Mozart's Requiem

Wednesday, 8 April 2009

Religion has sneakily brought me back to church - by offering itself as an alternative venue for the performing arts. Last Christmas it was Handel's Messiah at St Andrew's, and this Easter it is the Gothic revival glamour of St George's Cathedral, staging two performances of Mozart's Requiem with the West Australian Ballet.

I guess it should make sense really - the Passion plays, the pulpit, the preachers - what is the congregation of church but another example of an audience searching for greater meaning or understanding in life?

Choreographed by Natalie Weir, the WA Ballet presented a mostly abstract, but none the less sombre and spiritual dance to Lacrimosa, a beautiful piece interwoven throughout Mozart's Requiem.

I'd forgotten how much I'd missed seeing the high classical style of ballet live; and the shapes, movements and lines of the dancers were of such pure beauty to me that it was as if they were in a dream.

While the sight lines for the "stage" were imperfect - the Great Crossing of the Cathedral was were the bulk of the performance was detailed and the large columns blocked some of the sections - overall, the audience still managed to see much of the narrative and there were large plasma screen monitors set up to provide a more intimate insight during various pietas between the lead dancers or a full stage overview of the corps de ballet.

The dancers were ably supported by soloists from the WA Opera, with backing from the St George's Cathedral Consort under the reverent musical direction of Joseph Nolan. Stewart Smith showcased his organist skills for the short 60 minute+ running time, with flourishes provided by two trumpeters and a timpanist completing the musicians.

With no obligation to pay for the performance witnessed, I nonetheless gave generously towards the event upon my exit; both for the guilt of being a self confessed lapsed Catholic, and for the spiritual and theatrical enjoyment that I had gained from this devout start to the Easter season.