Unlike the traditions of the early bel canto, which focused mainly on solo arias, Verdi chose an important place in his operatic work for choral music. He created a musical drama in which the destinies of the heroes did not develop in the stage vacuum, but were woven into the people's life and reflected the historical moment.
Many choirs from Verdi's operas show the unity of the people under the yoke of the invaders, which was very important for the composer’s contemporaries who fought for the independence of Italy. Many choral ensembles, written by the great Verdi, later became folk songs.
Opera "Nabucco": chorus "Va ', pensiero"
In the third act of the historical-heroic opera, which brought Verdi the first success, the captive Jews mournfully await execution in the Babylonian captivity. They have nowhere to wait for salvation, because the Babylonian princess Abigail, who seized the throne of her insane father Nabucco, gave the order to destroy all Jews and her half-sister Fenin, who accepted Judaism. Prisoners remember the lost homeland, the beautiful Jerusalem and ask God to give them strength. The growing power of the melody makes the prayer almost a battle call and leaves no doubt that the people united by the spirit of love of freedom will stoically endure all the trials.
According to the plot of the opera, Jehovah performs a miracle and returns the mind to repentant Nabucco, but for Verdi’s contemporaries, who did not expect mercy from higher powers, this choir became an anthem in the liberation struggle of the Italians against the Austrians. The patriots were so imbued with the passion of Verdi’s music that they christened him "Maestro of the Italian Revolution".
Opera "The Force of Destiny": chorus "Rataplan, rataplan, della gloria"
The third picture of the third act of the opera is devoted to the weekdays of the Spaniards military camp in Velletri. Verdi, briefly leaving the romantic passion of the nobility, masterfully paints a picture of people's life here and rude soldiers on a halt, and a cunning gypsy Preziosilla predicting the fate and the canteen-keeper, flirting with the young soldiers, and beggars, begging, and cartoon monk Fra Melitone, rebukes a soldier in debauchery and calling to repent before the battle.
In the final of the picture, all the characters to the accompaniment of only one drum are combined in the choral scene in which Preciosilla is the soloist. This is probably the most fun music for a choir from Verdi's operas, however, on second thought, for many soldiers going to battle, this song will be the last.
Opera "Macbeth": chorus "Che faceste? Dite su!"
However, the great composer was not limited to realistic folk scenes. Among the original musical finds of Verdi are the chorus of witches from the first act of Shakespeare's drama, which begin with an expressive female squeal. Witches gathered near the field of the recent battle reveal to the Scottish commanders Macbeth and Banco their future.
Bright orchestral colors clearly draw the mockery from which the priestesses of darkness predict that Macbeth will become king of Scotland, and Banco - the ancestor of the ruling dynasty. For both tans, this development does not bode well, and soon the witch predictions begin to come true ...
Opera "La Traviata": choruses "Noi siamo zingarelle" and "Di Madride noi siam mattadori"
The bohemian life of Paris is full of reckless fun, which is repeatedly lauded in choral scenes. However, the words of the libretto make it clear that the pain of loss and the transience of happiness are hidden behind the masquerade fake.
At the ball to the courtesan Flora Borvua, which opens the second scene of the second act, carefree “masks” gathered: guests dressed up with gypsies and matadors, joking each other, jokingly predict fate and singing a song about the brave bullfighter Pikillo, who threw five bulls in the arena love young spanish. Paris hangs mock at true courage and pass a verdict: "Here there is no room for courage - you need to be happy here." Love, devotion, responsibility for actions have lost their value in their world, only a whirlpool of entertainment gives them new strength ...
Speaking of "Traviata", one cannot but mention the well-known table "Libiamo ne 'lieti calici", which the soprano and tenor perform accompanied by the choir. A consumptive patient, Violetta Valerie, is touched by the passionate admission of Alfred Germont, a provincial. The duet, accompanied by the guests, glorifies the fun and youth of the soul, but phrases about the transience of love sound like a fatal omen.
Opera "Aida": chorus "Gloria all'Egitto, ad Iside"
One of the most famous pieces ever written in opera completes the review of choirs from operas by Verdi. The solemn celebration of the Egyptian warriors who returned with victory over the Ethiopians takes place in the second scene of the second act. The jubilant opening chorus, glorifying the Egyptian gods and brave winners, is followed by a ballet intermezzo and a triumphal march, familiar, perhaps, to everyone.
They are followed by one of the most dramatic moments in the opera, when the servant daughter of Pharaoh Aida finds out among the captives of his father, the Ethiopian king Amonasro, hiding in the enemy's camp. One more shock awaits the poor Aida: Pharaoh, wishing to reward the valor of the Egyptian commander Radamés, Aida’s secret lover, offers him the hand of his daughter Amneris.
The entanglement of passions and aspirations of the main characters culminates in the final choral ensemble, in which the people and priests of Egypt praise the gods, slaves and prisoners thank Pharaoh for the life they have been given, Amonasro makes plans for revenge, and lovers are distressed about divine disfavor.
Verdi as a subtle psychologist creates in this choir a grandiose contrast between the psychological states of the heroes and the crowd. Choirs in Verdi’s operas often complete acts in which the stage conflict reaches its highest point.
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