Ballett Zurich headlines Adelaide Festival

In what promises to be a memorable production, the Adelaide Festival has announced that Christian Spuck’s "monumental" Messa da Requiem will be one of the star attractions in 2023. First performed in Milan in 1874, Verdi’s requiem is an oratorio with opera coursing through its veins. This production will bring together the dancers of Ballet Zurich in Switzerland with local choristers, soloists and musicians; a total of 200 performers.

German-born Spuck established himself as a choreographer with the Stuttgart Ballet, for which he created 15 major works that carried on the company's narrative ballet tradition established by John Cranko. In recent years the much-lauded choreographer has extended his artistic reach to film and opera. Spuck has been the leader of Ballett Zürich since 2012 and has recently been appointed artistic director of the Staatsballett Berlin, Germany, starting in 2023.

Internationally celebrated German conductor Johannes Fritzsch will bring the Adelaide production to life in partnership with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra while the Adelaide Festival Chorus - an 80-strong choral ensemble - will join sought-after soloists including acclaimed tenor Paul O’Neill, soprano Eleanor Lyons, mezzo soprano Caitlin Hulcup and bass Pelham Andrews.

Originally programmed for the 2021 and then 2022 Adelaide Festival by former co-directors Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy, the production fell victim to the pandemic, but will now play at the Adelaide Festival Theatre from March 8-11. 

The full Adelaide Festival 2023 program will be launched on 9 November.