Verdi’s Requiem is one of the most dramatic and operatic compositions of its kind, renowned as one of the most enthralling settings of the Catholic funeral mass. Although a mass for the dead, its emotional impact and dramatic intensity rival any night at the opera.
Often described as bleak and foreboding, the impact and sheer drama created by Verdi’s Requiem stands out as one of the best-loved choral works in concert repertoire. Audiences across the globe are familiar with the Dies Irae, which often adds strength and atmosphere in contemporary film and other media.
Premiered in 1874, Verdi’s Requiem was last performed in Hobart in 1978.
Important update – change of soloist
We wish to advise that due to illness, soprano Sharon Prero is unable to perform in tonight’s Verdi Requiem. Sharon has dedicated significant time and energy to preparing for this performance, and while it’s a great shame she won’t be taking the stage, we are incredibly grateful for her commitment and wish her a full and speedy recovery.
We’re delighted to share that the role will now be performed by acclaimed Latvian soprano Maija Kovaļevska, who has kindly agreed to step in at the last minute – including flying in from interstate – to ensure this monumental performance can go ahead in full as planned.
Maija is an internationally celebrated artist who has performed major roles across the world’s most renowned opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera House, La Scala, and Semperoper Dresden. A winner of Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition, she has performed signature roles such as Mimi (La bohème), Micaela (Carmen), Tatyana (Eugene Onegin), and Violetta (La traviata), and is recognised for her luminous tone and expressive artistry.
Join us to experience this compelling work conducted by UK’s David Lawrence, featuring our other outstanding soloists Katharine Tier, Michael Petruccelli and Christopher Richardson, together with a mighty chorus of 200 voices including members of the TSO Chorus, and Festival of Voices’ 20th Anniversary Orchestra comprising members from the Hobart Chamber Orchestra and Hobart Wind Symphony.
We look forward to sharing this extraordinary musical experience with you.
I am very excited to be returning to Festival of Voices, having made so many friends whilst leading the classical stream over the years. We are, together, going to put together Verdi’s iconic Requiem in just a few days, a work which has not been performed in Tasmania for over 40 years. I look forward so much to seeing you in July for my 6th FOV! – David Lawrence
Important information:
- The performance will go ahead in full as scheduled.
- No action is required from ticketholders. Your tickets remain valid.
- We extend our heartfelt thanks to Maija, David Lawrence, our soloists, orchestra, choir and team for making tonight’s performance possible.
- Due to the nature of this work, we cannot guarantee latecomers will still be allowed entry. We kindly ask all ticket holders to please arrive on time.
Image credit: Alastair Bett
