Category: Victor Hugo

‘The Legend of the Centuries’: A Masterwork of French Literature

The “only modern epic possible” according to Charles Baudelaire, “The Legend of the Centuries” (“La Légende des siècles”) is a masterpiece of French literature. Written by none other than Victor Hugo, this epic poem aims to depict the history of mankind from its origins until the 19th century, an epic task in itself. An Epic…


Theater Review: ‘Ernani’: Early Verdi Opera Resonates With Male Voices

CHICAGO—With “Ernani,” Verdi’s fifth opera, his fame took a giant leap. The opera premiered in Venice in 1844, and then went on to world stages in London, Paris, and New York, making the Italian composer an international superstar in his own time. Based on the Victor Hugo play, “Hernani,” with the libretto by Francesco Maria…