To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Coro Lirico di Lugano will perform Giuseppe Verdi’s *Requiem Mass*. This is a rare opportunity to experience a work unlike any other, one that blends the sacredness of the liturgy with the pathos of opera, creating a masterpiece of extraordinary emotional power.  

Composed between 1869 and 1874 and dedicated to Alessandro Manzoni, the Requiem Mass was first performed by Giuseppe Verdi at the Church of San Marco in Milan in 1874, on the first anniversary of the writer’s death. Through the Latin text of the funeral liturgy, Verdi offers a profound and universal reflection on death, giving voice to humanity’s fear, hope, and desire for salvation in the face of the mystery of the final passage. The score’s extraordinary expressive power, with its constant alternation between pianissimi and fortissimi, translates the emotional intensity of this journey into music. 
The solo parts are performed by four internationally renowned artists: Nino Michaidze (soprano), Julia Gertseva (mezzo-soprano), Mikheil Sheshaberidze (tenor), and Carlo Colombara (bass). Joining them is the Coro Lirico di Lugano, along with several guest ensembles, the Coro Calliope from Locarno, and two choirs from French-speaking Switzerland, accompanied by the Opera ViVa Orchestra, composed of professionals active both locally and in major Italian theaters, including La Scala. Maestro Andrea Cupia, founder and conductor of the Coro Lirico di Lugano, will conduct.