Mozart's Requiem: Saarland University Choir starts new singing season!

Mozart's Requiem: Saarland University Choir starts new singing season!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem, an unfinished masterpiece, remains a fascinating subject for both musicians and artists. The is dedicated to this famous work Saarland University Choir and invites accomplished singers to participate. Rehearsals begin on October 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the university's music hall on the Saarbrücken campus. University music director Professor Helmut Freitag takes over the management. An audition is required before the first rehearsals, which takes place from 6 p.m.

The Requiem is considered Mozart's last masterpiece and has captivated the music world for over 200 years. Its unfinished form leads to a special fascination, which also becomes visible through various performances and interpretations. This includes a unique series of events France 3, which combines classical music with visual art. This takes place in the historical context of the Chorégies d'Orange and is supplemented by the well-known illustrator Enki Bilal. His melancholic and futuristic illustrations are projected onto the wall of the Théâtre Antique d’Orange and accompany the musical performance.

Diverse performances and participants

The program for this special event includes Mozart's Requiem as well as Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, which was performed there in 2014. The performers in the Requiem include Jessica Pratt (soprano), Aya Wakizono (mezzo-soprano), Dmitry Korchak (tenor) and Inho Jeong (bass). Philippe Druillet, a legendary comic artist and co-founder of Métal Hurlant, is responsible for the visual realization of Carmina Burana.

Another notable context is the recording of the Requiem, released in 2023 by NDR was created in the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. The focus here is on the Requiem in D minor (KV 626), which is performed by renowned ensembles such as the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the NDR Vokalensemble. The performance is directed by Manfred Honeck and combines the musical performance with recited Mozart's thoughts on life and death, which come from actor Matthias Brandt.

In addition, supplementary works such as “Maurish Funeral Music” (KV 477/479a) and the motet “Ave verum corpus” (KV 618) will be presented, which enrich the concert and provide a deep insight into Mozart's compositional work. These diverse performances demonstrate the enduring importance of the Requiem and its influence on various art forms.