Phoenix Central Park, Ensemble Apex & Sydney Philharmonia Choirs present

VERDI REQUIEM

The Great Hall, Dangrove (Alexandria)
27 & 28 October 2022
8:00pm

In this unique pair of performances, Ensemble Apex will perform a contemporary reading of Verdi’s Requiem with members from Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ VOX and guest principal vocalists.

Presented by Phoenix Central Park in the modern cathedral of Dangrove, Judith Neilson’s renowned art storage facility in Alexandria, these performances represent the very first opening of the venue’s Great Hall to the public.

The Requiem Mass (or Messa da Requiem, as it was originally known) has long been a grand gesture reserved for the most important occasions. It serves as a musical atonement for the soul’s movement from earth to heaven. For a century, Mozart's Requiem Mass was the genre's prevalent archetype — some audiences will recall the scene where a dying Mozart composes his final measures from his bed in Amadeus. That was until 1874, when Italian operatic composer Giuseppi Verdi reinvented the genre with his masterwork of cataclysmic proportions. Premiering in Milan with over 1000 singers and 400 instrumentalists to mark the passing of prolific Italian writer Manzoni, the piece was criticised for being an opera in liturgical robes. A requiem mass, it was supposed, should be solemn — not epic. What Verdi achieved was a rare and masterful combination of operative bravura with his symphonic prowess, his resulting creation one of the most influential pieces of repertoire in the canon.

These forthcoming concerts will not only offer audiences a sublime evening of Verdi, but also a rare look inside the spectacular and multi-award winning Dangrove building, a working facility which houses Judith Neilson’s globally significant art collection.

Dangrove

Dangrove sets a new benchmark for art storage and curation. It reflects Judith Neilson’s vision for her extraordinary White Rabbit Collection of contemporary art from China.

Like Neilson’s other architectural commissions, such as the White Rabbit Gallery, Phoenix Central Park, and Indigo Slam, the central idea was to bring art and architecture together, creating a monument that combines practicality, sustainability, beauty, and innovation.

The performance of Verdi Requiem will take place in the Great Hall, an extraordinary 10,000sqm space which is conventionally used for temporarily displaying, evaluating and curating large scale artworks. Music performances at Dangrove are curated by Beau Neilson, Creative Director & Executive Producer, Phoenix Central Park.

ensemble apex

Ensemble Apex is a vibrant collective of young musicians dedicated to sharing their passion for orchestral music with the wider community. Founded by Sam Weller in 2016, the Ensemble has been hailed as ‘one of the most exciting new ensembles on the Sydney scene’ (Limelight Magazine). The orchestra creates exceptional orchestral music moments for newcomers and seasoned concert-goers alike. Reflecting their penchant for transcending the conventional boundaries of the concert hall, Apex have developed a reputation for playing in unexpected locations, such as the Powerhouse Museum, the bowels of Sydney Town Hall and even the Metro Theatre. The Ensemble has presented sold-out seasons since 2016, highlights include Bela Bartok’s Miraculous Mandarin at Sydney Town Hall, Rhapsody in Blue with Simon Tedeschi and most recently, Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie.

Ensemble Apex is proudly supported by the City of Sydney.