Maurizio Arena
Orchestra del Teatro Vittorio Emanuele (photo Elisabetta Saya)
Cooperation between the Teatro di Messina and the Messina concert societies has allowed us to now present this great musical event: the Requiem Mass composed by Verdi in memory of Alessandro Manzoni. A piece of music created in the context of grandiosity that continuously reveals theatrical suggestions, with an at times severely contrapuntal score (in the best tradition of the sacred style), but always visionary and strongly and highly imaginative. The first performance at La Scala in Milan, in 1874, was conducted by Verdi himself leading an orchestra with 100 elements, an even larger chorus, and an important vocal quartet. The Vittorio Emanuele Theatre Orchestra is conducted by the prestigious Maurizio Arena (also now the orchestra's artistic director), a musician who with has a profound affinity and a daily relationship with the 19 th century opera-symphonic repertoire, matured during his extremely prestigious career. Four of the most beautiful voices in the international scenario sing the soloist roles: the soprano Michela Sburlati, contralto Anna Maria Di Micco, tenor Valter Borin and basso Elia Todisco. The Cilea Opera Chorus is conducted by Bruno Tirotta.
