This Powerful Re-Imagining of Mozart’s Requiem is Emotional, Relevant & Absolutely Unmissable – And You Can See It From Just £15

They’re the last notes Mozart ever wrote, but that’s not the only reason you need to catch Opera North’s stunning staging of Requiem.

Requiem is one of music’s biggest mysteries. It was Mozart’s final work, and it remained unfinished because he died during its creation. The iconic choral masterpiece has been reinvented alongside a brand new South African commission, pairing stirring music with vivid dance in a powerful double header that explores the shared global experience of grief. Expect emotion, celebration and rhythms to move, heal, and strengthen us for the future ahead.

You’ll get to watch not one, but two incredible compositions

As the performance is a double bill, you can witness two incredible productions for the price of one. The first is Mozart’s original Requiem, and the second is a brand new composition by South African Neo Muyanga, offering a vibrant counterpoint to the classical elegance of Mozart’s choral lament. It’s not often that you get the chance to see a much-esteemed classic alongside the premiere of a contemporary composition, so grab the opportunity with both hands.

You’ll get to see Mozart’s last-ever work

The Requiem was Mozart’s final work. Upon being visited by a mysterious messenger, he was commissioned to write the piece by an unnamed party. The story goes that Mozart became obsessed, believing he was writing the Requiem for his own soul and that he was cursed to write it as a swan song because he knew he would soon die. As such, it’s beautiful, haunting and incredibly moving – an absolute must for all music lovers.

You’ll be one of the first to see a brand new composition

Neo Muyanga’s After Tears: After a Requiem transforms the production into a wonderfully impactful piece of cross-cultural work. Muyanga’s composition and the corresponding dance is incredibly uplifting, offering a stark contrast to the melancholic Requiem. Expect an exploration of how mourning and remembrance are marked in South Africa, before a joyous celebration of life and the living.

You’ll be moved by a powerful exploration of grief

Requiem resonates today as an intensely emotional response to the grief experienced by so many during the pandemic. Over two centuries after its composition, it remains accessible and universal, while at the same time deeply personal and stirring, and as the show has been produced by four companies across two continents, it offers a unique global perspective on what it means to grieve. The result? A hopeful exploration of the beauty, brutality and brevity of life.

You’ll be captivated by song and dance

It’s not just the haunting vocals that will take your breath away. The production brings together the physicality of dance with the emotive power of the voice, as ensembles from Phoenix Dance Theatre and Jazzart Dance Theatre are joined on stage by members of Opera North’s Chorus. Backed by the incredible sounds of the Orchestra, it’s a rousing celebration of two powerful art forms. Choreographed by the fantastic Dane Hurst, it’s sure to be an enthralling performance.

You’ll witness two cultures coming together

Requiem brings together a fusion of cultures, tied together by the universal language of music and emotion. Interestingly, many of the dancers have never even met because the majority of the preparation has been done remotely. By fusing two cultures to acknowledge something that transcends borders, Requiem invites everyone to consider the universality of human experience, making the show incredibly relatable and accessible to all.