The Cathedral summer concert series continues tonight, Thursday August 3, with Italian composer Ildebrando Pizzetti’s Messa de Requiem.
Dating from 1922 and written when Pizzetti was grieving after the death of his first wife, his Requiem for unaccompanied choir is a profoundly moving and emotional work. It was first performed privately in Rome in 1924 for Italy’s King Victor Emmanuel III and his court, and later that year publicly in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Pizzetti is better known for his operas, and the Requiem is one of his rare explorations of the liturgical genre.
There have been relatively few performances in Ireland - Maynooth in 1989, Cork in 1990 and 1996, and Dublin in 1993 - so tonight is a rare opportunity to hear this work. The rest of tonight’s programme presents early keyboard and choral music by William Byrd, marking the 400th anniversary year of his death in 1623.
Project-based Audivi Chamber Choir was formed in 2002 by Galwegian Darina McCarthy. She says: “For me, music from the Renaissance is absolutely sublime. Every so often I gather together singing colleagues from Galway and further afield to perform material from this ‘golden age’ of vocal polypyhony. More recently I’ve been persuaded to move into the 20th century! – and Pizzetti’s Requiem is this year’s modern offering. The cathedral is a wonderful performance space, and we’re looking forward to this evening. If you’re looking to escape the Galway Races, do come and hear us!”
For full concert information see recitals.galwaycathedral.ie or scan the barcode in the advert. Tickets are €15 and are available at the door or online: recitals.galwaycathedral.ie/summer-concerts-2023/audivi-chamber-choir
