Tangled History Verdi's 'I Lombardi alla Prima Cruciata' - reviewed by ROBERT ANDERSON '... expertly conducted by Daniele Callegari and imaginatively staged by Lamberto Puggelli.'

The First Crusade was an achievement of which Christianity has every reason to be thoroughly ashamed. Hordes of undisciplined warriors passed through the Byzantine territories of the emperor Alexius I eventually to reach Jerusalem. There, before giving thanks within the Holy Sepulchre, the Crusaders slaughtered as many Moslems as they could find and managed to incinerate most of the Jewish population. It was the start of an occupation that could not possibly survive, any more than its successors have done or are likely to...

GIUSEPPE VERDI

TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA

PARMA

ITALY