Music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Composed for the anniversary of the death of Alessandro Manzoni
Creation : San Marco church, Milan, 22 may 1874
In 1868 Verdi agreed to collaborate on a requiem in honour of Gioachino Rossini and composed the concluding movement, the Libera me. Although this mass was never performed, it inspired him to write an entire requiem of his own. The death of the highly admired poet Alessandro Manzoni, a fervent advocate, like Verdi, of the unification of Italy, provided the opportunity for Verdi to attempt this plan.
To celebrate the death of such a great man demanded an exceptional piece. Verdi set to work and just one year after Manzoni’s death he conducted his Requiem in the church of San Marco in Milan. It was hugely successful.
However, when the German conductor von Bülow heard it, he compared this magnificent work to “an opera in ecclesiastic robes”. This strong visual image reflects the rejection by some believers with a certain view of Christianism, which was prevalent at the time.. Their opinion was not shared by others, however, who saw in this requiem the passionate homage of a genius to the Creator.
Like Don Carlo or Aida, Verdi's Requiem, a colossal, powerful work, demands exceptional performers. The Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo join forces to take up this challenge for a memorable performance.
https://www.opera.mc/en/seasons/23-24/messa-da-requiem
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