Saturday night Matt and I went to the newly refurbished Tabernacle on Temple Square. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performed the Mozart Requiem and the world premier of the Wilberg Requiem. It was amazing!
As I listed to the Mozart Requiem, I was entranced. It was beautiful. The 4 soloists were wonderful. We were sitting on the very front row in front of the bass. He was awesome! He was so strong and exciting to listen to, as were the other three. During the intermission I decided that I think I would like to have a requiem, Mozart's of course, sung at my funeral. What a glorious way to go! (I don't think it would fly though.)
It was fun to learn a little more about this requiem. It was commissioned and written in Mozart's last year. It wasn't finished. There is a fair degree of dispute and mystery about how much he actually wrote. Read about it here.
After the intermission, was Wilberg's Requiem. As it began, everything changed. Somehow, I realized that this was going to touch me much more than Mozart's. I don't know what they says about me, but it was true. It was moving. It was transcendent. It was glorious. I loved it.
As I listened to it, it was as if my very soul strained to leave my body and fly upward with the beautiful strains of music. Being checked though, they choked my heart with emotion. I don't know if you can identify with this feeling, but it was glorious. I loved it. I wish I could hear the beautiful music again, today.
I will own a recording of it when it is available, but I know it will not do it justice. I will miss the soaring orchestra and penetrating voices in person. There is just something about live performances.
If you ever can hear this, don't miss it!
P.S. Today I am NOT going to miss the PBS documentary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Follow the link to watch a trailer.
2 comments:
Thanks for the heads up on the PBS documentary. I'm really excited to see it tonight.
The Wilberg Requiem was fantastic. It was beautiful in a way I can't really describe. I can't hum a melody from it; it was written in a modern style, which I usually don't care for. But the tone color and the various devices he so subtly combined made for an un-earthly experience that was often best enjoyed with my eyes closed, so as to block out the distraction of sight. Trancendentalism of sound over sight.
Post a Comment