Requiem (Verdi)

The Messa da Requiem is a massive musical composition by Giuseppe Verdi. It is a musical setting of the Catholic funeral mass, also known as a Requiem. This work uses a large orchestra, a double choir, and four soloists.

While it is based on a religious service, its dramatic style is often called operatic. Because of this intensity, it is usually performed in concert halls rather than during church liturgy. A full performance typically lasts around 90 minutes. Musicologist David Rosen noted it is perhaps the most frequently performed major choral work written after Mozart's Requiem.

Verdi built the music using many different layers of sound. He used vigorous rhythms and sublime melodies to express powerful emotions. The piece often moves between extreme contrasts. Some sections use thunderous chords and giant bass-drum blows to create a sense of awe. Other parts use soft flutes or shimmering violins to create peace.

These changes in volume and speed help the music tell the story of the text.

The structure of the work follows the liturgical text through several distinct movements. It begins with the Requiem Introit and the Kyrie, where soloists and the chorus join together. A major section is the Dies irae, which describes a day of judgment. This part uses jagged phrases and rapid trumpet figures.

The work also includes the Offertory, a Sanctus for a double chorus, and the Agnus Dei. The Agnus Dei features the soprano and mezzo-soprano singing a long theme in unison. Finally, the piece concludes with the Lux aeterna and the Libera me. In the Libera me, the soprano soloist interacts with the choir to create a feeling of urgency.

Verdi's journey with this music began with a different project. After the death of Gioachino Rossini in 1868, Verdi suggested a collaborative Requiem. He wrote the concluding movement, the Libera me, for that project. However, that collaborative work was never performed. After the death of Alessandro Manzoni in May 1873, Verdi decided to write a complete Requiem alone. Manzoni was a writer whom Verdi had admired his entire adult life.

Verdi traveled to Paris in June 1873 to begin composing the work in its final form.

The premiere of the Messa da Requiem took place on May 22, 1874. This date marked the first anniversary of Manzoni's death. The first performance was held at the San Marco church in Milan. Verdi himself conducted the orchestra and the singers.

Three days later, the same performers played the work at La Scala. The soloists included Teresa Stolz, Maria Waldmann, Giuseppe Capponi, and a bass singer. The work saw immediate success in Europe, though it faced challenges in some places. For example, the Royal Albert Hall in London could not fill its seats for such a Catholic occasion.

Throughout history, the Requiem has served many different purposes. It has been used to mark significant moments of loss and remembrance. Between 1943 and 1944, prisoners in the Theresienstadt concentration camp performed the work about 16 times. These performances were led by conductor Rafael Schächter.

In more recent years, the music has been used to honor those specific performers. In 2021, the New York Metropolitan Opera performed the Requiem to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. This shows how the music connects deeply to human history.

Today, the Requiem remains a staple for many choral societies. It is performed in many different ways and settings. Some productions use choreographed characters to represent ideas like death or solitude. Other modern stagings connect the music to contemporary events, such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Even the musical parts can be changed for different groups. For instance, a version for a small ensemble was published in 2013. This makes the powerful music accessible to more choirs around the world.