G. Verdi: REQUIEM
Programme
KRASSIMIRA STOYANOVA, soprano
ELĪNA GARANČA, mezzo-soprano
DMYTRO POPOV, tenor
RICCARDO ZANELLATO, bass
ROBERTO ABBADO, conductor
Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir
Mixed Choir of Glasbena Matica Ljubljana
Giuseppe Verdi’sMessa da Requiem must be one of the most sublime masses to be written after Mozart’s (albeit unfinished) Requiem. Verdi first wrote the Libera me for a requiem mass in memory of Gioachino Rossini, which is supposed to have been the work of several composers. The project failed, but Verdi nevertheless used the already written movement in a requiem mass for the late humanist and poet Alessandro Manzoni, whom he held in high esteem. Drama and energy, alternating with subtly refined melodies, accompany the text on the final judgement and intercessions for the soul’s salvation. The conductor will be Karel Mark Chichon who attended master-classes in London with Colin Davis and Simon Rattle. Critics particularly value his temperament, passion and musicality. The Latvian with a dazzling, full and luxurious mezzosoprano, Elīna Garanča, has been performing under Chichon’s baton for a number of years and she will be joined on stage this time by a soprano of the noble Bulgarian singing tradition, Krassimira Stoyanova, Ukrainian tenor Dmytro Popov, whose lyrically gentle and heroic voice makes him one of the world’s best opera singers, and the famous bass Riccardo Zanellato