An Evening of Verdi
June 12, 2008
This weekend, the ISC will perform its last concert of the 2007-2008 season with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra downtown at Hilbert Circle Theatre. Since joining the choir about a year and a half ago, among many things, I have enjoyed learning and performing the great choral/orchestral masterworks (which I should have already been familiar with). Among these have been Brahms’ German Requiem, Mendellsohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
This weekend’s Requiem is no less exciting. Verdi’s work has all of the drama and force that are found in his myriad operas. The German conductor Hans von Bülow called it “Verdi’s latest opera in church vestments.” And Brahms himself wrote, “Only a genius could have written such a work.”
The text omits the traditional Gloria and Credo while including a lengthier Dies Irae set to the poem of Thomas of Celano. This large portion of the work is separated into nine sections.
As I’ve said before, it is a distinct privilege to work with Mario Venzago and the ISO. I honestly believe our orchestra is one of the very best in the nation, and that is in large part due to Maestro Venzago’s energetic and creative leadership. The chorus will join forces with Apollo’s Voice, a professional chamber choir made up of singers, conductors and various musicains associated with IU Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington.
Should be a treat.
