Then came the question of a way out of the difficulty. Who should be entrusted with the commission for a complete work? Now the thirteenth number--a lucky quantity on this occasion--was the _Libera me_ in C minor, by Verdi, which so attracted the attention of Signor Mazzucato of Milan, that he begged Verdi to take upon himself the responsibility of composing a complete _Requiem_ Mass. This suggestion seems to have clung to him, for, as all the world knows, he eventually gave us that _magnum opus_ with which most amateurs in this country are already familiar. Strangely enough, Rossini's name dropped out of association with the new mass, which, when it was produced, was to honour the memory of Manzoni, Italian poet-patriot, who, full of years, joined the ever-increasing majority on 22nd May 1873.
The first performance of this _Missa da Requiem_ took place in the church of San Marco at Milan on the 22nd May 1874, to mark the anniversary of the death of Manzoni, the composer's old friend, whom--to quote Verdi's own words--"I regarded so much as a writer, and venerated as a man--one who was a model of virtue and patriotism." Musicians and _dilettanti_ from all parts of the world attended this notable performance, which Verdi conducted in person. There was an orchestra of one hundred executants, and a chorus of some hundred and twenty singers, while the _soli_ parts were entrusted to Mesdames Stolz and Waldmann, with Signori Capponi and Maini; and since these musicians were leading performers, gathered from all parts of Italy, the effect of such a combined artist-effort was striking and enthusiastic indeed. The fine mass was splendidly performed, and as number after number was unfolded before the rapt congregation, its impressiveness and grandeur held every listener spellbound. The solemn beauty of the "_Offertorium_," "_Sanctus_" and "_Dies Iræ_" proved specially noticeable, and must have seriously suggested to the late Dr. von Bülow, who was present criticising the work, that beautiful part-writing was an art not altogether unknown to the Italian musician.
The pent-up interest in the score was, however, soon to give vent. In order to afford many others an opportunity of hearing the mass, and of expressing their feelings spontaneously, Verdi permitted it to be performed three times at La Scala Theatre, undertaking, good-naturedly, to conduct the first performance. Then on Monday, the 25th May, the theatre was crammed with an audience which--no longer restrained by sacred surroundings--shouted applause from beginning to end of the work. Several of the numbers were encored, and more than once the vast crowd of people rose _en masse_ crying, "_Viva Verdi!_"