R.I.P. (per Verdi)

On today's date in 1873, the great Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni died. One of his most ardent admirers was the Italian opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi, who was so stunned by his death that he was unable to attend Manzoni's funeral, instead paying a solitary visit to the writer's grave soon after.

As a tribute, Verdi conceived the idea of writing a requiem mass for the first anniversary of Manzoni's death. He approached the mayor of Milan suggesting that the city sponsor such a concert, while Verdi himself would pay for such expenses as copying and printing. The suggestion was accepted and Verdi began work began on his Manzoni Requiem. Verdi hand-picked his soloists and rehearsed a 100-piece orchestra and 120-voice choir for the premiere performance in Milan, on today's date in 1874.

In his letter to the mezzo Maria Waldmann, inviting her to participate in the premiere, Verdi wrote: "You would gain neither reputation nor money from it, but since this is something that will make history, certainly not because of the merit of the music, but because of the man to whom it is dedicated. I think it would be fine if, one, day, history would say: 'On 22 May there was a great Requiem Mass for the anniversary of Manzoni's death . . .'"

After the premiere performances in Milan, Verdi took the "Requiem" on tour, conducting the first performances of the new work in Paris, London, and Vienna.