Francesco Maria Piave

Francesco Maria Piave (1810-1876) was a journalist, poet, and translator, but is best known for the 10 librettos he wrote for Giuseppe Verdi’s operas, including Rigoletto and La Traviata. Verdi’s offices moved Piave from La Fenice in Venice to La Scala in Milan, but their professional partnership ended abruptly in 1869, when Piave suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak. At his death, Verdi paid for his funeral and paid him lavish tribute.