In 1854, Verdi was in Paris to compose I vespri siciliani (1855), a commission from the Theatre of the Opera. The composer soon became intolerant to the requests of the French “Grand Opéra” as he considered them too restrictive and cunning. “I’ll be very happy when I have finished I vespri siciliani. An opera at the Opéra is as tiring as killing a bull. Five hours of music?…Hauf!” Verdi declared. Following the first performance, the French composer Hector Berlioz wrote in the “Jour...