On the eve of the 270th anniversary of the birth of the divine child of Salzburg, Debora Waldman, Idomeneo and the Ensemble la Sportelle invite you to explore some of Mozart's most iconic works.

Mozart's life was a shooting star, but one of rare intensity. This prodigy, who continues to amaze us centuries after his death, showed a protean ability to reinvent himself without losing his personality. On the eve of the celebration of the 270th anniversary of the birth of the divine child of Salzburg, Debora Waldman, Idomeneo and the Ensemble la Sportelle invite us to explore some of Mozart's most iconic works.

The final flamboyant spark of Mozart's life, his Requiem has always been a source of mystery and speculation. Fuelled by the myths recounted by Pushkin and Milos Forman, this Requiem seems to accompany the extinguishing of the great Wolfgang's vital flame. Unfinished at the time of the composer's death in December 1791, this Requiem will always remain an open question for the performer and the listener. On the other hand, in each piece we can see that Mozart sketched out a kind of narrative of a life devoted to music, with deep links to the musicians he admired, such as Handel, Michael Haydn (Joseph Haydn's younger brother) and François-Joseph Gossec. This Requiem is not an end but a beginning.

Debora Waldman and the Idomeneo orchestra will give voice to these questions, joining forces with the magnificent voices of the Ensemble la Sportelle and their myriad colours to rediscover this score in all its power.

Pedro-Octavio Diaz

Débora Waldman conductor
Ensemble la Sportelle 21 to 25 singers
Idomeneo Orchestra 30 musicians

Andreea Soare soprano
Eva Zaïcik mezzo-soprano
François Rougier tenor
Timothée Varon bass