love Affair Inspiring the World's Most Unforgettable Operas - an Editorial Review of "Viva Violetta & Verdi"

Book Blurb:

A Love Affair Inspiring the World's Most Unforgettable Operas

Experience the intense, lifelong love affair between Giuseppe Verdi and Giuseppina Strepponi, the brilliant and seductive soprano who shaped his legacy. As his muse, lover, and wife, Strepponi was the inspiration behind Verdi's most iconic works, including La Traviata and Aida. Her influence was pivotal, as she became the architect of his creative triumphs and the heart of his operatic genius.

Set against the backdrop of Italy's Risorgimento, this sweeping novel intertwines their turbulent relationship with the nation's fierce struggle for independence. Through the heartbreak of three brutal wars, Verdi and Strepponi's passion, betrayal, and artistic ambition come alive, mirroring the era's fiery spirit.

Rich with themes of love, power, food, wine, and unrelenting passion, Viva Violetta & Verdi is an unforgettable exploration of art, resilience, and the enduring bond that transformed both an artist and a nation.

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"A stunning, significant book...that is rich, lush and drenched in knowledge. It is nothing less than a gift." - Sheila Weller

"Smith's historic drama embraces universal themes of class and religious persecution, and weaves gorgeous language with an intimate knowledge of Italian food, music, and political hypocrisy that contemporary readers will find irresistible." - ​Jessica Keener

"Viva Violetta & Verdi is a well-researched love letter to Verdi; fans are sure to love." - Leslie Zemeckis

"Perfection. You are right there, inhaling and breathing in the words, the smell, and each piece of music. Bravo. It is both a love song and a love letter to the irrefutable power of Verdi's muse, Violetta." - Amy Ferris

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/bYebpBs

Author Bio:

Howard Jay Smith is an award-winning writer from Santa Barbara, California. VIVA VIOLETTA & VERDI, is his third novel in his series on great composers, including BEETHOVEN IN LOVE; OPUS 139 and MEETING MOZART: FROM THE SECRET DIARIES OF LORENZO DA PONTE. His other books include OPENING THE DOORS TO HOLLYWOOD (Random House) and JOHN GARDNER: AN INTERVIEW (New London Press). He was recently awarded a Profant Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for Excellence in Writing. Smith is a former two-time Bread Loaf Scholar and three time Washington, D.C. Commission for the Arts Fellow, who taught for many years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program and has lectured nationally. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, American Heritage Magazine, the Beethoven Journal, Horizon Magazine, Fig Tree Press, the Journal of the Writers Guild of America, the Ojai Quarterly, and numerous trade publications. While an executive at the ABC Television, Embassy TV, and Academy Home Entertainment he worked on numerous film, television, radio and commercial projects. He serves on the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Symphony and is a member of the American Beethoven Society.

Editorial Review:

On the morning of Verdi’s funeral, I awoke well before dawn. After a double shot of espresso and a cornetto, one freshly baked and served up by my daughter-in-law, Luisa, I dressed in my black mourning suit. At my age, this was an exercise I engaged in with an all too familiar regularity.

Then with the necessary assistance of my silver-handled cane, I left my bedroom suite and headed down the marble stairs to the entryway foyer of our home, Casa di Trevi, on the Via Vittorio Veneto. Tap, step, step. Tap, step, step – a rhythm and beat that had been my companion for over three decades. Tap, step, step.

The opening line of the book effectively establishes the scene and captivates the reader with its tone and immediacy. Smith uses an operatic flourish to transport us straight into the realm of 19th-century Italy; there is no slow build here. We are engrossed in the sights, sounds, and tensions of a nation - and a love - on the verge of collapse from the opening scene.

Viva Violetta & Verdi by Howard Jay Smith is a brilliant fusion of historical fiction, biographical analysis, and cultural immersion that revitalizes the impassioned world of Italy in the 19th century. Smith reveals the passionate, inspirational, and occasionally tumultuous romance between composer Giuseppe Verdi and the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi - a woman whose voice, spirit, and intellect served as the very soul of his greatest operas - with the flare of a writer and the accuracy of a historian.

Intimate yet comprehensive, Viva Violetta & Verdi examines the social, religious, and political changes of the Italian Risorgimento in addition to the romantic and creative collaboration between Verdi and Strepponi. Rich descriptions, endearing characters, and remarkable similarities between the operatic stage and the actual drama playing out throughout Italy abound in this expansive book. History sings in Smith's talented hands.

Smith draws the reader in with a sense of intimacy and intensity in the opening line. A universe where art, revolution, and romance blend with unreserved passion is shown in the very first paragraph. This is a vivid, living narrative rather than a dry retelling of historical events.

As soon as Toscanini spotted me, he came running over. “Ciao, Dario!” he exclaimed as he hugged me. In turn, so did Guastella, Boito and the Ricordis, each also shouting out my name as well with such enthusiasm, as if, “Ciao, Dario,” was the new greeting that had replaced “Buongiorno.” It’s true, throughout all Milan, I was perhaps the only gentleman of this fair city of ours who was always called by his first name, “Dario.” No Signor Conegliano was I. Though normally a man such as myself would always be addressed as “Signor So & So,” I took it as no measure of disrespect to be known to all as simply, “Dario.” Indeed, for all my countrymen and women, my name was as ubiquitous as my trattoria. Indeed, Ca’ Dario was my house, my restaurant, and my identity.

