Requiem - Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

The story of Verdi's Requiem dates back to the death of the Italian composer Rossini in 1868. Verdi proposed that several of Italy's leading composers should contribute movements to a commemorative Requiem Mass, to be performed on the first anniversary of Rossini's death. Verdi's own contribution was the Libera me. The resultant Mass was never performed however, owing to a combination of internal disputes and a realisation that the disparate styles of the movements would never create a work with any real conviction.

The event that was finally to shape the Requiem was the death in 1873 of the Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni, who had been a friend of the composer. Verdi had greatly admired Manzoni's work and was deeply affected by the poet's death. He decided to compose a Requiem Mass in Manzoni's memory, to be performed in Manzoni's native city Milan on the anniversary of his friend's death.

Verdi worked on the Requiem through the winter of 1873, incorporating the Libera me composed five years earlier. The completed work's first performance was in the church of San Marco, Milan, a year to the day after Manzoni's death. Verdi himself conducted. It was a huge popular success; further performances in Italy took place soon after the premiere, and it was even taken 'on tour' around Europe with concerts in Vienna, Paris and London.

Written shortly after Aida (1871), it is no surprise that the Requiem is theatrical in style. Some critics took exception to this. Hans von Bülow, an eminent conductor and pianist at the time, described it as "Verdi's latest opera, in church vestments". Bülow's comments caused Brahms to send for the score. After studying it, Brahms remarked, "Bülow has made an ass of himself; Verdi's Requiem is a work of genius".

The text of the Requiem is largely based on the Catholic Mass for the Dead. Verdi selected the specific texts he wanted, omitting for example the Gloria and Credo, and he rearranged the order of what remained to suit his purpose.

The Requiem opens with a whispered prayer for the dead. The unaccompanied chorus fugue at Te decet hymnus is followed again by the prayer, before the soloists begin an impassioned plea for mercy with the Kyrie.

The core of the work, the Dies irae, is subdivided into nine sections. The words are from a mediaeval Latin poem, which gives a horrifying depiction of judgment day. Verdi's skill at matching his music to the emotions of the words is particularly highlighted: the four colossal thunderbolts from heaven introducing the tempestuous vision in the Dies irae; the trumpet crescendo into Tuba mirum; and the final expression of grief in Lacrymosa passed between the soloists and chorus. The whole movement is unified by the recurrence of the tumultuous opening Dies irae.

The Offertorio is quartet for the soloists, in quite a different mood from what has come before. The opening and ending are a plea to free the souls of the faithful from the torments of death.

The chorus makes a joyful return in the Sanctus, a double fugue in eight parts. Loud and energetic throughout, the movement closes with a rousing Hosanna with extraordinary brass accompaniment.

Agnus Dei is set for soprano, mezzo soprano and chorus. The soloists begin a unison chant an octave apart which is then is repeated, again in unison, by chorus and orchestra. The theme is passed between soloists and chorus, alternating between major and minor keys, with fascinating variations in the orchestral accompaniment.

Three contrasting styles form the basis of the Lux aeterna - the opening with tremolo strings, a mostly unaccompanied trio of mezzo soprano, tenor and bass, and the sombre Requiem aeternam introduced by the bass.

The final movement begins with an anguished, passionate soprano cry - Libera me, Domine (Lord, deliver me). This is a movement full of emotion: grief, fear, guilt, despair, hope and repentance. The Dies irae theme returns, as does the opening Requiem passage for soprano and chorus. The Requiem closes as it began, in almost spoken prayer.

ACS, May 2005

[Note to other societies: you are welcome to use the whole or parts of this text in your own programmes, but if you do please (i) let us know, and (ii) include an acknowledgement to the Aylesbury Choral Society and this website in your programme.]

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Click on the links below for Real Audio excerpts from Amazon.co.uk:

1. Dies irae
2. Tuba mirum
3. Lacrymosa
4. Sanctus
5. Agnus Dei

Amazon.co.uk advertised a number of recordings in May 2005, of which here are two:

	Verdi - Requiem EMI Classics 5571682 (The above audio links are taken from this work)
	Verdi - Requiem The Originals 4474422

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