The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-19
.vERDI'S REQUIEM MASS TO BE SUNG RehearsaIs by Bridgeport Ora toriO Society Now In
 Progress. Work Of Remarkable Beauty And Power Selected For
 Local Presentation.

Much interest Is being manifested in the coming production of Verdt's 8 requiem mass by the Bridgeport Ora torio society and the music lovers of this city will be glad to hear that the members of the society are show ing an uncommon interest in the work and that tn erehearsals give promise of an excellent performance of the master creation. The chorus will comprise over 300 voices and the score. while difficult, lends itself to easy interpretation pr. Arthur Moos, the director, is finely equipped to handle the chorus and under his able direc- ton there is no reason why the spIen- did work should not have an ideal presentation.
 It is especially fitting that this wonderful creation should have been the choice of the local society at this time, marking as it does the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the immortal composer. It is sin cerely to be hoped that the music loving public will encourage the ef- forts of the promoters and lend their every aid to make this production the greatest of it's kind in the history of the city.
 For the benefit of those who may not be familiar with the story of the requiem which Verdis contemporaries regarded as foremost among his crea- tions the following is appended:
 In the year 1873 upon the death of Alessandro Manzoni, a, celebrated poet and one of the greatest patriots of his time, Verdi conceived the idea of writing a Requiem Mass designed to celebrate in a solemn manner the first anniversary of the great poets death. sInvitations were addressed to the greatest artists in Italy begging them to take part in this ceremony. This idea was hailed by the artists with the greatest favor. The work was started and divided into thirteen parts and confded to thirteen composers. As chief of the Modern Italian school the last number was reserved for Wer- di- The mass was completed but was never given as originally written Shortly afterwards the Requiem as we have it today was written by Yer Of Verdi in the Church of San Marco, Milan, May @22. 1874, and from all parts of Europe, not only from Italy, but from France, Germany and Aus tr1a, musicians, critics and artists crowded to Milan to hear the Mass Verdi's permission was asked to aI- low the Mass to be given three times at the theater LaScala, in order to give all those who had not been for tunate enough to be present at the ceremony, the possibility of hearing so fine and so touching a work. Verdi willingly agreed to this. and again conducted in person the first of those performances. At the conclusion of each number the audience gave free vent to their enthusiasm and after the Offertory had been repeated si1- yer crown was presented to Verdi. The Mass has been sung a number of times since and was everywhere re- ceived with great enthusiasm.
 It is especially fitting that this work should be given at this time, the one hundredth anniversary of Yerdi's birth and under the able direction of Dr. Arthur Mees, the Mass when sung in Bridgeport should be a great success. The chorus, comprising over 300 of Br1dgeport's best musicians, is thoroughly and rapidly s1earning the great work.