The Los Angeles Master Chorale begins its 2025-26 season with TWO TITANS: THE MUSIC OF BEETHOVEN AND VERDI featuring Beethoven’s Mass in C major, Op. 86 and Verdi’s Four Sacred Pieces—monumental works that embody themes of spiritual devotion, human empathy, and the search for solace in times of uncertainty. Beethoven’s Mass in C major, Op. 86, with its grandeur and intricate choral harmonies, reflects a deep sense of reverence and aspiration.
Similarly, Verdi’s Four Sacred Pieces, written in the composer’s later years, explores themes of gratitude, redemption, and divine presence. Parts of Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86 premiered on the same legendary concert as his 5th and 6th Symphonies and his 4th Piano Concerto, making that the most “stacked” program in the history of music. Verdi wrote the Four Sacred Pieces as he was putting the finishing touches on his masterpieces Otello and Falstaff. Of the four pieces, Verdi liked the Te Deum so much that he reportedly wanted to be buried with the score.