ConcertPulse
Charles Villiers Stanford: Requiem
Giuseppe Verdi praised Charles Villiers Stanford's Requiem as a "masterpiece." Unlike Verdi's theatrical Requiem or Berlioz’s extravagant mass, Stanford's is classically balanced, beautiful, and elegant. It masterfully blends British choral tradition with symphonic orchestral style. His opera composing experience adds dramatic flair. Composed for painter Frederic Leighton, the Requiem's rich sound echoes the painter’s use of color nuances.