Verdi Requiem at 150 Years

1. Requiem and Kyrie (All Soloists & Chorus)

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

and may perpetual light shine upon them.

Praise be to God in Zion,

and unto you shall be made a vow in Jerusalem.

Hear my prayer,

unto you all flesh will come.

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

and may perpetual light shine upon them.

Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.

2. Dies Irae (All Soloists and Chorus)

(chorus)

Day of wrath, day that will

dissolve the world in ashes,

as foretold by David and the Sybil.

How great shall be the trembling

when the Judge shall come,

examining everything strictly!

(Bass and Chorus)

The trumpet, spreading a wondrous sound

Through the tombs of every land,

will summon all before the throne.

Death and nature will marvel,

when all creation rises again,

to answer to the Judge.

(Mezzo and Chorus)

The book of words will be brought forth,

in which all is contained

from which the world shall be judged.

Therefore when the Judge is seated,

all hidden things will appear:

nothing will remain unpunished.

Nothing.

(Chorus)

Day of wrath, day that will

dissolve the world in ashes,

as foretold by David and the Sybil!

(Soprano, Mezzo, Tenor)

What shall I, in misery, then to say?

Which patron should I appeal to,

when even the righteous are uncertain?

(All Soloists and Chorus)

King of tremendous majesty,

who gives salvation freely,

save me, fount of mercy.

(Soprano and Mezzo)

Remember, merciful Jesus,

that I am the reason for Thy journey;

lest you lose me in that day. 

Seeking me, you sat wearily;

you redeemed me on the cross;

let your efforts not be in vain.

Righteous Judge of vengeance,

give the gift of absolution

before the day of reckoning.

(Tenor)

I groan, like the guilty one,

my face red with shame.

spare me, O God.

You who absolved Mary Magdalen,

and listened to the thief,

you have given me hope, too.

My prayers are not worthy,

but Lord, be merciful,

and let me not burn in the eternal fire.

Grant me a place among the sheep,

and separate me from the goats,

setting me at Thy right hand. 

(Bass and Chorus)

When the cursed have been rebuked,

sentenced to harsh flames,

call me to be with the blessed.

I meekly and humbly pray,

my heart contrite as ashes:

safeguard my final days.

(Chorus)

Day of wrath, day that will

dissolve the world in ashes

as foretold by David and the Sybil.

(All Soloists and Chorus)

That day will be full of tears,

when from the ashes arises

the guilty one who is to be judged.

Spare him, therefore, God.

Merciful Lord Jesus,

give them rest! Amen. 

3.  Offertorio (All Soloists)

Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,

deliver the souls of all the faithful 

departed from the pains of hell

and from the deep pit.

Deliver them from the mouth of the lion,

that hell may not swallow them up,

nor they fall into darkness;

but may the holy standard-bearer Saint Michael,

lead them into the holy light

as you promised to

Abraham and his seed.

Sacrifices and prayers, 

we offer to you, Lord, 

with praise.

Receive them on behalf of those souls whom we remember today.

Let them, O Lord, pass over from death to life.

as you promised to Abraham and his heirs.

Deliver the souls of all the faithful 

departed from the pains of hell

and from the deep pit,

Le them, O Lord, pass over from death to life. 

4. Sanctus (Chorus)

Holy, holy, holy

Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes 

in the name of the Lord.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory,

Hosanna in the highest!

5. Agnus Dei (Soprano, Mezzo, Chorus)

Lamb of God, 

who takes away 

the sins of the world, 

give them rest.

6. Lux aeterna (Mezzo, Tenor, Bass)

Let eternal light shine on them, Lord,

with your saints forever, for you are merciful.

Grant the eternal rest, Lord,

and let eternal light shine on them 

with your saints forever, for you are merciful.

Let eternal light shine on them, Lord.

7. Libera me (Soprano and Chorus)

Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death on that terrible day,

when the heavens and the earth shall be shaken:

when you will come to judge the world by fire.

I quake with fear,

and I fear the judgment

and the wrath to come,

when the heavens and the earth shall be shaken.

I quake with fear.

That day of wrath,

calamity and misery,

day of great and exceeding bitterness,

when you will come to judge the world by fire.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,

and let perpetual light shine on them.

Deliver me, Lord, from eternal

death on that terrible day,

When the heavens and the earth shall be shaken.

Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death on that terrible day,

Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death,

when the heavens and the earth shall be shaken.

when you will come to judge the world by fire.

Deliver me.