Messa da Requiem 1969Edinburgh International Festival
Read more about the opera Messa da Requiem
Carlo Maria Giulini was a regular visitor to the Edinburgh Festival, though since 1965 and a rather controversial Don Giovanni staging, he had refused to conduct opera anywhere. The Verdi Requiem was certainly theatrical, if not actually opera, and he included it in his Edinburgh programme again in 1974.
Of these soloists, Angeles Gulin was an unknown quantity, who had not yet sung in Britain. She was reputed to have a big and high voice, and this certainly proved to be the case. Bass Raffaele Ariè was something of an old stager, Active since the fifties, he was clearly a favourite of Giulini's, though rather past his best.
The other two soloists were the real stars. Shirley Verrett had enjoyed a huge operatic success earlier in the Festival as Elizabeth in the Florence production of Donizetti's then unknown Maria Stuarda, Her role in the Requiem was just as majestically handled. The excellent Swedish tenor was now a Festival veteran, and had also appeared on Giulini's recording of the Requiem. They both gave wonderfully accomplished performances.
