Verdi – Missa di Requiem
The Royal Free Singers accompanied by the Orchestra of London and professional soloists performed Verdi’s Requiem in Eton College School Hall on 31st March.
Audience comments:
'Stupendous performance'
'Really raised the roof!'
'So uplifting!'
'A particularly beautiful performance by soprano, Susan Piggott'
'Thank you and the Royal Free Singers for your splendid concert on Saturday, I came with a co-Trustee of the Royal Albert Institute Trust, and we both enjoyed it enormously, and want to thank you all. It is a wonderful and ambitious work to put on, and you certainly did it justice! '
Audience comments:
'Stupendous performance'
'Really raised the roof!'
'So uplifting!'
'A particularly beautiful performance by soprano, Susan Piggott'
'Thank you and the Royal Free Singers for your splendid concert on Saturday, I came with a co-Trustee of the Royal Albert Institute Trust, and we both enjoyed it enormously, and want to thank you all. It is a wonderful and ambitious work to put on, and you certainly did it justice! '
Verdi, an ardent Italian nationalist, composed it in memory of the Italian poet, novelist and national hero Alessandro Manzoni, whose death in 1873 had greatly affected him. Although its first performance was in a liturgical setting (in St. Mark’s Church, Milan on the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death), it is unashamedly theatrical in style, described by a contemporary, the eminent conductor and pianist Hans von Bülow, as ‘Verdi’s latest opera, in church vestments’, and following its first concert performance at La Scala Opera House, it became an overnight sensation, with performances throughout Europe soon following. Its British premiere in May 1875 in the Albert Hall, was conducted by Verdi himself.
The Royal Free Singers gratefully acknowledge the support of
The Prince Philip Trust and the Royal Albert Institute
