On September 6, 2019, The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City will be opening a new exhibition, titled “Verdi: Creating Otello and Falstaff– Highlights from the Ricordi Archive.” Running until January 5, 2020, A number of rare historical documents will be available for public viewing in America for the very first time, including original scores, libretti, set and costume designs, and more.

Colin B. Bailey, Director of the Morgan Library & Museum, said: ”We are delighted with the support of Marina Kellen French and the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation to present these highlights from the Ricordi Archive, showing how Italy’s pre-eminent composer shaped what would become two of his crowning achievements, Otello and Falstaff. A selection of set designs, costumes from Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, autograph manuscripts, contracts, publications, publicity, video excerpts from recent productions, and objects from the Morgan’s collection enables visitors to experience the tremendous collaborative efforts that go into an operatic production.”

Programs at the Morgan will include gallery talks, screenings of films such as “Tosca’s Kiss” and Franco Zeffirelli’s production of “Otello,” and even a Verdi-inspired dance performance featuring students of the American Ballet Theatre.

Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, said “The name Ricordi stands for 200-hundred years of Italian opera and music history. As the owners of the Ricordi Archive, we are very aware of the importance of this European cultural asset and take responsibility for its sustained preservation, care, and development. Exhibitions like the one in New York, in partnership with the Morgan Library, are a great opportunity to keep the creative work of earlier generations alive and to reach audiences beyond the musicological community.”