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| "Frederick Barbarossa Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany and Italy is wounded at the battle of Legnano, Tancredi Scarpelli |
I just heard the overture or sinfonia to this Verdi opera, The Battle of Legnano by Verdi, and it's opening chorus, "Viva Italia," is a kind of unofficial Italian national anthem. Here's the story in a nutshell:
I could shoot myself for not knowing about all this.Act I: Two Italian soldiers, Rodrigo and Arrigo, vow to join forces and fight for Italy's freedom from German rule. They're especially glad to be together because Arrigo has returned from a battle in which everyone thought he had been killed. And that's also a problem, because Arrigo's ex-girlfriend Lida, thinking him dead, has married Rodrigo.
Act II: Rodrigo and Arrigo try to drum up support for their cause. They openly defy the German Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, who in turn vows to destroy them.
Act III: The two soldiers join a sort of special forces unit, called the Knights of Death. Lida, who still loves Arrigo, is worried about him, and sends him a letter, which falls into the wrong hands. It eventually winds up with Rodrigo, who is understandably angry, and locks Arrigo in a tower. Arrigo is ashamed that he won't be able to fight with the Knights of Death, and flings himself from the tower window in a suicide attempt.
Act IV: Arrigo survives his fall, and makes his way to the battlefield, where he is personally responsible for killing Frederick Barbarossa. Back in town, people hear of the victory, and celebrate. But Arrigo is carried in, mortally wounded. He swears to Rodrigo that Lida has remained faithful. Then, he kisses the Italian flag, sings "Viva Italia," and dies.