A brief introduction to Verdi’s Requiem
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian composer of the Romantic era. He was born in 1813 and died in 1901. He composed mainly for opera, and his best known works include Aida and La traviata. In fact, his Requiem is his only large scale non-operatic work.
The Requiem was first performed in 1874, and was written in honour of the Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni. However, the Libera me movement was originally composed as a memorial to his fellow composer Rossini.
The work is written to be performed by four soloists, two choirs and an orchestra.
[youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFFHaz9GsY[/youtube]
The acclaimed conductor Carlo Rizzi will be performing Verdi’s Requiem in Cardiff this week.
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) College Chorus will perform the piece at St David’s Hall on 25 November, accompanied by the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra and the Cardiff University Choir. Stephanie Corley will sing soprano.
Although Rizzi is familiar with Wales, having held the post of Music Director of the Welsh National Opera (WNO) twice, this will be his first time performing with the RWCMD.
Philip Heyman, who plays principal viola for the WNO and who has worked with Rizzi in the past, described the conductor’s style as: “Very passionate, very expressive. He communicates very well. I would also suggest he conducts quite spontaneously and from the heart.”
A brief introduction to Verdi’s Requiem
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian composer of the Romantic era. He was born in 1813 and died in 1901. He composed mainly for opera, and his best known works include Aida and La traviata. In fact, his Requiem is his only large scale non-operatic work.
The Requiem was first performed in 1874, and was written in honour of the Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni. However, the Libera me movement was originally composed as a memorial to his fellow composer Rossini.
The work is written to be performed by four soloists, two choirs and an orchestra.
[youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFFHaz9GsY[/youtube]