In 1868 the legendary Rossini dies. To honor him, Verdi decides to gather the era’s greatest Italian composers to write a mass in the memory of the departed giant, and is charged with the Libera Me. The project unfortunately does not see the light of day, but the Libera Me is ready when, in 1873, the poet Alessandro Manzoni passes away, and Verdi decides to use it as a basis for his Requiem. From the beginning, this rich and contrasting work is hailed by critics throughout Europe. The theatrical nature of the solo voice parts are responsible for the Requiem sometimes being dubbed a “religious opera”, and Julianna Di Giacomo, Michelle DeYoung, Vittorio Grigolo, and Ildebrando d‘Arcangelo, light up the stage during this vintage performance, with Dudamel at the helm.