Verdi wrote frankly to Piave about his joys and
tribulations, sharing concerns that he rarely revealed to others.
He called Piave “Dear Tom-Cat” and “Dear Lion-Cat,” while
Piave responded with salutations to “Adorable Bear” and “Dear
Peppino,” at a time when almost everyone else addressed Verdi
as “Illustrious Maestro.” The two men worked together in shared
good faith, surviving private and professional crises even as they
brought many successful operas to the stage. In addition to
Ernani , Piave wrote I due Foscari, Macbeth, Il corsaro, Stiffelio,
Rigoletto, La traviata, Simon Boccanegra, Aroldo , and La forza del
destino .
