Verdi Requiem

The production itself is quite beautiful recorded in the Basilica di San Marco in Venice in November 2007 it highlights the cathedrals splendor the reverent audience the soloists orchestra and chorus with nearperfect cinematography The soundtrack is also acceptable which may have been quite a task to achieve given the Basilicas overreverberant acoustics Alas the performance itself does not rise to the occasion Despite the occasional minor insecurity in ensemble and a visible lack of joy the Symphonica Toscanini musicians play well the Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino members sing equally well and the soloists are more than adequate almost tangibly trying to excel