Tasty notes: “Arrigo Boito” conservatory of music

Photographic portrait of Giuseppe Verdi (Parma, Private collection).

Verdi sitting at the dining table with some friends at Montecatini (photo by P. Tempestini, La Spezia, after 1897). From left, sitting: Giuseppina Pasqua, Dr Pietro Grocco, Teresa Stolz, Giuseppe Verdi, Maestro Leopoldo Mugnone and his wife. From left, standing: Verdi’s waiter, Giuseppe, and the owner of the Locanda Maggiore Hotel.

The kitchen of Villa Verdi at Sant’Agata (Piacenza).

The dining room of Villa Verdi at Sant’Agata (Piacenza).

Two photos of the cellar of Villa Verdi. The composer, who had acquired extensive lands over the years, had his holdings farmed and he produced wine. He loved calling himself “A farmer from Roncole”.

Two photos of the cellar of Villa Verdi. The composer, who had acquired extensive lands over the years, had his holdings farmed and he produced wine. He loved calling himself “A farmer from Roncole”.     

1891 sketch by Hohenstein for Verdi’s Falstaff (Milan, Private collection).

Cover of the special issue of “L’Illustrazione Italiana” for the premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff, 9 February 1893 (Parma, Casa della Musica).

Maestro Verdi’s recipe for tortelli, 1896 (Parma, Private collection).

Verdi, a sophisticated gourmet, used to send Spalla and Spalletta di San Secondo (cured pork shoulder) to his friends for Christmas, writing down himself the instructions on how to prepare it. The receipt for a Spalla sent to his Milanese publisher and friend Giulio Ricordi.

Menu of Giuseppe Verdi’s last lunch on 20 January 1901 at Grand Hotel et de Milan.

A 5-kg tomato puree can of the Giovanni Guidorossi company of Corcagnano (Parma), from the 1930s, depicts the monument to Giuseppe Verdi in Parma (Collecchio, Museum of Tomato).