The Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Rossen Milanov, perform Verdi's monumental choral work Requiem over two nights.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Chorus are bringing Verdi's Requiem to the Ohio Theatre on November 20 and 21, 2026. Both performances start at 7:30 PM, so you've got two nights to choose from if one doesn't fit your schedule. The orchestra is led by conductor Rossen Milanov, and the chorus is directed by Stephen Caracciolo.
It's a massive piece of music. Verdi's Requiem is one of the most monumental choral works ever written, and it's famous for its dramatic intensity. For a long time, it was considered too operatic to be performed in a liturgical setting—like an actual funeral mass—but that theatricality is exactly what makes it stick with you. The Dies irae is the one most people recognize: swirling strings and a thunderous bass drum, a sound that's a favorite of the Ohio State University Marching Band. On the other end, the Lacrimosa is achingly beautiful, opening with a whisper that rises from near silence. The two nights pair that theatrical side with a more profound, reflective mood.
On the solo side, the production brings in four voices: soprano Ann Toomey, mezzo-soprano Alice Chung, tenor Moises Salazar, and bass Richard Ollarsaba. They'll be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, with the full orchestra filling out the sound. It's a lot of people on stage for a single work, and that scale is part of the experience.
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If you want a bit more context before the music starts, there's a free pre-talk concert at 6:30 PM on both nights, with no assigned seating. The main performances follow at 7:30 PM at the Ohio Theatre, 39 E State Street, Columbus, 43215.
