While many composers have set the Catholic funeral mass to music, rare are the ones who have dedicated entire requiems to a fellow artist. Verdi was inspired to write his requiem after the death of Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni in 1873. The resulting work is in 7 parts and features multiple soloists throughout. It even includes parts for female singers – despite women being barred from performing in Catholic rituals at the time.
The piece premiered in Milan on May 22, 1874. Three days later, it was given another performance at La Scala. Tonight’s performance of Verdi’s Requiem comes from a recording made by Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic. Guest soloists Angela Meade, Lilli Paasikivi, Russell Thomas, and Eric Owens joined the New York Choral Artists.
