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i
CDC
YELLOW BOOK 2018
Health Information for
International Travel
ii
iii
CDC
YELLOW BOOK 2018
Health Information for
International Travel
Editor in Chief Gary W. Brunette, MD, MS
MANAGING EDITOR
Megan Crawley O’Sullivan, MPH
TECHNICAL EDITOR
1
Ronnie Henry
iv
1
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers
the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education
by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University
Press in the UK and certain other countries.
ISSN 0095–3539
ISBN 978–0–19–062861–1
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Paperback printed by LSC Communications, United States of America
Oxford University Press is proud to pay a portion of its sales for this book to the CDC
Foundation. Chartered by Congress, the CDC Foundation began operations in 1995
as an independent, nonprofit organization fostering support for CDC through public-
private partnerships. Further information about the CDC Foundation can be found at
www.cdcfoundation.org. The CDC Foundation did not prepare any portion of this
book and is not responsible for its contents.
v
All CDC material in this publication is in the public domain and may be used and
reprinted without special permission; however, citation of the source is appreciated.
Suggested Citation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2018: Health Information for
International Travel. New York: Oxford University Press; 2017.
Readers are invited to send comments and suggestions regarding this publication to Gary W.
Brunette, Editor in Chief, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global
Migration and Quarantine (E-03), Travelers’ Health Branch (proposed), 1600 Clifton Road NE,
Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Disclaimers
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the decision to use one or the other was made based on recognition factors and was done for
the convenience of the intended audience. Therefore, the use of trade names and commercial
sources in this publication is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the
US Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, or CDC.
References to non-CDC Internet sites are provided as a service to readers and do not
constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by the US
Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, or CDC. CDC is
not responsible for the content of these sites. URL addresses were current as of the date of
publication.
Notice
This material is not intended to be, and should not be considered, a substitute for medical
or other professional advice. Treatment for the conditions described in this material is
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offer accurate information with respect to the subject matter covered and to be current
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cont
vi
ents
╇vi
1 Introductionâ•… 1
viii CONTENTS
╇ix
CONTENTS ix
x
4 Select Destinationsâ•…
Rationale for Select Destinationsâ•… 425
425
x CONTENTS
╇xi
5 Post-╉Travel Evaluation╅
General Approach to the Returned Travelerâ•… 495
495
CONTENTS xi
xi
Appendicesâ•…645
Appendix A: Promoting Quality in the Practice of Travel Medicineâ•… 645
Appendix B: Travel Vaccine Summary Tableâ•… 649
Indexâ•…
653
Photography Creditsâ•… 667
xii CONTENTS
xi
Dengue
BOX 3-1. Guidelines for classifying dengue 166
FIGURE 3-1. Relative sensitivity of detection of dengue virus nucleic acid, antigen, and IgM 168
MAP 3-1. Dengue risk in the Americas and the Caribbean 163
MAP 3-2. Dengue risk in Africa and the Middle East 164
MAP 3-3. Dengue risk in Asia and Oceania 165
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Dermatologic Conditions
TABLE 5-5. Ten most common skin lesions in returned travelers, by cause 508
Diarrheal Illnesses
BOX 2-2. Travelers’ diarrhea definitions 53
TABLE 2-6. Travelers’ diarrhea treatment recommendations 53
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
xvi
Escherichia coli
TABLE 3-1. Mechanism of pathogenesis and typical clinical syndrome of Escherichia coli pathotypes 176
Fever
TABLE 5-1. Illnesses associated with fever presenting in the first 2 weeks after travel 497
TABLE 5-2. Common causes of fever, by geographic area 500
Hepatitis A
