Requiem

Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki | Auckland Arts Festiva presents: Requiem & Ātahu.
What does it mean to be alive, knowing that life is finite?

Poignantly shaped around poetry by Bill Manhire, Sam Hunt, Chloe Honum, Ian Wedde and James K Baxter, and inspired by the visual language of acclaimed photographer, Anne Noble, this exquisite world premiere work from award-winning composer Victoria Kelly explores one of the most ancient musical forms, the Requiem, and takes it to new secular and spiritual heights.

In contemplating our existence, the natural world, and feelings of wonder, loss, longing, desire and surrender, Kelly has created an orchestral and choral work of rare beauty and power, uplifted by the magnificent voices of Simon O’Neill and Jayne Tankersley.

Ātahu – a work for taonga puoro and orchestra by Ruby Solly – is a second, much-anticipated world premiere that will be performed in the same evening. Complementing the two debuts will be performances of Debussy’s Nocturnes and one of Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, ‘Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen’.

Originally commissioned by AAF to premiere during our 2022 Festival, we’re now proud to present Requiem for AAF 2023.