Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Oratorio Society of NY & Manhattan School of Music Present Verdi's REQUIEM Tonight

For the first time ever, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in collaboration with the Oratorio Society of New York and the Manhattan School of Music Symphony and Symphonic Chorus, will present a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem, tonight, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Under the artistic direction of Kent Tritle, Director of Cathedral Music, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine continues the 2014-15 Great Music in a Great Space concert series with the operatic grandeur of Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem, in an equally dramatic setting. The profound emotional quality of this universally beloved work has found its voice not only in magnificent venues like La Scala and the Royal Albert Hall, but even among the damp walls of the concentration camp, Terezin.

The Messa da Requiem is Verdi's musical setting of the traditional Roman Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, double choir and orchestra. The piece, composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist whom Verdi admired, had its first performance at the San Marco church in Milan on May 22, 1874-the first anniversary of Manzoni's death.

The performance will feature soloists Lori Guilbeau, soprano; Sara Murphy, mezzo-soprano; Alex Richardson, tenor; and Matthew Anchel, bass.

Tickets for Verdi's Requiem start at $25. A limited number of $10 Student Rush tickets will be available for college students and faculty with a valid ID. These tickets will be available at the Cathedral box office one hour prior to the start of the concert. For more information on this and future 2014-15 series performances or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.stjohndivine.org/programs/music/great-music.

Photo by Jennifer Taylor