TABLE 3-2. Vaccines to prevent hepatitis A 185
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Hepatitis B
MAP 3-4. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection 188
TABLE 3-3. Interpretation of serologic test results for hepatitis B virus infection 190
TABLE 3-4. Vaccines to prevent hepatitis B 192
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Hepatitis C
MAP 3-5. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection 194
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Hepatitis E
MAP 3-6. Hepatitis E endemic countries 200
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
HIV
BOX 3-5. Summary of sexual health recommendations for travelers 318
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
TABLE 8-1. Immunization of immunocompromised adults 559
Influenza
MAP 3-7. Distribution of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus 208
TABLE 3-5. Recommended dosage and duration of antiviral medications for treatment and prophylaxis of
influenza A and B 212
Injury
FIGURE 2-2. Leading causes of injury death for US citizens in foreign countries, 2013 & 2014 95
TABLE 2-13. Recommended strategies to reduce injuries while abroad 96
Japanese Encephalitis
MAP 3-8. Distribution of Japanese encephalitis 216
TABLE 3-6. Vaccine to prevent Japanese encephalitis (JE) 217
Malaria
BOX 3-2. Clinical highlights for malaria 235
BOX 3-3. What is a reliable supply? 239
BOX 8-7. Practical advice on malaria prophylaxis for long-term travelers and expatriates 610
MAP 3-9. Malaria-endemic countries in the Western Hemisphere 234
MAP 3-10. Malaria-endemic countries in the Eastern Hemisphere 236
MAP 3-18. Malaria in Bolivia 380
MAP 3-19. Malaria in Botswana 381
MAP 3-21. Malaria in Brazil 383
MAP 3-24. Malaria in Colombia 388
MAP 3-26. Malaria in Ecuador 392
MAP 3-28. Malaria in Ethiopia 394
MAP 3-29. Malaria in India 398
MAP 3-31. Malaria in Kenya 401
MAP 3-32. Malaria in Mexico 404
MAP 3-33. Malaria in Nicaragua 406
MAP 3-35. Malaria in Panama 409
MAP 3-37. Malaria in Peru 412
MAP 3-38. Malaria in South Africa 416
MAP 3-40. Malaria in Venezuela 421
TABLE 3-8. Reliable supply regimens for the treatment of malaria 240
TABLE 3-9. Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis 241
TABLE 3-10. Drugs used in the prophylaxis of malaria 244
TABLE 3-11. Half-lives of malaria chemoprophylaxis drugs 248
TABLE 3-12. Changing medications as a result of side effects during chemoprophylaxis 250
TABLE 3-13. Food and Drug Administration recommendations for deferring blood donation in people returning
from malarious areas 251
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
TABLE 8-6. Differences between CDC recommendations and US military’s use of malaria
chemoprophylaxis 619
Measles
TABLE 2-4. Recommended intervals between administration of antibody-containing products and
measles-containing vaccine or varicella-containing vaccine 35
Meningitis
MAP 3-11. Areas with frequent epidemics of meningococcal meningitis 262
TABLE 3-14. Meningococcal vaccines licensed in the United States 264
Rabies
BOX 3-4. World Health Organization, human rabies case definition 288
TABLE 3-15. Criteria for preexposure immunization for rabies 290
TABLE 3-16. Preexposure immunization for rabies 291
TABLE 3-17. Postexposure immunization for rabies 292
Schistosomiasis
MAP 3-12. Distribution of schistosomiasis 310
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Tickborne Encephalitis
TABLE 3-19. Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines licensed in Europe and Russia 329
Tuberculosis
MAP 3-13. Estimated tuberculosis incidence rates 336
TABLE 3-20. Estimated proportion of MDR TB cases in high-burden countries 338
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Typhoid
TABLE 3-21. Vaccines to prevent typhoid fever 344
TABLE 8-4. Diseases for which VFR travelers are at increased risk, proposed reasons for risk variance, and
recommendations to reduce risks 586
Varicella (Chickenpox)
TABLE 2-4. Recommended intervals between administration of antibody-containing products and
measles-containing vaccine or varicella-containing vaccine 35
Yellow Fever
FIGURE 3-2. Example International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) 362
FIGURE 3-3. Medical Contraindication to Vaccination section of the International Certificate of Vaccination
