This coming weekend, the Santa Barbara Symphony will bring nearly 200 people to the stage of the Granada Theatre to present Verdi’s “Messa da Requiem,” a huge work the composer completed in 1874. Verdi first conceived it as a collaborative work to honor Rossini following his death in 1868, but the “Requiem per Rossini” and Verdi’s contribution, the “Libera me,” languished unperformed until 1988! After the death of poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni in 1873, Verdi was inspired to complete his own Requiem mass to honor the artist, whom he greatly admired, including a revised “Libera me’ from the “Requiem per Rossini.” The result is a spectacular work for full orchestra, four vocal soloists and multiple choruses – 90 minutes of glorious music and song. April 13 & 14 at the equally spectacular Granada Theatre. Here’s a brief teaser video with Maestro Nir Kabaretti, put together by your humble servant.
