Latvijas Koncerti

Five years before that, in 1868, having heard the news about Rossini’s death, Verdi has asked several Italian composers to write each a part of a Requiem, in honour of Rossini (Verdi himself wrote Libera me). Such a Requiem by a number of authors was actually written but never saw performance. As poet Manzoni passed away, Verdi decided to write the Requiem totally by himself. He included the previously written Libera me in the new work, with slight amendments. Although several music experts use to argue, one can surely say that this is one of Verdi’s best operas.
In Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem the mundane and the spiritual appear with equal intensity. It is known that Verdi defined his world outlook as an agnostic one, being a man who considers that nobody is able to find out anything about the existence or non-existence of God. In his letter to his publisher Ricardi, Giuseppe Verdi has mentioned: “God is necessary for a part of virtuous people. Others who also keep to the highest moral standards are happier because they do not believe in anything.” Giuseppina writes: “He is a gem among the most honest of men with the most subtle and noble feelings. However, he allows himself to be almost an atheist – at least he is far from a believer, and this stubbornness creates my wish to spank him. I can talk my head off telling him about the wonders of heaven, earth and sea, but nevertheless, it is mere waste of time. He laughs into my eyes and interrupts my oratorical outbursts and heavenly enthusiasm by words – you are funny. Regretfully, he is dead certain when he says this.” From contemporary view, it is most important to acknowledge to whom Verdi prays for eternal redemption and eternal peace – not being an adept of the idea of eternal light, in his stormy Dies irae Verdi reminds us of the too strong power that is characteristic of “dogmatic minds, institutionalized religion and political systems that dare to judge arrogantly about the Good and the Evil.”
The art director and chief conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Karel Mark Chichon, has chosen a brilliant soloist quartet for Verdi’s Requiem performance. The soprano will be Michèlle Crider, well-known in Latvia, to whom we listened during the performance of the same opus, while in February 2012 we heard her in the role of Desdemona. With great pleasure we’ll greet Elīna Garanča who is planning to participate in the performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Salzburg Festival under the guidance of Daniel Barenboim. The tenor part will be sung by Josep Can, soloist of the German Opera of Berlin, whose creative biography included roles like Tamino, Don Ottavio, Count Almaviva, Alfredo. The bass part will be performed by the soloist of the Latvian National Opera, Rihards Mačanovskis, who appears to be a decent and scenically attractive inhabitant of the opera stage ever more convincingly. The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra will perform together with the experienced interpreters of Verdi’s grand work, the Latvian Radio Choir and the State Academic Choir “Latvija”.