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Finest of all classical works
Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra plus guests take on Verdi's Requiem.
The problem with trying to write about great big classical performances is that one inevitably sounds ridiculously pompous or just lets rip with a torrent of generic adjectives, leaving the reader none the wiser.
So let's get the regular diatribe associated with Verdi's Requiem out of the way: a 90 minute piece jam packed with joyous bits, vigorous and enthusing rhythms, and which touches on loss and sorrow as well as the human desire for forgiveness and mercy.
Hmm, a veritable smorgasbord of emotions, then.
The dumbed down version for the uninitiated is that classical music seems to come in two brands: the chilled out "ahh, I could read a book to this" classical, and the "by golly, I'll put the fear of God into you ... now where's that canon?" breed.
Verdi's Requiem is the latter.
In fact at some points during the performance one may be forgiven for being scared into considering religion and repenting the next day, just in case.
The piece was inspired by the death of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist much admired by Verdi, all set against a very religious back drop. It's a lot like when Puff Daddy did that song in memory of the late Notorious BIG.
This production of Requiem is bringing together musicians of all ages including Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra, the Bedford Sinfonia as well as many local choral groups including Bedford Choral Society, Concord Singers, Danesborough Choir and Kempston Musical Society.
They also have a few international soloists mucking in for good measure: Bonaventura Bottone, Rachel Nicholls, Susan Parry and Ashley Hollan.
With that amount of musicians expect your socks to be blown off.
The show is on Bedford Corn Exchange on April 5 and April 6 from 7.30pm, tickets start at £1 for under 18s to £12 for adults and are available from the Central Box Office.
Source: Bedford Today, 3 April 2008
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