Verdi, Requiem, and unique Grand Choir

Significant events and large-scale concerts take place as a part of the Fifth International Easter Assembly “Lord, Lord, By Thy Strength…” This artistic event is devoted to the two outstanding dates – the 1,025th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus’ and the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Music Academy. The event is held under the auspices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Ministry of Culture of Ukraine with the assistance of the Embassies of Russia, Italy, Germany, Georgia, Switzerland, Norway, Moldova, Representative Office of the Russian-Ukrainian Cooperation in Ukraine, Italian Institute of Culture in Kyiv. The Assembly features choral, symphonic, chamber, and instrumental, vocal, and choreographic art.

Music lovers will remember May 12 of this year for a long time. The concert dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the brilliant Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi caused great excitement among the audience. People were asking about extra tickets already at the metro station. The hall was filled to its capacity and on stage there were about 300 singers and musicians, who performed the famous Requiem (three choirs – Student Choir of the National Academy of Music of Ukraine, Choir “Dumka,” Choir and Symphony Orchestra of the National Opera conducted by Mykola Diadiura)! Stars of the global scale, who graduated from Ukraine’s National Academy of Music in various years – Liudmyla Monastyrska (soprano), Anzhelina Shvachka (mezzo-soprano), Mykhailo Didyk (tenor), and Serhii Kovnir (bass) were the soloists at this concert.

Verdi wrote his Requiem in 1874 for four soloists, mixed choir, and orchestra as a dedication to Alessandro Manzoni. The composer, who knew well and admired the work of this great Italian poet and personally knew him, was astonished by his death. This composition also includes a remixed version of Libera me, which was originally composed by maestro in memory of Gioachino Rossini. The premiere of Requiem was held on May 22, 1874 in the Saint Mark Church in Milan, the conductor was the author himself. The composition consists of seven independent parts.

Requiem aeterna (Eternal Rest) begins with barely audible whisper of the chorus, contrasted by lighter, more energetic quartet of soloists. It bares the basic idea of the entire composition: whatever loss and sorrow may be, life goes on!

One of the central parts of the Requiem is Sanctus (Holy) which begins with the solo of trumpets, then beautiful fugue adds for double chorus, as the embodiment of sublime creative force of life…

The final part – Libera me (Deliver me, O Lord) is a magnificent composition about the creative power of human mind, courage and victory of enlightenment.

“Today we had a true feast of Music and Art,” said the art historian Lesia OLIINYK. “Powerful sound of the three choirs as one grand chorus! I was worried for the students of the National Music Academy but their voices joined in choral performance of the professionals (“Dumka” Choir and Choir of the National Opera) in absolute harmony. The soloists performed their parts marvelously. We can be proud to have vocalists of extra-class like Liudmyla Monastyrska, Anzhelina Shvachka, Mykhailo Didyk, and Serhii Kovnir, admired by music lovers all over the world. They represent Ukrainian school with great dignity performing in the most prestigious concert halls, they also always remember their Alma Mater (National Music Academy of Ukraine, where they all studied) and their home land, place where they were born. Special thanks go to Mykola Diadiura, who conducted Requiem by heart and to nearly 300 singers and orchestra musicians, whose performance was very organic and majestic. It felt as if Verdi’s spirit was floating in the concert hall. It was the magic of music. The final part Libera me (Deliver me, O Lord) sounded incredibly great. It is the classic composition performed many times, but it is just amazingly great nonetheless. After such concerts one’s soul becomes lighter. This night could be called a major event in the artistic life of Kyiv and I would like to thank the organizers of the Easter Assembly for the great holiday that will continue untill May 18 [final gala-concert will be held at the Great Hall of the National Music Academy of Ukraine and will be dedicated to the Day of Myrr-Bearing Women, featuring Women’s Choir ‘Cantabile’ from Moldova, Men’s Ensemble ‘Urmuli’ from Georgia, Women’s Choir of Horodotsky Monastery, Women’s Choir ‘Yaroslavna,’ Choir of Kyiv Technological Academy and Seminary. – Author].”

“Giuseppe Verdi was an outstanding composer, an artist – a citizen, zealous patriot of Italy, who had the mission to inspire Italians to fight for freedom and independence with his creative work,” said General Director of the National Opera of Ukraine Petro CHUPRYNA. “Maestro was one of those figures who created the new Italy and praised it in his music, and, in particular, in the immortal Requiem. This music composition is a hymn of eternal life, given to us by God. This is a composition of impeccable beauty and enlightenment, harmony, and spiritual penetration, marvelous power of revelation that leaves no one indifferent. We are proud of the fact that after the premiere in Milan, London, and Saint Petersburg Requiem was performed in Kyiv (by the way, much sooner than it was presented in Paris, Vienna, or Berlin) and this indicated that our city was (and remains to this day!) one of the most musical cities in Europe. Verdi was called a king of opera and his music compositions adorn the posters of our theater. Several generations of opera singers, musicians, and music lovers were brought up on his classical heritage. Today’s opera theater cannot exist without Verdi, just as civilization cannot exist without his music. This concert showed that Ukrainian school of opera singing is now one of the best in the world!”