Fr. Marek Weresa – Vatican
A Musical and Spiritual Feast
In the monumental interiors of Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Polish artists performed one of the most moving works of sacred music – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem”. The performance by the Warsaw Chamber Opera gathered an audience – including many ambassadors accredited to the Holy See – who came not only for the concert but also for an event of profound spiritual dimension.
As Alicja Węgorzewska-Whiskerd, director of the Warsaw Chamber Opera, emphasized in an interview with Vatican media, the atmosphere of the evening was exceptional.
“We have just experienced an incredible feast – both musical and spiritual. I am proud, happy, and prayerful,” she said after the concert. The artist noted that the gathering of so many outstanding musicians and listeners in this unique temple was a special moment. “For me, as a director, it was a dream evening,” she emphasized.
The concert took place at a special time – during Lent – which further enhanced its message. The Italian capital greeted the artists with rainy weather, which – as Węgorzewska-Whiskerd noted – only intensified the meaning of the piece.
Mozart in Historical Sound
The “Requiem” was performed by the ensembles of the Warsaw Chamber Opera under the baton of conductor Adam Banaszak. The orchestra played on historical instruments, in accordance with ancient performance practice.
“We are presenting this masterpiece with an ensemble playing on historical instruments, striving to recreate the sound that Mozart himself might have imagined,” the conductor pointed out.
This means, among other things, using basset horns instead of modern clarinets and gut strings instead of metal ones. This method of performance allows listeners to get closer to the original character of the composition.
Adam Banaszak reminded that “Requiem” is one of the most extraordinary works in the history of music – a composition on which Mozart’s work was interrupted by death.
In Rome, the piece was performed by an international quartet of soloists: Aleksandra Olczyk (soprano), Joanna Motulewicz (mezzo-soprano), Adrian Domarecki (tenor), and Artur Janda (bass/baritone).
Music that Touches Ultimate Matters
The performance of “Requiem” in one of Christianity’s most important basilicas gave the concert a special symbolism. For the performers, it was not only an artistic event but also a spiritual experience.
As Adam Banaszak said, performing in such a place primarily evokes a sense of immense honor and an awareness of participating in the great tradition of the Church. “It’s a sense of continuity and an awareness of how many hundreds of years the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church has. We feel that we are part of a larger whole,” the conductor emphasized.
Many listeners were deeply moved by the concert. As Alicja Węgorzewska-Whiskerd recounted, one of the attendees could not hide her emotion after the event. “She told me: I came to Rome and did not expect to cry during the Requiem here,” she emphasized.
The evening at Santa Maria Maggiore showed that Mozart’s music – despite the passage of over two centuries – can still stir the deepest human emotions and lead listeners to reflect on the mystery of life, death, and hope.
The event was organized by: Adam Kwiatkowski – Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Holy See, Adam Struzik – Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship, Alicja Węgorzewska-Whiskerd – Director of the Warsaw Chamber Opera. The concert took place in cooperation with Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