or Prophylaxis (ICVP) 363
MAP 3-14. Yellow fever vaccine recommendations in Africa 364
MAP 3-15. Yellow fever vaccine recommendations in the Americas 365
Zika
BOX 3-6. Zika in pregnancy 370
RESOURCES
General Resources
BOX 1-1. CDC contact information for clinicians 2
BOX 2-9. About dietary supplements and unproven therapies 116
FIGURE 1-1. CDC Travelers’ Health website homepage 4
MAP 1-1. Estimated number of US air travelers received 14
TABLE 1-1. Estimated number of US air passengers departing to the top 10 destination countries, 2015 14
Insect Avoidance
BOX 2-4. Maximizing protection from mosquitoes and ticks 82
BOX 2-5. Bed bugs and international travel 86
BOX 8-6. Practical advice on personal protective measures for clinicians counseling long-term travelers
and expatriates 609
FIGURE 2-1. Sample repellency awareness graphic for skin-applied insect repellents 84
Pretravel Consultation
BOX 8-1. Key patient education points for the immunocompromised traveler 570
BOX 8-2. Pretravel consultation checklist for pregnant travelers 577
TABLE 2-1. Information necessary for a risk assessment during pretravel consultations 17
TABLE 2-2. Vaccines to update or consider during pretravel consultations 19
TABLE 2-3. Major topics for discussion during pretravel consultations 21
Water Treatment
TABLE 2-10. Comparison of water disinfection techniques 73
TABLE 2-11. Microorganism size and susceptibility to filtration 74
TABLE 2-12. Summary of field water disinfection techniques 77
SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Immunocompromised
TABLE 8-1. Immunization of immunocompromised adults 559
TABLE 8-2. Immunosuppressive biologic agents that preclude use of live vaccines 566
Long-Term Travelers
BOX 8-5. Key findings from a review on studies relevant to long-term travelers and expatriates 608
BOX 8-6. Practical advice on personal protective measures for clinicians counseling long-term travelers
and expatriates 609
BOX 8-7. Practical advice on malaria prophylaxis for long-term travelers and expatriates 610
Medical Tourists
BOX 2-6. Guiding principles on medical tourism 112
BOX 2-7. Patient checklist for obtaining safe dental care during international travel 113
BOX 2-8. Helpful resources on medical tourism 114
Military
TABLE 8-5. Differences between military populations and civilian traveling populations 616
TABLE 8-6. Differences between CDC recommendations and US military’s use of malaria
chemoprophylaxis 619
Pregnant Travelers
BOX 8-2. Pretravel consultation checklist for pregnant travelers 577
BOX 8-3. Contraindications for travel during pregnancy 578
Returning Travelers
BOX 5-1. Important elements of a medical history in an ill returned traveler 496
TABLE 5-1. Illnesses associated with fever presenting in the first 2 weeks after travel 497
TABLE 5-2. Common causes of fever, by geographic area 500
TABLE 5-3. Common infections, by incubation period 501
TABLE 5-4. Common clinical findings and associated infections 502
TABLE 5-5. Ten most common skin lesions in returned travelers, by cause 508
Students
TABLE 8-7. Study-abroad resources 623
List of Maps
DISEASE MAPS
Dengue, the Americas and the Caribbean (Map 3-1) 163
Dengue, Africa and the Middle East (Map 3-2) 164
Dengue, Asia and Oceania (Map 3-3) 165
Hepatitis B (Map 3-4) 188
Hepatitis C (Map 3-5) 194
Hepatitis E (Map 3-6) 200
Influenza, Avian (H5N1) (Map 3-7) 208
Japanese encephalitis (Map 3-8) 216
Malaria, Eastern Hemisphere (Map 3-10) 236
Malaria, Western Hemisphere (Map 3-9) 234
Malaria, Bolivia (Map 3-18) 380
Malaria, Botswana (Map 3-19) 381
Malaria, Brazil (Map 3-21) 383
Malaria, Colombia (Map 3-24) 388
Malaria, Ecuador (Map 3-26) 392
xx LIST OF MAPS
xxi
Editorial Staff
Editor in Chief: Gary W. Brunette
Chief Medical Editor: Phyllis E. Kozarsky
Medical Editors: Clive M. Brown, Nicole J. Cohen, Douglas H. Esposito, Mark D. Gershman,
Stephen M. Ostroff, Edward T. Ryan, David R. Shlim, Richard W. Steketee,
Michelle Weinberg, and Mary Elizabeth Wilson
Managing Editor: Megan Crawley O’Sullivan
Technical Editor: Ronnie Henry
Design and Production Editor: Kelly Holton
Editorial Assistant: Kelly Winter
Cartographer: R. Ryan Lash
Assistant Cartographer: C. Virginia Lee
CDC Contributors
Abanyie, Francisca Brooks, John T. Esposito, Douglas H. Green, Michael D.
