FIVE REQUIEMS [1791-1965]: Mozart, Berlioz, Brahms, Verdi, and Ligeti

What is a ‘Requiem’? It is a mass for the dead. It is a musical mourning. The music is typically in minor keys, and deliberately dark. Enjoy!

Tonight we

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) composed his Requiem in 1791.

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) composed his Requiem in 1837.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) completed his “Ein deutsches Requiem” in 1868.

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) composed his Requiem in 1874.

György Ligeti (1923-2006) completed his Requiem in 1965.

(The text of a Requiem is almost always in Latin, but Brahms did his in German.)

Two hours of old music about death.

Jonathan Nott & Berlin Philharmoniker, “Ligeti - Requiem IV. Lacrimosa. Molto lento”

from The Ligeti Project IV

Teldec - 2002

Roland Bader & Stuttgart Philharmonic, “Mozart - Requiem I. Kyrie & II. Dies Irae”

from Mozart: Requiem, K. 626

Vox

Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra, “Verdi - Requiem II. Dies Irae”

from Verdi - Requiem

Columbia

Jonathan Nott & Berlin Philharmoniker, “Ligeti - Requiem II. Kyrie”

from The Ligeti Project IV

Teldec - 2002

Charles Munch & Boston Symphony Orchestra, “Berlioz - Requiem I. Requiem et Kyrie & II. Dies Irae”

from Charles Munch conducts Berlioz

RCA Red Seal - 2018

recorded 1959

Otto Klemperer & Philharmonia Orchestra, “Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requeim (excerpt)”

from Brahms: Symphonies & Overtures

Warner Classics - 2013

Jonathan Nott & Berlin Philharmoniker, “Ligeti - Requiem II. Kyrie”

from The Ligeti Project IV

Teldec - 2002

DJbob Curved Air December 2nd, 2019