CHAPTER V

FIRST PERIOD WORKS

_I Due Foscari_--Its argument--Failure of the opera in Rome, Paris, and London--_Giovanna d'Arco_--A moderate success--_Alzira_--_Attila_--More political enthusiasm--_Attila_ given at Her Majesty's Theatre by Mr. Lumley--Its cool reception--_The Times_ and _Athenæum_ critics on _Attila_--Exceptional activity of Verdi--_Macbeth_--_Jerusalem_ in Paris--_I Masnadieri_ first given at Her Majesty's Theatre--Jenny Lind in its cast--Plot of the opera--The work a failure everywhere--The critics on _I Masnadieri_--Mr. Lumley offers Verdi the conductorship at Her Majesty's Theatre--_Il Corsaro_--_La Battaglia di Legnano_--_Luisa Miller_--Mr. Chorley on _Luisa Miller_--Its libretto--Reception of the work in Naples, London, and Paris 70