Color: Colour

Credits:

Verdi (1813-1901)

Description:

Along with works by Mozart and Fauré, Verdi's Requiem is considered one of the "Three Great Requiems. The piece, known for its dramatic "Day of Wrath," was written in 1873 when Verdi learned of the death of Alessandro Manzoni, a great Italian writer whom he admired, and proposed to the mayor of Milan through Ricordi, a music publisher, that the requiem be performed. The story goes that Verdi, through the music publisher Ricordi, proposed to the mayor of Milan to perform the Requiem, which was approved. Although some parts of the music, such as "Lacrimosa" and "Libera me" are adapted from existing works, this Requiem, with its brilliant orchestration and operatic vocal feast, has been a masterpiece that reflects Verdi's thoughts and has been received with great acclaim since its premiere. This video was recorded outdoors at the 2020 Verdi Festival in Parma. Dedicated to the victims of the Corona (Covid-19 pandemic) and to the medical workers, the video begins with a short speech and silent prayer by the mayor of Parma, followed by a solemn performance. The singers are three leading Italian singers, soprano Eleonora Bratto, tenor Giorgio Belluzzi, and bass Roberto Tagliavini.And it features Georgian mezzo-soprano Anita Rachivelishvili. Her voice is as powerful as that of the large orchestra. Roberto Abbado, with his command of the orchestra, expresses in sound the fear of death and human fragility that Verdi wrote in his score. He asks the listener what it means to overcome difficulties and live. Naxos Japan