We Were at the Same Concert

The Verdi Requiem at San Francisco Symphony, splendor illuminated.

• Me, in SFCV
• Joshua Kosman, in the Chronicle. He's also right about the 2006 performances led by Conlon. No, we did not conspire on the matter of dominos and translucency/transparency, though we did chat a bit before the concert.
• Janos Gereben, posting to opera-l

Looking over my review, I see that I never did succeed in making one particular point: the Verdi Requiem is a close, close cousin to both Simon Boccanegra, in its revised 1881 version, and Otello, which would come a decade or so later. The prevailingly dark tinta, the trilling trumpets, the comfort and solace of "Sed signifier sanctus Michael" - I could not get the sound and feel of the brief orchestral prelude to Otello, or the great Council Chamber scene, out of my head.