"Der Tod - wahrer, bester Freund des Menschen".

In the organizer's words:

Prof. Dr. Stefan Klöckner, Folkwang Hochschule Essen, introduces the Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

In April 1787, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote in his last letter to his father Leopold, who died a few weeks later: "... since death (to be precise) is the true final purpose of our lives, I have for a few years been so familiar with this true, best friend of man that his image not only no longer has anything frightening for me, but quite a lot of calming and comforting!" A few years later - in 1791 - Mozart composed the famous "Requiem", which became his own requiem mass. Many myths surround this composition, although the historically verifiable circumstances of its composition are far less mysterious. And yet Mozart's last and unfinished work remains a poignant testimony to his early encounter with death. What musical language does the composer choose to express the fear of judgment, but also the promise of future immortality? Where does Mozart's "Requiem" fit in today?

The Requiem can be heard on November 2 at 10.30 am in St. Aposteln.