Messa da Requiem

Messa da Requiem description

Verdi’s mighty Requiem is a sacred oratorio with opera coursing through its veins. It runs the gamut from whispered pianissimos to some of the most shattering climaxes ever written. Christian Spuck - who won the ballet world’s top award for best choreographer in 2019 - thrusts this already spectacular work into a new orbit, thoroughly integrating the eighty-strong choral ensemble into the maelstrom of his extraordinary staging.

Truly sublime

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Oratorios have been theatricalised before, but this is a pioneering piece. Every contour of Verdi’s score is given physical shape. The huge mass of humanity is moulded to become a tidal wave, a ship’s prow, some gigantic reptilian beast, while the dancers’ glorious solos and intertwining ensembles poignantly express the composer’s vision of death as every individual’s most solitary and mysterious challenge.

The Adelaide Festival has presented many large-scale theatrical events, but this work is unprecedented in its magnitude. Over 170 Adelaide singers and musicians join 36 dancers from one of Europe’s most revered ballet companies to perform a total work of art that will be talked about for years.

Whether you love opera, dance, choral music, theatre or all four, a profound experience awaits.

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Credits

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Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Ballett Zürich with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Adelaide Festival Chorus

Composer Giuseppe Verdi
Choreographer & Producer Christian Spuck
Conductor Johannes Fritzsch
Assistant Director Jean-François Kessler
Stage Designer Christian Schmidt
Artistic Collaboration Stage Designer Florian Schaaf
Costume Designer Emma Ryott
Lighting Designer Martin Gebhardt
Dramaturge Michael Küster, Claus Spahn
Chorus Master Christie Anderson

Soprano Eleanor Lyons
Mezzo Soprano Caitlin Hulcup
Tenor Paul O’Neill
Bass Pelham Andrews

Adelaide Festival gratefully acknowledges the generous support of State Opera South Australia.

The presentation of Messa da Requiem has been made possible by the Adelaide Festival Chairman’s Circle, the Adelaide Festival Opera Donor Circle and MM Electrical.

Supported by Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund - an Australian Government initiative.

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