Arrangement by Jean-Christophe Rosaz
This beautiful Ave Maria is sung by Desdemona after the famous aria to the Willow which is at a peak of drama occurring near the end of Otello, Giuseppe Verdi’s great opera. Originally this prayer is accompanied by strings alone. I imagined this version with a choir a cappella where the lyrics of the vocal parts literally dress the murmur which rises from the orchestra, echoing those of the soloist. The impact of her prayer is multiplied by the presence of the mass of the choir at her side. The consonants give a sort of skeleton to the sumptuous background of the strings and the specific colors of the voices add some shape. A humble tribute to the infinite art of writing for the voices of Verdi.