Giuseppe Verdi - Messa da Requiem

Although Requiem was a religious work, it was presented more in concert halls than in churches. Giuseppe Verdi wrote the famous Requiem in honour of his close friend, Alessandro Manzoni, the great Italian poet, writer, and humanist, who died in 1873. It is a powerful fusion of intense drama and passion, with moments of reverent simplicity. Verdi conducted the first performance at St. Mark's Church in Milan on May 22, 1874, the first anniversary of Manzoni's death. Revolutionary composition Verdi's Requiem has been revolutionary in two respects: First, because while the traditional requiem is a prayer of the living for the dead, Verdi's work was a function as much for the living as for the dead. As Verdi would expect, it's a dramatic, theatrical play. Written for four solo voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and bass) with full choir and orchestra, it follows the typical Roman Catholic Latin mass for the dead. The "libretto" certainly comes from the dram
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Josef Anton Bruckner - Events in brief

The announcement of Anton Bruckner's death.

1824: Josef Anton Bruckner was born on September 4th in Ansfelden, Austria.
1834: Begins to replace his father in the organ.
1835: Completes his school education in Hörsching, where Johann Baptist Weiß was schoolmaster.
1837: In June his father dies. He is sent to the Augustinian monastery in Sankt Florian to become a choirboy.
1841: Trained in Linz as a teacher.
1845: Assistant teacher in Sankt Florian. He falls in love with Louise Bogner.
1851: Permanent organist in Sankt Florian. His first visit to Vienna.
1855: Becomes a student of the famous Vienna music theorist Simon Sechter.
1863: Listens to Wagner's Tannhäuser opera.
1866: Completes Symphony No. 1 in C minor.
1868: Professor of music theory at the Vienna Conservatory.
1871: Visits England and impresses audience at Royal Albert Hall.
1872: The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra rejects Symphony No. 2.
1893: His health deteriorates. He's bedridden most of the year.
1896: Dies on October 11, in Vienna.

  •          When he was invited to conduct one of his works with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, during a rehearsal, Bruckner stood still on the podium. When after a few minutes he still did not lift his baguette, the first violin of the orchestra politely told him: "We are ready, Mr. Bruckner. You can start." "Oh, no," Bruckner said, "after you gentlemen."


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