Verdi’s Requiem Mass provided the climax to the 20th anniversary year of the Festival of Voices. It also marked the occasion of a farewell to Choral Producer Joan Wright on her retirement. She has played the pivotal role in the development and continuing status of this major event in the music calendar of Tasmania.

A potentially fatal blow came with the last-minute indisposition of soprano Sharon Prero, though fortunately distinguished Latvian singer Maija Kovalevska was able to step in to save the day. Her contribution was all the more remarkable considering the lack of opportunity for a full rehearsal.

David Lawrence. Photo supplied

Some 150 choristers from the Festival of Voices Workshop Choir and TSO Chorus (Warren Trevelyan-Jones, Chorusmaster, Claire Preston and Michael Power, repetiteurs) lined up at the back and sides of the city hall stage.

The Festival of Voices 20th Anniversary Orchestra comprised members of the Hobart Chamber Orchestra and the Hobart Wind Symphony melded together in rehearsal by Simon Reade.

The soloists were Kovalevska (soprano), Katherine Tier (mezzo-soprano), Michael Petruccelli (tenor) and Christopher Richardson (bass).

Verdi’s setting of the Latin text was prompted by the death of the great writer Alessandro...