Toscanini pulled me aside, “Dario,” he said. “I’m concerned about Signora Stolz. Have you seen how pale she looks? I fear she’s not well.”

The story is told by a fictional narrator who acts as both a participant and a spectator. The narrator is an old friend of Verdi and a distant relative of Mozart's librettist, Lorenzo Da Ponte. We are given a very intimate glimpse into Verdi and Strepponi's private and public lives thanks to this brilliant narrative decision. Their odyssey is nothing short of captivating, especially when viewed against the larger background of Italy's divided quest for unification.

The narrative advances emotionally through three wars, innumerable operatic victories, and a forbidden yet transformational love. Smith never loses sight of the story's core, whether he is depicting the agonizing silence following a final curtain call or the murmurs of coded resistance in the shadows of a theater.

The book's layout and formatting is well done and easy to read, reflecting the sophisticated yet passionate tone of its subject. Chapter breaks occur at gratifying intervals and frequently conclude on strong notes that entice readers to turn the page again and again.

Even though there are a few typographical issues here and there, they are only slight detractors from a well-done and well-considered presentation. Smith seamlessly incorporates political and operatic allusions, and he gives readers who are not as familiar with Italian history or operatic structure just enough background information without becoming overly didactic.

In addition to being a brilliant composer, Giuseppe Verdi is portrayed as a troubled, fervent, and frequently melancholy man who was influenced by love, loss, and political beliefs. At the heart of the book is his relationship with Giuseppina Strepponi, which is feisty, emotional, challenging, and ultimately redemptive.

In Verdi's life, Strepponi is more than just a passing reference. She is transformed from muse to genius by Smith. Strepponi is shown as a brilliant artist who was ahead of her time and had an indisputable impact on Verdi's operas, particularly La Traviata and Aida. Smith uses her to bring up significant issues of gender, creativity, and acknowledgment. Her voice is heard in Verdi's music as well as in every decision he makes.

Violetta giggled but did not have to be asked twice. She was a smart girl, instantly perceptive. Understanding exactly what was needed, she immediately jumped in. Affecting a deep and husky male voice, she sang as powerful as she could:

Little lady, this is the record

Of the beauties my master has loved.

It’s a catalogue that I myself compiled.

Come closer, read it with me.

In Italy six hundred and forty,

In Germany two hundred and thirty-one,

One hundred in France.

In Turkey ninety-one,

But in Spain already one thousand and three!

One thousand and three,

One thousand and three,

One thousand and three…

From priests and revolutionaries to opera house-goers and street entertainers, the supporting cast members are colorful and complex, lending depth to an already rich historical setting.

Considering the decades-long time period it covers, the novel's continuity is astounding. The protagonists' personal stories are deftly interwoven with significant historical occurrences, and every new discovery raises the political and emotional stakes.

By following Verdi's journey from grieving widower to reluctant revolutionary to a man completely changed by love and legacy, Smith crafts a seamless and fulfilling story arc. The ending reverberates with promise, purpose, and artistic immortality despite being mired in grief and the passing of an age.

Viva Violetta & Verdi is a profoundly satisfying and emotionally impactful ending. Smith permits ambiguity and introspection, which are characteristics of Verdi's own compositions, rather than tying everything up in a tidy bow. The legacy of Verdi and Strepponi seems to be reverberating not only in opera theaters but also in the very fabric of Italian identity, giving the reader a sense of continuity.

Few books have the courage to blend the broad outlines of a national movement with the personal complexities of a romance. That's what Viva Violetta & Verdi does, and more. This book's emphasis on the artist's craft is what really sets it apart. It raises Strepponi as a co-creator in every meaning of the word and questions the origin of Verdi's talent rather than just celebrating it.

The novel's examination of coded musical messages - which are used to covertly further revolutionary endeavors - is a particularly interesting feature that gives the story an exciting new dimension. Another level of complexity and significance is added by the way Catholic politics, Italian nationalism, and Jewish identity are interwoven.

Howard Jay Smith writes with grace, humor, and respect for the subject matter he writes about. His writing is educated without being aloof, poetic without being overdone. Every page is delightful to read because of the sensual, artistic detail used to depict the politics, music, wine, and food.

Furthermore, Smith's profound comprehension of music and its emotional impact is evident. You will leave this book with a deeper understanding of how art can both reflect and impact history, regardless of your familiarity with Verdi's works or your level of opera expertise.

A monument to romance in all its manifestations, Viva Violetta & Verdi is more than just a historical fiction book. It celebrates the lives of two remarkable people who, while facing personal and political upheaval, created eternal art through their love. We get a story that sings thanks to Howard Jay Smith's rich storytelling and painstaking research.

This book is a must-read for everyone who enjoys epic romances, classical music, or historical fiction. It is sweeping, dramatic, poignant, and unforgettable, much like the operas it honors.

Bravo, maestro.

5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the "Highly Recommended" award of excellence

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