BBC Proms 2011: Verdi - Dies Irae from Requiem

Originally broadcast live from the Royal Albert Hall, London Verdi’s Requiem - his great sacred masterpiece - storms the heavens with a stellar line up of soloists and massed choirs in the second of the Proms Choral Sundays. The ultimate in dramatic intensity, this extraordinary work speaks of heaven and hell, fire and earth, darkness and light in music that is as much theatrical as devotional. Verdi completed it in 1874, and conducted the premiere himself in Milan. Three large-scale choirs and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by a Verdi specialist whose recent Cologne recording, which also featured bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, has been much acclaimed. Soloists Marina Poplavskaya and Joseph Calleja both sang alongside Furlanetto in last year’s Simon Boccanegra at the Royal Opera House. Marina Poplavskaya (soprano) Mariana Pentcheva (mezzo-soprano) Joseph Calleja (tenor) Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass) BBC Symphony Chorus BBC National Chorus of Wales Lond