‘I wrote this requiem for myself...’, bemoaned Mozart, worn-out but conscious that his Mass for the Dead would become his musical testament and would guarantee him an afterlife. The Requiem, the mythical final point of Mozart’s life, is the starting point today for this new work by Fabrizio Cassol and Alain Platel – whose C(H)ŒURS and nicht schlafen have already been presented by La Monnaie. Fabrizio Cassol explores musical crossovers and brings together African, Western, and Eastern musicians, whose personal influences are mixed with jazz and opera. From a theatrical point of view, Alain Platel looks for a physical and visual translation from his dancers of the themes of death and farewell rites. The heroes of Mozart’s last opera, which was composed at the same time as the Requiem, tell us, after all, that ‘through the strength of music we walk fearless through the shades of death.’
