Blackheath Halls Chorus Blackheath Halls Orchestra Christopher Stark conductor Francesca Chiejinasoprano Sarah Pring mezzo-soprano John Findon tenor Simon Shibambu bass Verdi’s Requiem is characterised by its striking dramatic and operatic nature. In fact, at its premiere in 1874 the Requiem was criticised by many as being too operatic in style for the religious subject matter, with some calling it ‘an opera in ecclesiastical robes’, and others either praised or condemned Verdi’s breaking of standard compositional rules for dramatic effect. At the time of composition, female singers were not yet allowed to perform in Catholic Church rituals such as Requiem masses. Verdi was determined to include female singers, writing at the time “If I were in the good graces of the Holy Father—Pope Pius IX—I would beg him to permit—if only for this one time—that women take part in the performance of this music; but since I am not, it will fall to someone else better suited to obtain this decree.” His perseverance paid off, and the Requiem, from the famous (and terrifying) ‘Dies irae’ to the final dramatic ‘Libera me’ featuring the choir and soprano soloist, is sure to leave a lasting impression.
