Tickets

Programme

Giuseppe Verdi
Requiem

Cast

Mária Porubčinová soprano
Lucie Hilscherová mezzo-soprano 
Peter Berger tenor
Pavel Švingr bas

Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Vasilek choirmaster

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Petr Popelka conductor

The concert is broadcast live by Czech Radio station Vltava.

Giuseppe Verdi composed his Requiem, a musical setting of the Catholic Mass for the Dead, in 1873. In this work, which spans a wide range of expressions from meditative calm to stark contrasts, Verdi’s theatrical talent shines through. His Messa da Requiem combines religious opulence, majesty, and humility with operatic drama and passion. Especially the portrayal of Judgment Day and the lyrical call to the Lamb of God make this piece arguably the most operatic setting of the Requiem Mass. The inspiration for this monumental sacred composition, which became primarily a concert piece, was Verdi’s deep respect for the Italian national poet and humanist Alessandro Manzoni. The premiere of the Requiem, conducted by Verdi himself, took place in the Church of St. Mark in Milan on the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death.