I had the privilege of experiencing Human Requiem, a breathtaking, contemporary, and immersive reimagining of Brahms’ German Requiem. This visionary production, a collaboration between Rundfunkchor Berlin and members of Sasha Waltz & Guests, transforms choral performance into a deeply interactive and theatrical experience.
A Global Journey Rooted in Ancient Mysteries
Originally conceived in 2012 at Radialsystem in Berlin, the Human Requiem has since traveled across the world, leaving audiences mesmerized from New York to Athens, Buenos Aires to Sydney. But in 2023, a long-cherished dream of its creators took shape in a setting unlike any other: Elefsina (Eleusis), Greece, a site steeped in myth and history, once home to the sacred Mysteries of Eleusis.
The project’s visionary, Jochen Sandig, first visited Elefsina in 2013, inspired by a connection drawn between Brahms’ Requiem and the Eleusinian Mysteries by Myrto Vounatsou. This connection set in motion a decade-long journey to bring the performance to the archaeological sanctuary itself. After a successful staging at the Athens Concert Hall in 2016, a first round of test filming took place at Elefsina, paving the way for an even greater ambition: a site-specific performance and film capturing the requiem in its most profound and symbolic form.
An Immersive Experience at Elefsina
In 2023, as part of Eleusis European Capital of Culture, the vision became reality. Sasha Waltz created a new choreography, interweaving mythological figures into the fabric of the performance:
- Demeter – danced by Clémentine Deluy
- Persephone – portrayed by Claudia De Serpa Soares
- Hades – embodied by Virgis Puodziunas
The ancient sanctuary became the stage for a living ritual, where music, movement, and mythology converged in an intimate yet monumental performance. The audience itself played an integral role, dissolving the barrier between performer and spectator, echoing the sacred participation of the ancient Mysteries.
A Cinematic Masterpiece on ARTE
Following a year of meticulous postproduction, under the artistic direction of filmmaker Stephan Talneau, the Human Requiem film is now ready to be unveiled to a global audience. With a cast featuring soprano Marlis Petersen, baritone Benjamin Appl, and conducted by Gijs Leenars with co-conductor Justus Bartleben, this cinematic interpretation captures the raw emotional intensity of the live experience.
The project was made possible through the unwavering support of World Human Forum, along with dedicated teams in production, local management, and creative direction, including Nikos Mavrakis, Hans-Hermann Rehberg, Wolfgang Bergmann, and Dieter Schneider (ZDF/ARTE).
A.I. M. Kovalevsky
