Libretto in English: Verdi’s Requiem

I. Requiem and Kyrie save me, O font of pity. Chorus: Soprano and Mezzo-soprano: Grant them eternal rest, O Lord; Recall, merciful Jesus, and may perpetual light shine upon them. that I was the reason for your journey: A hymn in Zion befits you, O God, do not destroy me on that day. and a debt will be paid to you in In seeking me, you sat down wearily; Jerusalem. Hear my prayer: enduring the Cross, you redeemed me: all earthly flesh will come to you. do not let these pains to have been in vain. Quartet and Chorus: Just Judge of punishment: Lord, have mercy upon us. give me the gift of redemption Christ, have mercy upon us. before the day of reckoning. Lord, have mercy upon us. Tenor: I groan as a guilty one, and my face blushes with guilt; II. Sequence spare the supplicant, O God. Chorus: You, who absolved Mary Magdalen, The day of wrath, that day will and heard the prayer of the thief, dissolve the world in ashes, have given me hope, as well. as David and the Sibyl prophesied. My prayers are not worthy, How great will be the terror, but show mercy, O benevolent one, when the Judge comes lest I burn forever in fire. who will smash everything completely! Give me a place among the sheep, The trumpet, scattering a marvelous sound and separate me from the goats, through the tombs of every land, placing me on your right hand. will gather all before the throne. Bass and Chorus: Bass: When the damned are silenced,

and given to the fierce flames, Death and Nature shall stand amazed, call me with the blessed ones. when all Creation rises again to answer to the I pray, suppliant and kneeling, Judge. with a heart contrite as ashes: Mezzo-soprano and Chorus: take my ending into your care. A written book will be brought forth, Chorus: which contains everything The day of wrath, that day will for which the world will be judged. dissolve the world in ashes, Therefore when the Judge takes His seat, as David and the Sibyl prophesied. whatever is hidden will Solo Quartet and Chorus: be revealed: nothing shall remain unavenged. That day is one of weeping, The day of wrath, that day will on which shall rise from the ashes dissolve the world in ashes, the guilty man, to be judged. as David and the Sibyl prophesied. Therefore, spare this one, O God. Soprano, Mezzo-soprano and Tenor: Merciful Lord Jesus: grant them peace. What can a wretch like me say? Amen Whom shall I ask to intercede for me,

when even the just ones are unsafe?

Solo Quartet and Chorus: King of dreadful majesty. III. Offertorio who freely saves the redeemed ones, Quartet: O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory: deliver the souls of all the faithful the earth shall be moved: when you will dead from the pains of hell and from the come to judge the world by fire. deep pit; deliver them from the mouth of the I tremble, and I fear the judgment and the wrath lion; that hell may not swallow them, and to come, when the heavens and the earth shall that they may not fall into darkness. be moved. But may the holy standard-bearer Michael The day of wrath, that day of calamity and show them the holy light; misery; a great and bitter day, indeed. which you once promised to Abraham and Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, his descendents. and may perpetual light shine upon them. We offer to you, O Lord, Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death on that sacrifices and prayers. awful day. Receive them on behalf of those souls Deliver me, O Lord, when the heavens and whom we commemorate today. the earth shall be moved; Grant, O Lord, that they might pass from death when you will come to judge the world by into that life which you once promised to fire. Abraham and his descendents. Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death Deliver the on that awful day. souls of all the faithful dead from the Deliver me. pains of hell; Grant that they might pass from death into that life.

IV. Sanctus Double Chorus: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

V. Agnus Dei Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, and Chorus: Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them rest. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them rest everlasting.

VI. Lux aeterna Mezzo-soprano, Tenor and Bass: Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord, with your saints forever; for you are merciful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them with your saints forever; for you are merciful.

VII. Libera me Soprano and Chorus: Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death on that awful day, when the heavens and