Requiem, Giuseppe Verdi

(Messa da Requiem)

   Composed as a personal tribute to the revered Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni (1785–1873), it premiered on the anniversary of his death, 22 May 1874, at the church of St. Mark’s in Milan with Giuseppe Verdi himself conducting four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), a fourvoiced chorus of 120 singers (subdivided into eight voices for the Sanctus), and an orchestra of 100 players including four horns, four trumpets, three trombones, an ophicleide, winds, percussion, and strings. A resounding success, the work immediately entered the choral concert repertory. Its performance forces and length (about 90 minutes) make it impractical for liturgy.