On 7, 8 and 9 May 2025 at 8 pm, the impressive Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) resonates in the Christus Koningkerk in Gent. Under the direction of conductor Joris Derder, the Ghent Symphony Orchestra, together with four soloists and the GUK, brings this monumental work to life.
"Let yourself be swept away by the grandeur of this work"
Mozart's Requiem is among his best-known and most mysterious compositions. The Austrian composer began work on it in 1791, but died that same year, which meant he could never complete it. The version we know today, we owe to Franz Xaver Süßmayr (1766–1803), one of Mozart's students, who completed the work based on sketches and instructions from his master.
To this day there is discussion about who exactly composed what, but during these concert evenings it is above all the musical power that takes centre stage. From the dark Introitus to the fiery Dies irae and the resigned conclusion: the Requiem is a masterpiece that leaves no one untouched.
A celebration of recognition and renewal
Alongside the Requiem, the choir also performs the GUK anthem When Music Sounds, a work that Nicolas De Cock composed specifically in 2022 for the twentieth anniversary of the Ghent University Choir. This anthem, first performed during the gala concert three years ago, has since become a fixed value within the choir's repertoire.
The performance promises to be a captivating concert, with Noa Vanden Broucke (soprano), Ano Machavariani (alto), Vahe Harutyunyan (tenor) and Alexander Van Goethem (bass) as soloists. Together with the Ghent Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Siewald Degraeve, and conductor Joris Derder, an impressive line-up takes the stage.
Practical information
The concerts take place on 7, 8 and 9 May 2025, each time at 8 pm, in the Christus Koningkerk (Rerum-Novarumplein 25, Gent). Tickets are available via the website of the Ghent University Choir. Don't wait too long — Mozart's Requiem remains a major crowd-puller.