Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Jaime Martín conductor
Maija Kovalevska soprano
Catherine Carby alto
Kang Wang tenor
Jonathan Lemalu bass
MSO Chorus
Warren Trevelyan-Jones chorus master
PROGRAM
Verdi Requiem
The MSO is joined by four masterful soloists and the 120-strong MSO Chorus to bring a truly momentous work to life: Verdi’s Requiem.
Verdi felt compelled to start a Requiem after the passing of fellow composer and cultural icon Gioachino Rossini. After a five-year delay, Verdi returned to the project after the death of revered Italian author Alessandro Manzoni. A fervent admirer of Manzoni and his works, Verdi dedicated his Requiem to the writer’s memory.
As you would expect from one of the greatest operatic composers of all time, the Requiem packs a dramatic punch, moving from thundering crescendos to moments of pious contemplation. Verdi wrote the piece with a concert hall setting in mind, rather than the strictly observant surrounds of a church.
