Marin Alsop Leads BSO, The Washington Chorus in 2010-2011 Season Finale, Verdi’s Requiem, June 9-12

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The 2010-2011 season will conclude with a performance of Verdi’s Requiem, featuring soprano Angela Meade, mezzo-soprano Eve Gigliotti, tenor Roger Honeywell, and bass-baritone Alfred Walker, supported by The Washington Chorus and led by Music Director Marin Alsop on Thursday, June 9 at 8 p.m., Friday, June 10 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Saturday, June 11 at 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Verdi composed Messa di Requiem in 1873. It is an epic musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral mass, written as a memorial for the great Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni Verdi admired Manzoni, who’s works helped forge an Italian national identity. The work was premiered in 1874 at the San Marco Church in Milan during the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death.

Joining the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to perform this epic work is The Washington Chorus, under the direction of Julian Wachner. Back by popular demand, the Chorus collaborated with the BSO for last season’s finale concert of Brahms’ German Requiem. Also led by Maestra Alsop, The Baltimore Sun praised, “[Alsop] summoned considerable beauty of expression--and plenty of power for the score’s few heated moments – from the BSO and the Washington Chorus.”

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