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Christian Spuck – Giuseppe Verdi

Messa da Requiem

Duration
1 h 30 min, No interval
When
20.10.2023 – 18.11.2023
Where
Main Stage
Genre
Ballet, Opera
Price range
20–134 €
Language
Latin
Age recommendation
12+

A funeral mass of music and dance 

A permanent feature in the concert repertoire, Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem takes to the stage in a sensational co-production of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. This masterpiece, which was composed to Catholic liturgy in Latin, is just as captivatingly dramatic as Verdi’s operas. The quietest whispers develop into colossal, climactic moments that push both the chorus and the orchestra to give everything they have. Instead of focusing on religious messages, Verdi’s Requiem delves into the final questions of human existence on a more general level. Choreographer Christian Spuck combines the oratoric score for four solo singers and a large chorus and orchestra to a visual world of dance, abstract scenes, space, and light.

“This is not an evening of ballet or music, this is a total work of art.”

– Nina Scheu, Tagesanzeiger

watch video

Chief Conductor Hannu Lintu, Mezzosoprano Tuija Knihtilä and Soloist Dancer Tuukka Piitulainen talk about the work as they prepare fro the premiere.

watch trailer

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creative team

Director, Choreographer
Christian Spuck
Music
Giuseppe Verdi
Conductor
Hannu Lintu, Dima Slobodeniouk
Sets
Christian Schmidt
Costumes
Emma Ryott
Lighting Design
Martin Gebhardt

The production has been rented from Ballet Zürich.

Christian Spuck’s production of the Messa da Requiem touches on general human themes and is not a choreographic interpretation of the Catholic Requiem text. In order to emphasise the cross-denominational character of the performance, the artistic production team has decided not to use surtitles during the performance.

cast

Soprano
Marjukka Tepponen
Soprano
Silja Aalto
Mezzo Soprano
Tuija Knihtilä
Mezzo Soprano
Maiju Vaahtoluoto
Tenor
Luis Gomes
Tenor
Matteo Lippi
Bass
Matti Turunen
Soloist dancer
Eun Ji Ha
Soloist dancer
Linda Haakana
Soloist dancer
Yuka Masumoto
Soloist dancer
Zhiyao Chen
Soloist dancer
Iga Krata
Soloist dancer
Abigail Sheppard
Soloist dancer
Kailey Kaba
Soloist dancer
Rebecca King-Piitulainen
Soloist dancer
Michal Krčmář
Soloist dancer
Florian Modan
Soloist dancer
Johan Pakkanen
Soloist dancer
Clark Eselgroth
Alexander
Tuukka King-Piitulainen
Alexander
Giuseppe Martino

listen to messa da requiem

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tickets & performances

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