The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Chronicle Special To understand Italy, is to understand Giuseppe Verdi. â€" Here was a classical hero of stamina, passion and emotion, the heart of Italy. â€" Verdi‘s Requiem, composed for 19th century poet/political mentor Alessandro Manzoni, deâ€" buted May 22, 1874 at the Church of San Marco in Milan, Italy, to overwhelming response. The work was immediately repeated at La Scala, and premiered in Vienna, Paris and London, to staggering success. Today, Verdi‘s Requiem reâ€" mains an audience favorite Kitchenerâ€"Waterioo Philharâ€" monic Choir musical director Howard Dyck has conducted this cherished work three times: in 1978 at St. Mary‘s Church; in 1982 at Centre in the Square; and on Good Friday, April 17, 1987, Dyck, the Kâ€"W Philharmonic Choir, and special guests London guished national soloists excelled in a powerful, stunning presentaâ€" tion. It was one of the best choir performances to date, all parties involved wellâ€"deserving of many bravos and the standing ovation from an enlightened Centre in the Square congregation. ‘"‘Verdi was a great vocal composer. He knew the human voice backwards and forwards. When the choir sings Verdi, they never seem to feel tired," said conductor Dyck. It showed. The 165â€"voice chorus was suâ€" perb in control of pitch and diction (lightningâ€"fast Latin text) yet the audience could easily decipher each phrase. All seemed to feel Verdi‘s urgency, one moment emanating in soft prayer (Requiem aeternam dona eis), the next choral purgatory during Verdi‘s theatrical proâ€" longed climax Dies Irae (Day of Wrath). Forrester‘s continual warmth, and compassion transcended this sacred text, as she foretold the eternal light (Lux Aeterna) and begged for mercy in opulent plea through quartet combination (Kyrie eleison). Forrester, fresh from a triumphant performance of Mahler Symphony Number 2, with the Berlin Philharmonic, aptly displayed why she is conâ€" sidered one of Canada‘s most prestigious performers along with Jon Vickers. Vincent Arcone, both of New York, and leading Chilean bariâ€" tone Joachim Umaranâ€"Davila all equally impressive in Philharâ€" monic season debuts, providing breathtaking duos, and trios through some of the solo work occasionally lacked in spirit. Stunning Verdi‘s Requiem m_m"â€""'w at least one “”nwmm Call Centre in The Square §78â€"1570 or KAN Litle Theatre 886â€"0860 Katharine Johnson, and tenor $19 50 aduits $18 .50 at Kichener Victona Park Pawihon DINNER THEATRE or The Taming of the Sioux t amertanit uin Papurasy Lumen o arrangement with Playwrtes Umon of Canada Directed by Don Endicott Kichenerâ€"Waterioe \itle tneatre â€" 8:30 p.m $7.50 aduits