Abe, Karon Brown, Clive M. Fischer, Marc Griffin, Patricia M.
Alexander, James P. Brunette, Gary W. Fitzgerald, Collette Hall, Aron J.
Ansari, Armin Burdette, Erin Flannery, Brendan Hawley, William A.
Appiah, Grace Burke, Heather Fox, LeAnne M. Hendricks Walters, Kate
Arboleda, Nelson Cantey, Paul T. Francois Watkins, Henry, Ronnie
Arguin, Paul M. Cardemil, Cristina V. Louise K. Herwaldt, Barbara L.
Armstrong, Paige Chen, Tai-Ho Friedman, Cindy R. Hills, Susan L.
Averhoff, Francisco Chiller, Tom M. Fullerton, Katie Hlavsa, Michele C.
Baggett, Henry C. Choi, Mary Gaines, Joanna Holtzman, Deborah
Bair-Brake, Heather Chosewood, Casey Galland, G. Gale Hunter, Jennifer C.
Ballesteros, Michael F. Clemmons, Nakia S. Galloway, Renee L. Iwamoto, Martha
Barbre, Kira A. Cochi, Stephen L. Garrison, Laurel E. Jackson, Brendan
Beavers, Suzanne Cohen, Nicole J. Gastañaduy, Paul A. Jentes, Emily S.
Beckman, Michele G. Cope, Jennifer Gee, Jay E. Jones, Jeffrey L.
Benenson, Gabrielle A. Czarkowski, Alan G. Geissler, Aimee L. Judd, Michael C.
Berro, Andre Dhara, V. Ramana Gerber, Susan I. Kersh, Gilbert J.
Blaney, David D. Dubray, Christine Gershman, Mark D. Kharod, Grishma A.
Bowen, Anna Duong, Krista Kornylo Gibbins, John Kitt, Margaret
Bresee, Joseph Ederer, David J. Goodson, James L. Knust, Barbara
Brogdon, William G. Erskine, Stefanie K. Gould, L. Hannah Kozarsky, Phyllis E.
xxi
External Contributors
Adler, Tina Westat—National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Clearinghouse,
Rockville, Maryland
Ansdell, Vernon E. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Atkinson, Gregory Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Backer, Howard D. California Emergency Medical Services Authority, Sacramento, CA
Barbeau, Deborah Nicolls Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Barnett, Elizabeth D. Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Batterham, Alan M. Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Benenson, Michael W. Armed Forces Research Institute of the Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand (retired)
Boggild, Andrea K. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Borwein, Sarah T. TravelSafe Medical Centre, Hong Kong, China
Carroll, I. Dale The Pregnant Traveler, Spring Lake, MI
Changizi, Roohollah United Family Hospital, subsidiary of United Family Healthcare, Beijing, China
Chen, Lin H. Mount Auburn Hospital—Travel Medicine Center, Cambridge, MA, and Harvard
Medical School, Boston, MA
* Deceased
Shurtleff, David National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, MD
Staat, Mary Allen International Adoption Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,
Cincinnati, OH
Taggart, Linda R. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Takiguchi, Rodd Department of Dermatology, Kaiser Permanente, Honolulu, Hawaii
Thompson, Andrew University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Valk, Thomas H. VEI Inc., Marshall, VA
Van Tilburg, Christopher Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River, OR
Wangu, Zoon Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Wilson, Mary Elizabeth Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Wu, Henry M. Emory University, Department of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Youngster, Ilan Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard University, Boston, MA
All contributors have signed a statement indicating that they have no conflicts of interest with the subject
matter or materials discussed in the document(s) that they have written or reviewed for this book and that the
information that they have written or reviewed for this book is objective and free from bias.
Acknowledgments
The CDC Yellow Book 2018: Health Information • Elise Beltrami, Pamela Diaz and Scott
for International Travel editorial team grate- Santibanez for their extensive review of
fully acknowledges all the authors and review- the text.
ers for their commitment to this new edition.
