Friday, October 21, 2011

We Were at the Same Concert

The Verdi Requiem at San Francisco Symphony, splendor illuminated.
Looking over my review, I see that I never did succeed in making one particular point: the Verdi Requiem is a close, close cousin to both Simon Boccanegra, in its revised 1881 version, and Otello, which would come a decade or so later. The prevailingly dark tinta, the trilling trumpets, the comfort and solace of "Sed signifier sanctus Michael" - I could not get the sound and feel of the brief orchestral prelude to Otello, or the great Council Chamber scene, out of my head.

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