SALUTING VERDI: KRCU SERIES TO CELEBRATE FAMED ITALIAN COMPOSER

Giuseppe Verdi is known as one of the most human of composers, a man whose operas presented both wonderful music and characters audiences empathize with. He is one of the most performed composers in the world.

The music world is paying particular attention in 2001, the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death.

One of his most famous works, "Requiem," will be performed by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra in Munich, Germany, and the Symphony Orchestra of Madrid on Jan. 27, the 100th anniversary of the day Verdi died.

Closer to home, in April the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform the same work. Luciano Pavarotti will appear in "Aida" at the Met beginning Jan. 15.

Sunday, KRCU 90.9 FM begins a series titled "Verdi: His Life, His Operas." Each Sunday at 7 p.m. through Feb. 4, host Barbara Herbert will take listeners on a journey back to the composer's times and 28 operas. Herbert is the regular host of KRCU's show "Sunday Night at the Opera."

The series at times sounds like a radio play with appearances by characters in Verdi's life, including Dr. Tom Harte playing the composer himself. Works by other composers sometimes will be heard in the programs as well.

KRCU is attempting to syndicate the programs. So far, five other public radio stations have acquired a shortened version of the series produced by Southeast graduate student Jake McCleland.

Many of Verdi's works are in the standard repertoire for opera companies today, including "Rigoletto," "Aida," "La traviata," "Il trouvatore" and "Otello," among others. "Any time you put on Verdi, the opera is going to sell tickets," Herbert says.

One reason Verdi is so popular is because his work has retained its relevance, Herbert says. At a time when Italian nationalism was on the rise, he wrote many operas that were political though not blatantly so. "He became the voice of his country," Herbert said.

Italy was only unified in 1861, 48 years after Verdi's birth.

In his day, opera was the only entertainment people had. Every village had an opera house, and composer's job was to fill them. "It was like Seinfeld,'" Herbert said. "Every year they had to come up with more stuff."

The English supertitles used by most opera companies have helped expand the audience for a musical form usually not sung in English, but Herbert says opera is accessible to anyone. "If you listen to the music and it doesn't touch you, you have to be pretty unfeeling," she says. "People respond to it emotionally."

She often listens to opera while cleaning her house. "It takes your mind off what you're doing," Herbert said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.