Mozart's Requiem vs. Verdi's Requiem?

Question

This is an opinion question. Please answer only if youhave heard both of the requiems. I just want to find out which requiem do you like better. Personally, I like Mozart's Requiem, especially the first three movements are absolutely awesome. But everyone else I know, prefers Verdi's requiem over Mozart.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Mozart's was written during a time in his life when he was under the most stress and subsequently less focused on his work; the loss of his father had a catastrophic affect on him. Genius though he was, and beautiful as the Requiem is, it doesn't feel as tight or profound as many of his other works. But it is this very sense of disconnectedness and the real tragedy of our great master composer's life that makes the Requiem so powerful and haunting.

Verdi's has all the bells and whistles that come with Romantic music. How could one not love the voices shouting in unison layer after layer after layer, beginning with a few short strokes on a violin? This technique would be ripped off time and again (and still is, in case you haven't heard Andrew Webber or John Williams lately).

Yet just as Tchaikovsky, the great showman himself who loved to end every brilliant run with a bang was no Beethoven, Verdi was certainly no Mozart.

It would be like comparing Whitney Houston's version of 'Over the Rainbow' to the original sung by Judy Garland. Apples and oranges, yes, but we know there's really only ONE definitive version, don't we?

Mozart wins. Hands down. Sorry Guisseppe!

Answer 2

Mozart. But I'm not much of a fan of Romanticism.