Piave, Francesco Maria

views updated May 21 2018

Piave, Francesco Maria (b Murano, 1810; d Milan, 1876). It. poet and librettist. Son of Murano glass-maker. Became proof reader in Venice and began to write opera libs. Was recommended to Verdi and wrote libs. for 10 Verdi operas—Ernani (1844), I due Foscari (1844), Macbeth (with Mattei, 1847), Il corsaro (1848), Stiffelio (1850) rev. as Aroldo (1857), Rigoletto (1851), La traviata (1853), Simon Boccanegra (1857), and La forza del destino (1862). Also wrote libs. for Balfe, Mercadante, and Ricci brothers.