Bengt Forsberg and Maria Forsström
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Bangalore School of Music will likely be presenting Mozart’s The Requiem, in affiliation with Evolve Back Resorts, at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall. The Requiem is a choral masterpiece composed by Mozart in 1791, although it remained unfinished on the time of his loss of life in December that 12 months.
A requiem is any music that accompanies the ultimate mass for the deceased and this specific piece by the legendary composer was written for a blended vocal choir and orchestra.
“The Requiem reflects the many aspects of death in all its terrifying glory with dramatic parts interspersed with more soothing ones,” says Jonas Olsson, who will likely be conducting the choir. “For us, it was a natural choice as it is one of works that a choir with any sense of pride should perform.”
Joining the Bangalore School of Music on this musical endeavour are two chamber musicians from Europe — Grammy Award profitable pianist Bengt Forsberg and conductor Maria Forsström.
The BSM choir
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
According to Jonas, The Requiem is an “accessible” piece of music for each the viewers and the choir. “You can relate to it emotionally even if you don’t have any prior musical background. This is music that speaks more to your heart than to your brain, So for us, that was an important factor in the choice of music.”
Audiences will witness a 45-member choir along with a 20-member orchestra, led by Bengt and Maria. “It is quite rare to do projects of this scale in Bangalore, since Western classical music is not promoted or supported enough. I am thrilled we will be able to pull this off and the audience can expect something quite unique,” says Jonas including, ”I hope they depart the auditorium having been transported by our music for a short second in time.”
Preparations for this live performance have been underway since September with Bengt and Maria becoming a member of the choir and orchestra two weeks in the past. “Bengt and Maria have presented this piece many times; after their arrival we have been working on polishing our performance together.”
Apart from The Requiem, Bengt can even be performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto Number 12 in A Major with the BSM Chamber Orchestra — one other piece that’s not generally introduced, says Jonas.
Bengt Forsberg and Maria Forsström
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The BSM string orchestra led by Ananth Kamat, choirs Cappella Bangalore and The Bangalore Men with conductor Jonas Olsson, Bengt Forsberg and Maria Forsström with the musicians of The Bangalore School of Music and soloists Payal John, Vinaya Vinod Kumar, Benson Chacko and Nivedh Jayanth, will current The Requiem.
On January 19 from 7.30-9 pm at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Tickets ranging from ₹299-₹999 can be found on insider.in