His own libretto to the operas, translated by Andrew Porter, is an intricate system of metric patterns, imaginative metaphors and alliteration,combining to produce the music in text.'Andrew Porter's utterly natural, often poetic, faithfully rendered English text should be a revelation...The immediacy of instant comprehension gives the entire drama an added dimension.'--The New York Times

    It had its premiere at La Fenice in Venice in 1853 and has gone on to become one of the most performed and greatly loved of all operas. This guide contains articles about Verdi's preparations for the first performances, a musical commentary, an overview of the opera's social background, and an examination of how the libretto was adapted from Dumas's play. Also included are a survey of important performances and performers, 16 pages of illustrations, a musical thematic guide, the full libretto and English translation, a discography, bibliography, DVD, and website guides.