Verdi, the unparalleled Italian composer of operas, was born two hundred years ago. He built a towering monument to Italian opera building upon the cornerstone of its tradition. In memory of one of his friends, the poet and novelist A. Manzoni, Verdi composed Messa da requiem. With his copious experience in writing operas, the elderly Verdi infused rich colors, deep insight, and masterful harmony and orchestra- tion into the work, permeating this traditional sacred composition with intensity.
A masterpiece for chorus which parallels Mozart’s and Brahms’ works for the same genre, Verdi’s Messa da requiem was premiered on the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death in the Church of San Marco in Milan in 1874, with the composer himself conducting. It doesn’t indulge deeply in sublime divinity, but, nevertheless, it explores issues related to death, with balance between solemnity and passionate hollering to God, and sensibility and sense. During the placid choral singing, the audience will have visions that the door to Heaven is open.
Under the Maestro Lü’s baton, the NSO and Taipei Philharmonic Chorus have set a great reputation with in many choral symphony masterpieces. In celebrating 200 years of Guiseppe Verdi, Lü will lead to tribute to this music giant with this large- scale production of the composer’s Requiem.
3/30 (Sat.) 19:30
National Concert Hall
500 700 900 1200 1600 2000
◎Duration: approx. 85 minutes without intermission