We extend sincere thanks to the following peo-
• Courtney Ware, Aida Sawadogo, Laurie
Dieterich and Crystal Polite for their assis-
ple for their contributions to the production of
tance in preparing the text for publication.
this book:
Preface
To stay on the cutting edge of travel health infor- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
mation, this latest edition of the CDC Yellow Anne Schuchat, MD, Acting Director
Book: Health Information for International Travel National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic
has been extensively revised. The book serves as Infectious Diseases
a guide to the practice of travel medicine, as well Rima Khabbaz, MD, Acting Director
as the authoritative source of US government rec- Division of Global Migration and
ommendations for immunizations and prophy- Quarantine
laxis for foreign travel. As international travel Martin S. Cetron, MD, Director
continues to become more common in the lives of Gary W. Brunette, MD, MS, Chief,
US residents, having at least a basic understand- Travelers’ Health Branch
ing of the medical problems that travelers face Phyllis E. Kozarsky, MD, Expert Consultant,
has become a necessary aspect of practicing med- Travelers’ Health Branch
icine. The goal of this book is to be a comprehen- Megan Crawley O’Sullivan, MPH,
sive resource for clinicians to find the answers to Health Communications Specialist,
their travel health–related questions. Travelers’ Health Branch
xvi
Alan J. Magill passed away on September 19, 2015, just days after work began on the CDC Yellow
Book 2018. He was a key figure in the evolution of this publication, serving as an author and medical
editor for three editions. Over the years, he provided invaluable insight and guidance as a singularly
experienced and knowledgeable contributor. The editorial board of the CDC Yellow Book respectfully
dedicate this edition to Alan.
Whatever Alan was involved in always seemed to go smoother, be more relevant, and even more fun.
At that point in time, Alan was the president-╉elect of the International Society of Travel Medicine. He
would subsequently serve as the president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,
becoming the first person to be president of both societies. During a 26-╉year career in the US Army
Medical Corps, Alan focused mainly on malaria and leishmaniasis, but his research interests and
projects spanned an extraordinary range, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine devel-
opment. He carried with him a nagging curiosity about the history of disease, and he often delved into
original sources of research that informed our present practice in new ways. Invariably kind, enthusias-
tic, supportive, tireless, and insightful, Alan improved any project with which he was involved, includ-
ing the Yellow Book.
Upon retiring from the military in 2012, Alan became the Malaria Program Director for the Gates
Foundation, charged with designing a strategy that could lead to the elimination of malaria in the
world. He had already played a large role in helping to shape an international strategy in this regard
when he died suddenly on September 19, 2015, near his home in Seattle, leaving behind his wife
and two daughters, and a devastated string of colleagues and admirers. Although tributes often end
with the words, “He will be missed,” in Alan’s case, we are left wondering what the world has missed
and what might have happened if he had been able to stay with us for many more years. He was
62 years old.
David R. Shlim, MD
Medical Editor of the Yellow Book
Recent Past-╉President of the ISTM
1
1
Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL
HEALTH & THE YELLOW BOOK
Phyllis E. Kozarsky
2 INTRODUCTION
Another random document with
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A Killing Play
About this time the Valkyrie and Rhinegold had been given at the
Court Theatre in Munich (1869–1870). The King gave up his plan to
build a new theatre for these stupendous works, which needed
special machinery because of the elaborate stage effects. Wagner
insisted that scenery was as important as the words and music. So he
started to build, by general subscription over all Europe, a theatre at
Bayreuth. He succeeded so well that not only did Europe contribute
but America, too, and groups of people banded together to collect
money for it. Wagner was now the fashion and finally the new opera
house opened August 13th, 1876, with The Ring, for he had finished
Die Götterdämmerung the year before.
Artistically it was successful but not financially. If his pen had been
dipped in honey and not in bitters, he would have won his public
more easily, but he seemed unable to be diplomatic. So off he went to
London and other places to conduct concerts to make money to pay
the debts of his new theatre. Later he wrote the Festival March, for
the Philadelphia Centennial (1876), which helped financially.
The people were divided into two camps,—those for Wagner, and
those against him. So strong was the feeling, that during the 1880’s,
in Germany, signs in cafés read: “It is forbidden to discuss religion or
Wagner”! The proprietors wished to save their chairs and china
which the fists of their patrons would destroy.
