The Santa Barbara Symphony Presents Verdi's Requiem With A Community Of Choruses

The Santa Barbara Symphony continues its 65th Anniversary season with two nights of Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece Messa da Requiem on Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, April 14 at 3:00 pm at The Granada Theatre.

Both performances feature Maestro Nir Kabaretti conducting, alongside soloists Colleen Daly, Natascha Petrinsky, Harold Meers, Luca Dall'Amico, as well as numerous choruses from across Santa Barbara County, joining forces to bring this performance to life. To honor Verdi's intent for his requiem, the Santa Barbara Symphony invites the community to participate in a Memorial Campaign to honor those loved and lost.

The Messa da Requiem has been described as the famed 19th-century Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi's only masterpiece not intended for the stage. When Verdi wrote his requiem, it was a significant departure from the operas for which he was known at the time. He composed it in memory of his friend, the celebrated writer, hero, and patriot, Alessandro Manzoni, when he died in 1873. All of Italy mourned the loss of Manzoni, including Verdi. Struck with grief Verdi was unable to attend the funeral, and the Requiem debuted on the first anniversary of Manzoni's death in the San Marco Basilica in Milan.

"The Santa Barbara Symphony hopes to make this performance of Verdi's Requiem as meaningful as possible by capturing the spirit of the composer's intent by honoring the memories of those loved and lost," shared Kevin Marvin, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony. "The Symphony will recognize the memorial at the start of our performance and will end with a moment of silence."

Soprano soloist Colleen Daly is a native of Washington D.C. where she regularly performs at embassies and political events. Some of Daly's most recent performances include Musetta in La Bohème with Annapolis Opera, Lyric Opera of Baltimore and Des Moines Metro Opera as well as Micaëla, one of her signature roles, in both La Tragédie de Carmen with the Syracuse Opera and in Carmen with the Baltimore Concert Opera. Born in Vienna, mezzo-soprano Natascha Petrinsky began her career at the New Israeli Opera Tel-Aviv. Petrinsky's work has taken her to acclaimed international opera houses including La Scala, Covent Garden, Teatro Real Madrid, Sydney Opera, New National Theater Tokyo, and Opera Hong Kong. Tenor soloist Harold Meers debuted with the Opera Theater of Saint Louis and has since traveled across the country to opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera, making a name for himself as one the outstanding American tenors performing today. The fourth soloist featured is Italian bass Luca Dall'Amico. Dall'Amico has worked closely in multiple roles with acclaimed conductor Riccardo Muti and has performed as well at the most famous Italian opera houses and festivals such as Milan La Scala Theater, Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival, and Teatro dell'Opera in Rome.

An integral component adding to the large-scale characterization of Verdi's Messa da Requiem is his use of a large chorus. This dynamic performance will be accompanied by a variety of local choruses including the Santa Barbara Choral Society, the Santa Barbara City College Choirs and the North County Chorus.

Join the Santa Barbara Symphony for this grand performance of Verdi's masterpiece at The Granada Theatre, and consider memorializing those individuals loved and lost, while also supporting all that the Symphony does to create distinctive experiences through masterful performances. The public is invited to participate by donating for each individual memorialized, starting at $100. To make a memorial gift, please call 805-898-9386 or visit thesymphony.org. Gifts must be received by March 22 to be included in the Verdi Performance Program.

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