Mozart Requiem Renewal.

Mozart never finished his ‘Requiem.’ We decided to try.

It’s hard to believe that so many notes from Mozart’s most beloved choral work are not his. When Mozart died, his Requiem, the famous Mass for the Dead, was left unfinished. The work fell into the hands of one of his students, who felt unqualified for the task, writing “my part is unworthy of this great man.”

Mozart Requiem Renewal uses every note that Mozart penned but reimagines the rest to create a 21st-century celebration of life, with new musical material provided by composers Dr. Emily Isaacson, Don Mitchell, and Joel Lindberg. 

For more, read this article by the Portland Press Herald, our program notes, and text/translations.

How:  Mozart Requiem Renewal uses every note that Mozart composed, deletes the work of his students, and rewrites the rest as a 21st-century celebration of life.  

Written by Mozart: If Mozart wrote it, we keep it. This includes the voice parts and continuo through the Hostias, using the Latin text.

Nothing Written by Mozart: Where Mozart didn't write anything, newly written material will be created following guide rules. The Requiem structure will be maintained, and the Requiem text will be used as it is ecumenical. The aim is not to re-write the Requiem, but to make Mozart a collaborator in reimagining it.

Photography by Alice & Chris.

 

What: This touring collaboration includes scores, program notes, PR and marketing assets, conductor/lecturer Dr. Emily Isaacson, and soloist/composer Don Mitchell. In addition to the performance, community events can include, but are not limited to:  

  • Pre-concert lecture and/or post-concert Q&A - Prepared lecture or free-form discussion led by Dr. Isaacson with featured artists.

  • Mozart Sing-A-Long - Come sing with us! After an hour of rehearsal with conductor Emily Isaacson, and a Mozart-inspired cake party, amateur singers and music lovers perform alongside our soloists.

  • Flight of the BumbleBEER:  Culinary, visual, and performing arts collide in this collaboration with a local brewery. A beer flight of three brews are paired with three sets of music, inspired by the beer’s flavor profile. 

  • Move to the Music - Join Artistic Director Dr. Emily Isaacson and Portland Bach Experience musicians to form a human orchestra. Children use movement and song to learn about rhythm, pitch, tempo, and dynamics.

Who:

  • Your choir: mid-level amateur choir of 24-80 singers from university, church, or arts nonprofit; choir is prepped by local conductor

  • Your chamber ensemble: string orchestra of at least 8 violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, 1 bass, and 2 percussionists

  • Your soloists: professional soprano, alto, tenor, and bass soloists chosen from your region by Classical Uprising 

  • Our conductor: Dr. Emily Isaacson – Isaacson was named the 2018 Maine Artist of the Year, one of 50 Mainers Leading the State, one of Portland Radio’s 2024 Outstanding Woman, and a three-time winner of the American Prize. Isaacson has taught at Clark University and Bowdoin College. A St. Andrews Society Scholar, Isaacson holds advanced degrees from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; the University of Oregon; and the University of Illinois. eisaacson.com | emily.isaacson@gmail.com

  • Our guitar and vocal soloist: Don Mitchell  – Don Mitchell is a songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer based in Waltham, MA. Over the last decade and change, he's recorded and toured extensively with indie-folk band Darlingside and in the past few years has been focusing on producing/engineering records. Don grew up singing in children's choirs, started writing songs and forming bands in high school, studied music theory and creative writing at Williams College, and other than a three-year sidequest as a field biologist/ornithologist in his early 20s, has been making music in one way or another ever since.

To learn more, please fill out the form below and our staff will be in touch.