The Vancouver Master Chorale will continue its 75th anniversary celebration with a performance of the Verdi Requiem, which has been described as “an opera in disguise.”

The Southwest Washington Symphony, based in Longview, will join forces with the 80-member Master Chorale for the work, augmented by members of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Southwest Washington Symphony director Dr. Rob Davis will conduct the concert.

The groups will perform at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at Skyview High School Auditorium, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $10 for students. Children 12 and under are free.

Verdi, who is one of the most popular opera composers, wrote his Requiem in 1873 to commemorate the novelist-poet Alessandro Manzoni. Verdi’s masterpiece is a soaring, lush work that has been likened to opera. It has virtuostic solos that will be performed by members of the Master Chorale and other local singers.

The Master Chorale traces its history to 1949. Over the years, members of the choir have performed three times in Carnegie Hall and in Hawaii, Canada and several European countries. Jana Hart has been conductor since 2010.

The 45-member Southwest Washington Symphony started in 1966. Davis, a music instructor at LCC, has led the group since 2013.