Chicago Classical Music

The Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Catholic funeral Mass. It was completed to mark the first anniversary of the death of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist much admired by Verdi. The piece is also sometimes referred to as the “Manzoni Requiem.”  Throughout the work, Verdi uses vigorous rhythms, sublime melodies, and dramatic contrasts – much as he did in his operas – to express the powerful emotions engendered by the text.