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Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini's Dies Illa Premieres in Basel

Nov. 29, 2023

The Basel Choral Society and Chamber Orchestra Basel, led by Facundo Agudin, premiered Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini's Dies Illa at the Basler Munster on November 17 and 19. Scartazzini was commissioned by the Basel Choral Society to compose the work in celebration of their 200th anniversary. The text of the work refers to the second part of the Requiem text as set by Johannes Brahms whose famous Requiem shared the concert program with Scartazzini's. Writing for [t]akte, Robert Krampe notes, "For Scartazzini, the text is “already musical in itself”; sometimes he follows the form, sometimes he diverges from it. He adopts the text’s five-part structure and creates musical links between the stanzas. His music aims to “call to mind motifs of the traditional ‘Dies irae’”. It develops in several waves “from silence” to “threatening vehemence”."

Krampe also notes that Scartazzini's Dies Illa is masterful in its construction. Written for an experienced and excellent amateur choir, the parts are demanding yet singable, and the orchestra supports the vocalists while also having great independence and interest in their own part. Read his full analysis of Scartazzini's Dies Illahere.

To learn more about Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini, visit baerenreiter.com.

Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini
Dies Illa (2023)
for mixed choir and orchestra
2.pic.2.2.2.cbn-4.3.3.1-hp-timp-perc-str(7.6.5.4.3)
9'

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