Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), Italian operatic composer who is considered the major Italian musical dramatist of the nineteenth century. The successor to Donizetti, Rossini and Bellini, he brought a new status of music drama to Italian opera. His gift for melody and dramatic action has ensured enduring popularity in many of his operas such as La Traviata, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and Aida. He received national and international recognition for his 28 operas and his Requiem.