Verdi's Requiem from the Proms.

Verdi: Requiem

Marina Poplavskaya (soprano)
Mariana Pentcheva (mezzo-soprano)
Joseph Calleja (tenor)
Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass)

BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC National Chorus of Wales
London Philharmonic Choir
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)

This Prom will be repeated on Tuesday 26th July at 2pm.


Some time ago I was a prom goer without thinking it was such a privilege to get tickets for the concerts, students' days were happy and relaxed, I could afford the restricted view seats. I even left a performance, overwhelmed by the screaming and squeaking of the soprano,(the one and only indelicacy from my part, I will not reveal now who put me off, it was too long ago). With my blog friend eyesometric it is impossible to be ignorant of the Prom Season, so last evening I was there, my Mac tuned to BBC radio 3 (on air for seven days) and connected to amplifiers, which is my way to convert my lunchroom into a concert hall. Then I am facing the yard and the small walled garden which opens to the sky, ideal position to let the music flow. My knowledge of the Albert Hall helped me to feel its special atmosphere again and recall the view from the spot where I used to sit. I have seen two of the four soloists, the soprano Marina Poplavskaya and the tenor Joseph Calleja, last summer at the ROH in Simon Boccanegra, I missed Ferruccio Furlanetto'voice (bass) that night, only his voice! He was replaced by Sir John Tomlinson who sang the part while F.Furlanetto was acting...
The richness of the orchestral part and chorals (380 singers)is more impressive then ever, the orchestra is rumbling, the voices are soaring in despair, almost fighting against it. Maria Polavskaya tops are gracefully surfing over it all.
It is brilliant and dazzling. I have noticed so many careful contrasts in this performance, beautifully shaped with solo instruments and voices.
Semyon Bychkov is narrowly sculpting this piece.
I will listen to it again and again, for seven days onward...It is worth repeating this outstanding Verdi's Requiem.
There was an impressive silence of the full Albert Hall house when the music stopped. The clapping came much later. I could feel a huge wave of emotion, miles away from it.
The Norway tragedy was on our minds: the radio announcer dedicated this Requiem to the victims and families. The japanese tragedy is still on my mind too.
RIP.