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Verdi’s Requiem and the Power of Mortality 

October 11, 2024

Verdi’s Requiem and the Power of Mortality 

Prepare for a musical experience that will leave you breathless and utterly transformed. Verdi’s Requiem stands as one of the most profound statements on life and death ever set to music, blending the drama of his operas with the solemnity of the Latin mass.  Verdi channeled the full force of his operatic genius into the Requiem, creating moments of overwhelming intensity alongside passages of fragile beauty that paint a powerful portrait of human mortality and spiritual reckoning. This is Verdi at his most poignant and transcendent, capturing the tension between fear and hope that lies at the heart of the human experience. 

Denver audiences can celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the world-renowned Colorado Symphony Chorus with a renewal of this monumental Requiem under the baton of guest conductor Alexander Shelley from October 18-20, 2024. The Chorus first performed this legendary work during its debut on October 25, 1984, at Boettcher Concert Hall. Nearly 40 years to the day, they breathe new life into Verdi’s compassionate projection of essential human emotions — devotion, agitation, and hope. 

A colossal fusion of operatic drama and sacred intensity, this masterpiece transcends the boundaries of a traditional mass. From the thunderous, apocalyptic “Dies Irae” to the tender “Lacrimosa,” the Requiem grips the soul and takes listeners on a breathtaking journey through life, death, and redemption.  

The requiem’s text comes from the Roman Catholic liturgy and is a Mass to honor those who have died. Composers throughout the centuries have turned to this sacred text as a source of inspiration. Most musical settings of the requiem use the text in some fashion, some verbatim and others incorporating other texts to make a statement on death, the afterlife, nationalism, or politics.  

It’s no wonder that the dramatic text has been a popular choice for composers to set to music. There are limitless possibilities to explore both the heights of salvation and depths of damnation. Verdi’s Messa da Requiem is almost the opposite of an opera, which has various characters, a plot, sets, and costumes. There are no characters or conflicts needing resolution. The Requiem pulls you in and holds your attention even without any staging, costumes, or characters. However, Verdi does tell a story, with some of the most operatic music ever written. In it, he examines various stages of mourning as the “protagonists,” consisting of soloists, chorus, and orchestra, move through various emotional states – solemnity, grief, fear, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, denial, desire for salvation, and acceptance. Verdi’s drama unfolds musically and keeps attendees engaged through the very end. 

Verdi’s Requiem is written in seven movements. The first movement contains three sections, ‘Requiem Aeternam,’ ‘Te Decet Hymnus,’ and ‘Kyrie,’ and is composed in an arc-like form, beginning with a somber melody in the strings and chorus. The tranquility of the first movement is shattered by chords struck by the full orchestra followed by a furious brass ensemble. Accompanied by swirling strings and woodwinds, this marks the beginning of the second movement and the most famous musical symbol of death, ‘Dies Irae’. The chorus cries out about the approaching judgment day and the terror it brings, culminating in a moment that will no doubt be familiar to many listeners

This is not just another concert; it’s an emotional and spiritual journey that comes to life in the hands of top-tier musicians and vocalists. Seeing it performed live brings these dynamics into vivid focus, with the thunderous power of the orchestra and chorus shaking the very walls of the concert hall, while the intimacy of the soloists’ voices draws you into the work’s quieter, more introspective passages. 

The Requiem’s raw emotional power is something that can’t be fully captured in recordings. It’s the kind of piece that fills the space not just with sound, but with a sense of shared human experience. The “Dies Irae” alone becomes a visceral encounter with the fear of judgment and mortality. Witnessing it live adds an element of immediacy and impact, making each crescendo, each moment of hushed reverence, all the more electrifying. 

For anyone seeking an emotional, transformative musical experience, the Colorado Symphony’s live performance of Verdi’s Requiem offers just that. It’s a powerful reminder of the universality of human emotions — fear, hope, and the search for meaning — and how music can bring us together in contemplating life’s deepest questions.  

Hear Verdi’s Requiem Performed Live

Join us for this celebratory event highlighting the incredible career of the Colorado Symphony Chorus’s Founder, Duain Wolfe, in what will be his final performances preparing the chorus before his retirement.

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