Rasta Thomas Dances Monumental Mozart Requiem In Front Of 12,000 Spectators

The monumental world premiere of the Mozart Requiem with US guest star Rasta Thomas and the Cuban Contemporary Dance Company (Danza Contemporánea de Cuba) conquers the "Auditorio Nacional" theater in Mexico City in front of 12,000 spectators

A firework of big names was announced on all the posters and in media reports and the audience was not disappointed! On November 7, 2018, the long time before sold out theatre Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City with a capacity of 12,000 seats hosted an epic performance that would remain for a long time in the memory of those who had the chance to see this monumental show.

This Cuban-Mexican co-production brought together the best of the best to honor the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. At the top of the cast, the international star dancer Rasta Thomas was invited to perform as guest soloist with the outstanding Cuban Contemporary Dance Company. The American Rasta Thomas, who is considered one of the most successful and world-best dancers of his generation, rehearsed with the Cuban Dance Company for several weeks in Havana / Cuba, where he - almost like a "warm up" - also had a much acclaimed performance at the International Ballet Gala Alicia Alonso just before leaving for Mexico.

The Mozart Requiem was choreographed by the well respected "prodigy" George Céspedes, the former first soloist of the Cuban Contemporary Dance Company, who also choreographed the successful predecessor project "Carmina Burana". This was also a Cuban-Mexican co-production of the Cuban Contemoporary Company and world star Rasta Thomas and premiered in 2015 as well in the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. Director of the Mozart Requiem was - as before for Carmina Burana - Pepe Olivares, who coordinated the over 200 participating artists on stage and in the orchestra pit. He wanted to make the solemnity and power of this liturgical Mass of Mozart an overall experience while ensuring that the Requiem is interpreted as the Austrian composer has conceived it.

Correspondingly to this high class show the media and public interest as well as the artistic expectations were very high. In just two rehearsals, the different mainstays of this performance were put together in Mexico: the Cuban dancers, the Mexican orchestra, the vocal soloists, the organ of the Auditorio, the stage light and the monumental choir. This was only possible due to the fact that world class experts of all sectors were at work and because there was a wonderful vision as the unifying concept over everything. "It is", as Rasta Thomas described in a radio interview, "like the preparation of a perfect date ..., you wholeheartedly just want that everything succeeds optimally, everything must be perfect and coherent, all components are thoughtfully planned in a very sensitive way and of the utmost importance for the success ... "

And the "perfect date" in the Auditorio succeeded in an overwhelming way! From the very first second, the audience was enchanted by the virtuosity of dance and music. The stage, the costumes, the light and fog mood were epic and monumental..., the choreographies were flowing and extremely harmonious, the audience saw outstanding dance performances in the highest precision, beautiful pictures, great voices and the brilliant Mexican National Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction by Carlos Miguel Prieto - those were the perfect ingredients for the big success of this epic show.

Above all, the expressive, charismatic dancer Rasta Thomas contributed most to this success. He enchanted the audience by every micro-movement, with every step, with every jump by his unmistakable body language and unique dance technique. When he appeared on stage he was immediately recognizable and acclaimed by the audience even in the mystical stage fog...., unforgettable moments of perfection and expression let the audience held their breath. It seemed that Rasta Thomas was like listening and internalizing every single tone but also the silence between the notes, which was so important to Mozart. He literally absorbed Mozart's music, the voices of the choir and the vocal soloists as well as the dance company's accompanying movements with his body and soul, blending them subtly, tenderly, fragile and powerful with the interpretation and meaning of his performance.

Choreographer George Céspedes' declared vision was to put Mozart's genius over the dance interpretation of this world premiere ... but that he was able to interpret and enhance the music so impressively through his choreographies, without leaving the dance in the background, can be considered - in combination with the expressive performance of his dance company and thanks to Rasta Thomas' breathtaking solos - as a real masterpiece.

In addition to the dance, of course as well the vocal performances have to be mentioned. The performance of the Mexican choir group EnHarmonia Vocalis was outstanding, further more the voice of the young and powerful Bass Enrique Angeles was beautiful to listen to..., he will certainly have a great international carreer ahead of him. Together with soprano Susana Zabaleta, who is very popular in Mexico, he sang some arias from the Mozart operas "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni" in the first part of the evening. Great was also the organist Víctor Urbán, who played the monumental organ of the Auditorio Nacional and was also honored with ovations by the audience.

The producers chose the date of this show very meaningful in the time of the important Mexican celebrations of the "Dia de los Muertos" ("Day of the Dead") and thus the performance received an additional importance for the thoroughly elegantly dressed and artistically interested 12,000 Viewers who had gathered in the giant theatre colossus Auditorio Nacional.

The Día de Muertos is one of the most important Mexican holidays, where people traditionally remeber the deceased. According to ancient Mexican beliefs, once a year, at the end of the harvest season, the dead come for a visit from the hereafter and celebrate a happy reunion with music, dancing and good food together with the living. The Day of the Dead tradition was proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What a perfect idea to perform Mozart's famous Requiem on the occasion of this special holiday!

In summary, this was a great evening. Thanks to this innovative project the audience could enjoy one of Mozart's most important works, The Requiem, but this time as a world premiere fused with contemporary dance of the highest quality, realized by outstanding artists.

 

 

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