Parsifal
After reading about the feats of the Wizard it is not surprising that he
had many followers,—those who openly claimed to take him for an
example, and others who did not realize how much they received
from him and would not like to have been called his followers!
Verdi—The Grand Old Man of Italy
He did not compose an opera until 1839 when his Oberto in the
style of Bellini was produced in Milan with such success that he
received orders to write three more from which he gained much
good-will and fame.
It must have been a thrilling time for opera writers, because
Wagner was composing, too, and you know the great excitement he
caused. Amidst this interesting whirl of opinion, Verdi wrote one of
the operas ordered by the Milan director, and during this time he
was sorely stricken by the deaths of his wife and two lovely children.
Besides this, his opera failed and in his discouragement the poor
young man made up his mind to give up composition. However, a
rare good friend coaxed him back to his work after a little rest, and
he produced his successful Nebucco (Nebuchadnezzar) (1842), I
Lombardi the next year and his well known Ernani (1844). In this,
his first period, he used as models, Bellini and men of his type, not
writing anything startlingly new.
In his second period he wrote operas nearly as fast as we write
school compositions, and among the famous things are Rigoletto
(1851), Il Trovatore, La Traviata (story from Dumas’ Camille or
Dame aux Camelias), (1853), and The Masked Ball (1859). Ernani
and Rigoletto are founded on stories by Victor Hugo. The first
performance of La Traviata in Venice was a failure due more to the
performers, than to the opera itself which still crowds opera houses
of the world.
The greatest opera of his third period is Aida (1871), one of Verdi’s
masterpieces. An opera on an Egyptian subject was ordered by the
Khedive of Egypt for the opening of the Italian Opera House in Cairo,
for which Verdi received $20,000. Mariette Bey a famous
Egyptologist made the first sketch in order to give the right local
atmosphere to the libretto. Curiosity ran so high that every seat was
sold before the first night and it was a great success. Think how
electrified the audience must have been by the tenor solo, “Celeste
Aida,” one of Caruso’s greatest successes; by the realistic Nile scene;
the voice of the priestess in the mammoth Egyptian temple, and the
famous march with trumpets made specially for it!
Dear old lovable Verdi was a wise man as well as an accomplished
composer. He used more modern methods in Aida to hold audiences
who were hearing about Wagner and his startling innovations.
Other operas of this third period were La Forza del Destino and
one given at the Paris Grand Opera, Don Carlos, which was not up to
his standard. Until this time he showed great mechanical skill and a
sense of color and melody. The great singers have revelled in the
operas of his second period. In our day Marcella Sembrich, Nellie
Melba, Frieda Hempel, Luisa Tetrazzini, Amelita Galli-Curci,
Florence Macbeth and many others have sung the coloratura,—frilly,
soaring, gymnastic-singing, still very popular. However in Aida,
Verdi departed much from the usual, and people said that he was
copying Wagner, because they didn’t know the difference between
the influences which change a person’s ways, and imitation.
So he deserted the old models, Auber, Meyerbeer and Halévy for
something more substantial, his deeper and gigantically conceived
Aida. James Wolfe of the Metropolitan Opera said of the bigness of
this work as produced at the Metropolitan Opera House in New
York: “I have played before audiences of 30,000 in arenas in Mexico.
I am so at home in the opera that I do cross-word puzzles waiting for
my cue, and yet at the Metropolitan when I first played the King in
Aida with its flaming music, its hundreds of people and its scores of
horses, I was over-awed and frightened!”
After this, Verdi’s splendid mass, The Requiem, was written for the
death of the Italian hero Manzoni. In it he approaches the German
school in depth and seriousness, veering away from the emptiness of
Italian writing.
In his last efforts he seems definitely influenced by Wagner; for,
with his Otello and Falstaff we find a new Verdi, surpassing in form
and sincere melody anything that he had done. He was very
fortunate to have Arrigo Boito, his friend, to write librettos based on
Shakespeare’s Othello and Merry Wives of Windsor. When Falstaff
was given in New York (1925) a young American baritone, Lawrence
Tibbet, in the rôle of Ford, flashed into fame.