| Ryedale Festival is giving audiences the rare opportunity to hear one of the most magnificent of all choral works in the inspirational surroundings of York Minster at the end of October. Performed by one of the world’s finest orchestras and a stellar cast of soloists, Verdi’s Requiem will be played by The Hallé Orchestra and Hallé Choir to an audience of over a thousand in York’s stunning, vaulted cathedral. From the hushed opening and the awe-inspiring terror of the Dies Irae to the sorrowful Lacrimosa and the final plea for deliverance, Verdi’s mighty vision for his Requiem encompasses heaven and hell, fire and earth, darkness and light, religious grandeur and operatic drama. Popular among both classical music fans and many others through its use in films including 300 and Mad Max: Fury Road, the music has an enduring power to move and inspire. In a trilogy that previously saw Ryedale Festival collaborate with the Hallé Orchestra and Mark Elder to present Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius and Wagner’s Parsifal, Act 3, this concluding collaborative episode will include soloists Natalya Romaniw, Alice Coote, Thomas Atkins and James Platt performing alongside The Hallé Choir and Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. This performance will be dedicated to the memory of Dr Richard Shephard, former Chairman of the Ryedale Festival, a lifelong friend of Sir Mark Elder, and former Chamberlain and Director of Development at York Minster. Christopher Glynn, Artistic Director of Ryedale Festival, said: “To hear Verdi’s Requiem live is one of the most moving and awe-inspiring experiences that classical music can offer. To hear it performed by such stellar forces in the inspirational surroundings of York Minster is the kind of opportunity that comes along only rarely. I’m thrilled that the Ryedale Festival is able to promote this very special performance and dedicate it to the memory of Richard Shephard, a man remembered with deep affection in York and far beyond.” Sir Mark Elder, conductor of the Hallé Orchestra, said: “There are few pieces that have such an impact on audiences as Verdi’s astonishing Requiem. The power and originality of the piece always lingers in the memory, so I do hope you will join us for what is sure to be a special performance with a wonderful cast of singers.” https://ryedalefestival.com |
