Verdi. Requiem

Artists:

• Anna Shumarina, soprano
• Liliia Nikitchuk, mezzo-soprano
• Roman Trokhymuk, tenor
• Volodymyr Shynkarenko, bass
• Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
• Galician Academic Chamber Choir (conductor – Vasyl Yatsyniak)
• Benjamin Loeb, conductor (USA)

Program:

• Giuseppe Verdi. Requiem for soloists, mixed choir, and orchestra (1874)

On Maundy Thursday, we invite you to a classical music event that will serve as a musical reflection on sacrifice, suffering, and hope. Just as in the Easter story, crucifixion precedes resurrection, so too in our reality, pain and trials require contemplation to pave the way for renewal. This event is dedicated to the memory of all who have fallen victim to war and, at the same time, to the pursuit of light through darkness.

In his Requiem, Verdi poured all his mastery into depicting the extremes of human emotions. Dies Irae is filled with violence, while Tuba Mirum resounds with power and grandeur, proclaimed by eight trumpets. The jubilant praise of Sanctus unfolds in a brilliant double fugue. Meanwhile, Agnus Dei begins with a breathtaking a cappella duet for soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists.

For this special event, renowned American conductor and devoted supporter of Ukraine, Benjamin Loeb, will come to Lviv to lead the performance:

Verdi wrote this piece for a friend of his, and it held deep personal meaning for him. One thing that makes it special is that it doesn’t have just one meaning. It’s not simply about sadness. Of course, there are moments of sorrow, but at the same time, we are asking for peace—peace for ourselves, peace for the person who has passed away. We also express anger, frustration at the loss of life. There’s a strong message in the music: an acknowledgment that this is a terrible event, a tragedy. If someone has died unjustly, the piece seems to carry a message of reckoning—almost as if saying that those responsible will suffer the consequences.

On one hand, we seek peace, but on the other, we want to understand why this has happened. It’s a very complex work, filled with counterpoint and fugues—two major fugues, in fact. Verdi sends a message that grief is not just an individual experience but something that affects an entire community.

As Loeb said, with this performance he hopes ‘to raise funds to support this concert and the orchestra, ensuring that music continues even in wartime. Many people I know want to support Ukraine in any way they can. Even small donations—$100, $50—can make a real difference. Every contribution helps sustain the arts and keep performances like this one alive’.