… for the people we have lost in this crisis, for the past from which we are cut off and for the future to which we do not yet know how to connect …
Rufus Wainwright
On June 20, the Dutch premiere of Dream Requiem by Rufus Wainwright takes place at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. It will be performed by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra alongside Toonkunstkoor Amsterdam, Studentenkoor Amsterdam, Nieuw Amsterdams Jeugdkoor, actress Carice van Houten as narrator, and soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen. André de Ridder will conduct.
Just two months later, on August 22, the German premiere will follow at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg as part of the Elbphilharmonie Summer Festival, featuring Symphoniker Hamburg, Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg, Knabenchor Hannover, soprano Mandy Fredrich, and narrator Isabelle Huppert under the baton of Lucie Leguay.
Dream Requiem is a work for choir, orchestra, soprano and narrator. It combines Wainwright’s fascination for the requiem form and his love for the poetry of Lord Byron. The chilling, apocalyptic vision of Byron’s poem “Darkness” is spoken by the narrator, underscored by somber and mournful orchestral parts, while the ancient Latin Requiem text is sung by choir and soprano. The work reflects on themes such as grief, loss, human touch, and togetherness, and is a tribute to those who were lost and to the fragile bonds that connect us across time and memory.
The work was commissioned by Radio France, The Royal Ballet, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Palau de la Musica Catalana Barcelona, Auditori de Barcelona, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Helsinki Festival, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. The world premiere was given by Orchestra Philharmonique du Radio France with Meryl Streep as narrator, conducted by Mikko Franck, on June 14, 2024.
For more information, please see the website of Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
You can listen to the world premiere live recording.
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