The film of the flagship show of the 2023 European Capital of Culture Elefsis premieres at Megaron the Athens Concert Hall for a one-time screening.
The production was captured on film by director Stéphane Talneau and designed specifically for the archaeological site of Elefsis by Jochen Sandig, choreographed by Sasha Waltz.
The transcendental musical and choreographic creation “Human Requiem in Eleusis” aims to awaken the spirit of the place. It is based on Johannes Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem ” (“A German Requiem”). The choral parts are performed by the Berlin Radio Choir under the direction of Gijs Leenaars, one of the best polyphonic ensembles internationally, with each member filling the space with their voices as soloists. In addition to soprano Marlis Petersen, baritone Benjamin Appl, pianists Angela Gassenhuber and Philip Meyers and soloists from the Sasha Waltz & Guests Dance Group also take part.
In “Human Requiem in Eleusis”, the ancient sanctuary of Eleusis was transformed into an open public space of collective catharsis, where text and body, space and sound form a single work of art. It is not a funeral service but a ceremony of celebration of life: memento mori (remember death) transformed into carpe diem (seize the day).
The screening will be preceded by a discussion with the film’s contributors.
Co-produced by
2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture
World Human Forum
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Sasha Waltz & Guests
Radialsystem–Berlin
