Audience response to maestro Carlo Rizzi’s conducting of Verdi’s Requiem at St David’s Hall on November 25th has been outstanding. With the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra, and a chorus consisting of the College Chorus alongside music students from Cardiff University, the performance has been described as ‘stunning’ and ‘superb’ by members of the sell-out audience.
“Getting three hundred singers to sing loudly is easy, but getting them to sing softly is another matter entirely! Maestro Rizzi managed to inspire, to cajole, to plead with them and it worked. Yes, it was amazingly powerful to witness the thundercracks of the Dies Irae, but the most spine-tingly moments came in the soft singing – the Sanctus and Requiem aeternam in the last movement. I think it was a thrill for everyone to be singing as part of such a huge chorus and by the time Maestro Rizzi had shouted, whispered, begged ‘watch me’ for the hundredth time the ensemble in the concert was unbelievably tight. He said that he loved being able to change the performance in the concert from the rehearsal because he knew they were really watching by the end!” Neil Ferris, MA Choral Conducting Course Leader
“The rehearsals were very hard work but incredibly rewarding. Rizzi’s attitude was great and his natural wit really appealed to the students. He kept everyone’s focus very intense even after 4 or 5 hours of rehearsing. I think it also really helped us understand the music as he’d always have an interesting analogy, which kept the rehearsals mentally stimulating. Obviously it was a fantastic experience purely since the Requiem is such a tour de force. I think the huge contrasts make the piece very accessible to a lot of people as it’s such an emotional rollercoaster.” Beth Fuller-Teed, First Violin
“Bravi to everybody for the performance. You really did it! All that we have worked on – the music, the drama, the expression and the power created the almost mystical experience that transcends the technical demands of the Requiem and that I wanted us to feel. I love when my job goes beyond just telling what I wish and becomes an interaction with every single player and singer. You worked really hard to prepare with your tutors this term and then with me. You accepted my knowledge and suggestions but made them yours with your qualities and sensitivity and, most importantly, with your listening, your watching and taking responsibility in the moment. It has been an incredible journey that has seen all 370 of us reaching the sense of unity and communal intent, the almost psychic understanding that is what makes a performance great. I hope it will always be an inspiring memory for you in future. It will be for me.” Maestro Rizzi
Check out our Storify page to follow the behind-the-scenes journey..
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