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Arrigo Boito

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Composer

The Resume

    (February 24, 1842-June 10, 1918)
    Wrote 'Mefistofele (1868)'
    Wrote librettos for 'Otello,' 'Falstaff,' 'Simon Boccanegra' and 'La Gioconda'
    Sometimes used the pen name 'Tobia Gorrio'

Why he might be annoying:

    He only composed one opera, 'Mefistofele.'
    The opera was a complete flop.
    At its premiere, it was so long that the performance didn't end until after midnight.
    Boito is considered a better poet than composer.
    He had psychological problems.
    He spent 54 years trying to finish his second opera, and never did.
    He once publicly called the great conductor Arturo Toscanini 'porco' (pig).
    He resembled Teddy Roosevelt.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He wrote librettos for several famous operas, including Giuseppe Verdi's masterpieces 'Otello' and 'Falstaff.'
    'Otello' is considered the best operatic version of a Shakespeare play.
    He and Verdi originally hated each other, but became close friends.
    Although most people disliked his music at the time, Verdi considered him a big influence.
    'Mefistofele' is ambitious and experimental, which is why middlebrow audiences didn't like it.
    The opera has grown in popularity over the years.
    He spoke fluent French and German.

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 47 Votes: 53.19% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 27 Votes: 51.85% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 45 Votes: 64.44% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 93 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 405 Votes: 49.88% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 187 Votes: 40.11% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 301 Votes: 37.21% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 303 Votes: 60.40% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 177 Votes: 67.80% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 178 Votes: 54.49% Annoying