There, I preferred the composer's mature works over the early ones, and I must say, much the same applies here.
It is odd, though, since I enjoyed discovering the early works of Rossini, where I haven't been as impressed doing the same with Verdi. All the more surprising, since early Verdi essentially sounds like Rossini.
Oh well... what do we have on offer here?
Well, the big works are the 1833-35 Messa di Gloria or Messa Solenne and the early 1869 draft of Verdi's Libera Me, which eventually becomes the conclusion of his Requiem.
As I mentioned already, the Mass is in the mold of Rossini; Italianate, but with a jolly lightness and a love of solo voice tripping around the music. The work only contains the Kyrie and Gloria sequences, so it is not a long affair.
The 1869 version of the Libera Me is more interesting, but as a listener who knows the Requiem well, it is a strange listening experience. The music doesn't always go where I want it to go, and the turns of melody and orchestrations are unexpected in places. For those who like to explore the compositional process, this would be a curious study, I am sure.
Luckily, Chilean soprano Cristina Gallardo-Domâs gives the piece the requisite weight and thrills the part requires, as the same wasn't true on a Pappano recording with similar Verdi orchestral programming. Really, all of the soloists are well chosen, although enjoyment will depend on individual preferences of voice timbres.
The remaining six pieces are essentially orchestrated songs for solo voice, and despite their sacred texts, come off as operatic arias without an opera attached to them. The chorus pops in and out of some of them, but the choir does have the 1880 Pater Noster all to themselves, linked with the Ave Maria for soprano. Curiously, the engineers back the microphones far away for this one choral track, where the chorus is vital and impactful in all of the others on the program. An unfortunate choice, as the detail and Verdi's musical Pezzi Sacri style is somewhat lost in the acoustic. Perhaps some will enjoy the faux cathedral style.
No matter... those wanting to explore what music Verdi was composing away from the opera house will have more than enough to savor here, with many of the works found nowhere else on record. The Milan-based ensembles are energetic and committed, and one could hardly ask for more.
Works
Messa di Gloria (22.09)
Tantum Ergo in F Major (5.27)
Tantum Ergo in G Major (5.32)
Laudate Pueri (6.28)
Qui Tollis (6.05)
Pater Noster (5.49)
Ave Maria (5.36)
Libera Me, 1869 (12.03)
Soloists
Elisabetta Scano, soprano
Cristina Gallardo-Domâs, soprano
Juan Diego Flórez, tenor
Kenneth Tarver, tenor
Eldar Aliev, bass
Michele Pertusi, bass
Performers
Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Chorus Milan
Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra Milan
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Label: Decca
Year: 2001
Total Timing: 69.09
A fine way to explore more from Verdi, somewhat outside his life with opera.
The early works are strongly influenced by Rossini, even if I am more charmed by Rossini's early works, than that from Verdi.
Can't complain about the performers, though.
Find more Verdi recordings HERE!
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