THE VERDI REQUIEM

June 20 - 21, 2008

Conspirare's presentation of the Verdi Requiem in Austin is made possible by a generous grant from South Texas Money Management., and represents the single largest corporate gift in the history of Conspirare.

Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem has been called his greatest opera, and for good reason. Although a reverent setting of a liturgical text, to be sure, the writing is of such vivid tonal coloration and sumptuous melodic flow, of such powerful emotional impact and unrelenting dramatic intensity that the work utterly defies classification and stands alone in the annals of great music. At the first performance in 1874, in the restrained atmosphere of St. Mark's Church in Milan, the audience's reaction was understandably muted. The second performance three days later, at La Scala, was received by the capacity audience with tumultuous enthusiasm. There simply could not be a more appropriate work for Conspirare's first performance at the new Long Center for the Performing Arts. Joining the Conspirare Symphonic Choir will be instrumental and choral forces of the Victoria Bach Festival, for which Craig Hella Johnson has served as Artistic Director since 1992. The long and valued association between Conspirare and the Victoria Bach Festival has resulted in memorable collaborative performances of such masterworks as last season's Elijah, and the Mozart Mass in C Minor, Michael Tippett's A Child of Our Time, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and Vaughn Williams's A Sea Symphony of seasons past. Margaret Perry, Director of Education for Austin Lyric Opera, will present a pre-concert lecture on Verdi one hour before the Austin performance.

Click here for the Long Center Seating Chart and Prices

Featuring Soprano Kallen Esperian, Mezzo-soprano Robynne Redmon, Tenor Karl Dent and Bass-baritone Christian Van Horn with the Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus and the Texas State University Chorale

512.476-5775 or info@conspirare.org

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