How would you like to spend your 200th birthday?

Have you made any plans? Because time passes quickly, and your bicentennial might just sneak up on you.

Giuseppe Verdi is 200 years old TODAY! (Or maybe tomorrow.)

His baptismal certificate is not completely clear. He was either born on October 9, 1813 or on October 10, 1813.  Just to be safe, I think we should celebrate all week long.

After all, Verdi was one of the greatest opera composers of all time.  He deserves a really fabulous birthday party.

So I have developed my own live show called VERDI HEROINES.  It’s quick romp through Verdi’s own dramatic life, punctuated by soprano arias from his best-loved operas. Just yesterday, I got to celebrate Verdi’s 200th birthday by singing “Verdi Heroines” for the South Bay branch of the Music Teacher’s Association of California, where I had the luxury of a very fine accompanist, Tomoko Ariyuki. If you’re in Southern California, please contact me (lindsay@lindsayfeldmeth.com) for more information about how to book my VERDI HEROINES concert for your private event.

So how well do you know your Verdi? Operavore has provided this VERDI QUIZ to find out. If you were at my show yesterday, I really hope you get a good score.

Of course, there are many ways to celebrate Verdi this week. Gala events are cropping up all over the globe.  Here are some ways you can join the party, wherever you are in the world:

NORTH AMERICA:

New York, NY ~ you can pre-buy tickets for the Met’s new production of Falstaff in December, but if you’re looking for a Verdi party in October, visit The New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble as they join with the Arcadian Chorale of Matawan to present Verdi’s Requiem on October 19.

Sarasota, FL ~ Sarasota Opera has a genuine commitment to Verdi.  They want to become the first opera house in the world to perform the complete works of Verdi! And they are on track to finish their Verdi Cycle by 2016. The company that calls itself “Verdi’s American Home” will be hosting a big birthday party on 10/10/13.

EUROPE:

Copenhagen, Denmark ~ live stream Verdi’s Requiem from the Danish Radio Concert Hall on 10/13

Milan, Italy ~ Teatro alla Scala: get your tickets here for Don Carlo or Aida

Vienna, Austria ~ Staatsoper: click here for the Verdi Gala conducted by Daniele Gatti

AFRICA

Pretoria, South Africa ~ Come to a Verdi Gala on 10/11 or 10/13 at Linder Auditorium

ASIA:

Singapore ~ Enjoy a Verdi Gala on the waterfront at Theatres on the Bay, October 24

SOUTH AMERICA:

Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Order your tix now for Teatro Colón’s December production of Un Ballo in Maschera

AUSTRALIA:

Melbourne ~ Attend La Traviata at Monash Uni on Friday night

Buon compleanno, maestro! Viva Verdi!