The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre cherishes a beautiful tradition to commemorate the Freedom Defender’s Day with a special concert, during which the most outstanding works of sacred music are performed in honour of and in memory of the fallen Defenders of Freedom. On 13 January 2022 LNOBT shall present G. Verdi’s Requiem, created for the Italian writer, humanist, poet and hero Alessandro Manzoni, whom the composer befriended and admired all his life. The Requiem was first performed on 22 May 1874 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Milan on the anniversary of Manzoni's death. Verdi himself conducted it. To date, G. Verdi’s Requiem is usually performed in concerts and, along with W. A. Mozart’s Requiem, is considered the strongest example of the genre. This Requiem, which undoubtedly has many of the features of Verdi's operas, is sometimes even referred to as the "opera of the church". Its music rages wildly from clear, spiritual, heavenly vocals to the heavy diabolical sound of brass.
Our concert will feature LNOBT choir, as well as famous soloists – Italian operatic prima donna Chiara Isotton, soprano whose voice ranges from Milan La Scala Theatre, together with Justina Gringytė, Kristian Benedikt, Kostas Smoriginas. The LNOBT’s Symphony Orchestra shall be conducted by the theatre’s Artistic Director of Opera Sesto Quatrini.
