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

Carl Maria von Weber - Famous works

Carl Maria von Weber

Operas:

  • Das Waldmädchen (The Girl of the Forest)
  • Peter Schmoll und seine Nachbarn (Peter Schmoll and his Neighbours)
  • Abu Hassan
  • Der Freischütz (The Freeshooter)
  • Die drei Pintos (The Three Pintos)
  • Euryanthe
  • Oberon

Orchestral:

  • Symphony No. 1 in C major
  • Symphony No. 2 in C major
  • Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 11
  • Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor
  • Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 74
  • Bassoon Concerto in F major
  • Konzertstück in F minor for Piano and Orchestra

Chamber music:

  • Clarinet Quintet in B flat major, Op. 34
  • Piano Quartet in B flat major, Op. 18
  • Grand duo concertant in E flat major, Op. 48 (Clarinet, Piano)
  • Trio in G minor for flute, violoncello and piano, Op. 63

Songs:

  • Die Kerze
  • Umsonst ensagt ich
  • Entfliehet schnell von mir
  • Wiedersehen

Other:

  • Missa sancta No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 75a
  • Missa sancta No. 2 in G, "Jubelmesse", Op. 76

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