Riccardo Muti conducts Verdi’s Requiem in Philadelphia 

Although retired since 2014, I still relish opportunities to teach, write, and share opinions.

On Thursday, October 24th, 2024, Riccardo Muti returned to Philadelphia to conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra in Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem at Marian Anderson Hall.

Once known as Verizon Hall, it has been renamed Marian Anderson Hall on June 8 of this year due to a philanthropic gift of $25 million by Richard and Leslie Miller Worley, with additional funds by Sidney and Caroline Kimmel.

Riccardo Muti continues his celebrated career as one of the most distinguished conductors of his generation. He has thrilled audiences all over the world, leading opera and symphonic concerts. Riccardo Muti was Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 to 1992. It should come as no surprise then that when he walked out upon the stage the audience rose to it’s feet to welcome him with a prolonged standing ovation. I haven’t seen that happen in my 52 years of concert going. 

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), created his Requiem in 1874. Amazingly, it was received with mixed feelings. For one example, Verdi’s wife, the retired operatic superstar Giuseppina Strepponi noted that in Vienna, the work’s reception went “into the torrid zone,” while London gave it a lukewarm reception, according to the splendid program notes by Paul J. Horsley.

This performance brought about some drama in casting. Soprano Juliana Grigoryan was first cast in the vocal quartet. She appears in the program. However, another young soprano was cast soon after. She was then replaced (at the 11th hour, it seems) by celebrated Soprano Angela Meade. Bravo to Ms. Meade for stepping in at the last minute to undertake one of Classical Music’s greatest roles. Completing the quartet was Isabel De Paoli, mezzo-soprano, Giovanni Sala, tenor, and Maharram Huseynov, bass-baritone. The Philadelphia Symphonic Choir met their challenges well, but the real stars of the event were the members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.  They played with an incandescent brilliance that was thrilling to experience. Hundreds of moist eyes and many spontaneous examples of gooseflesh among audience members proved that this Orchestra played with passion and fervor. It is no wonder that the acclaim at the conclusion was prolonged and well-deserved.

The Philadelphia Orchestra season continues with a panoply of guest musicians and conductors, as well as notable programs led by its gay Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. For information about programming and concerts for The Philadelphia Orchestra, visit their website, 

www.philorch.org .

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