Mozart's Requiem, Opera North, Phoenix Dance Theatre, BBC iPlayer

Mozart's Requiem is an intensely moving funeral mass. Composed shortly before Mozart's own death, aged 35, it's a cathartic work of extraordinary beauty and poignancy.

The production, broadcast on BBC Four on Sunday 24 September, is now available to stream on iPlayer for 30 days from broadcast date. It was conceived during the Covid pandemic and takes Mozart's music as an act of remembrance for those we've lost.

Premiered in Leeds last May as part of Leeds 2023 Year of Culture, it's an exciting international collaboration that sees Leeds-based Opera North and Phoenix Dance Theatre join forces with South Africa's Jazzart Dance Theatre and Cape Town Opera.

Here's a passage from this outstanding production, the 'Confutatis' (Confounded).


Led by the creative team of Phoenix Dance Theatre guest choreographer and former artistic director Dane Hurst, Opera North Music Director Garry Walker, and co-designers Joanna Parker and Peter Mumford, Requiem is performed by nine dancers drawn from the ensembles of Phoenix Dance Theatre and Jazzart Dance Theatre, and the full Orchestra and 36 singers of the Chorus of Opera North.

Taking the solo roles are soprano Ellie Laugharne, alto Ann Taylor, and from South Africa tenor Mongezi Mosoaka, and bass Simon Shibambu.

The film of the stage production is directed by Rhodri Huw and produced by Opera North in partnership with The Space and BBC Arts.