Verdi’s Requiem
Verdi’s Requiem
Large orchestra and chorus | Powerful drama
Saturday
April 26, 2025
7:30 PM
Sunday
April 27, 2025
3:00 PM
Winston-Salem Symphony
Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus
Othalie Graham Soprano
Raehann Bryce-Davis Mezzo Soprano
Cooper Nolan Tenor
Bill McMurray Bass
Michelle Merrill Conductor
Chris Gilliam Chorus Director
Giuseppe Verdi
Requiem
Renowned for its dramatic intensity and profound emotional depth, Verdi’s concert-stage masterpiece will be brought to life by a symphony orchestra, chorus, and a quartet of soloists whose voices will soar through the hall.
From the powerful and haunting “Dies irae” to the tender “Agnus dei,” each movement unfolds with gripping fervor, showcasing Verdi’s unparalleled ability to blend grandeur with intimacy. Join us for a performance that will resonate long after the final note, as we embark on a journey through the depths of human emotion and spiritual contemplation with Verdi’s Requiem.
Pre-Concert Talk
Saturday at 6:30 PM | Sunday at 2:00 PM
All audience members are invited to join us in Room 302 of Wait Chapel, accessed from the north atrium of the building, for a lively discussion about the music and surrounding context. Musicologist Dr. David Levy is your guide—pre-concert talks are free to attend, and occur one hour before any Classics Series concert.
Single tickets to this event go on sale August 1, but you can save your seat with a subscription!
Saturday
Apr 26
7:30 PM
Sunday
Apr 27
3:00 PM
Othalie Graham, soprano
Canadian-American soprano Othalie Graham continues to receive critical acclaim throughout North America and is widely known for her interpretations of the title roles in Turandot and Aida and her commitment to Wagnerian repertoire.
Raehann Bryce-Davis, mezzo-soprano
Raehann Bryce-Davis has been hailed by The New York Times as a “striking mezzo soprano” and by the San Francisco Chronicle for her “electrifying sense of fearlessness.”
Cooper Nolan, tenor
Tenor Cooper Nolan, praised for his “bright, shining, tenor” (Musical America) and his “powerhouse voice” (Opera News), is increasingly making a name for himself as an important interpreter of some of opera’s most demanding tenor roles.
Bill McMurray, baritone
With more than forty operatic roles to his credit, Bill McMurray has been described as “A baritone with warm, rich tones and superb stage presence” by the Durham Herald Sun. Roles to his credit include Figaro (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Marcello (La bohème), Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and Escamillo (Carmen).
Michelle Merrill, conductor
WSS Music Director Michelle Merrill served four years as the Assistant and then Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and also serves as the Music Director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, where she has ignited the growth and expansion of the orchestra’s offerings both on and off the stage. Ms. Merrill is a proud recipient of a 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award as well as the prestigious 2013 Ansbacher Conducting Fellowship as awarded by members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the American Austrian Foundation, which enabled her to be in residence at the world-renowned Salzburg Festival.
Chris Gilliam, chorus director
A conductor praised for his “precision and clarity,” and performances hailed as “enlightened,” Chris Gilliam is the Director of Choral Activities at Wake Forest University, director of the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus, the artistic director and conductor for the Winston-Salem Choral Artists, and Director of Music at Highland Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem.
Venue
Wait Chapel
Wake Forest University
2625 Wake Forest Rd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Rideshare and Dining
Related Events
Music Lovers’ Luncheon
Friday, Apr 25 at Noon
Forsyth Country Club
3101 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem
Enjoy lunch with a side of interesting conversation! Michelle Merrill discusses Verdi’s Requiem with the work’s soloists: Othalie Graham, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Cooper Nolan, and Daniel Rich .
Symphony by the Glass
Thursday, Apr 24 at 5pm
The Caviste
1100 Reynolda Rd
Stop by for an afterwork glass from a selection of wines specifically paired to this week’s program! Enjoy music by WSS musicians and casual conversation with other Symphony goers. The event is free to attend; wines are available for purchase.
