with Apollo’s Singers

Against the backdrop of worldwide unrest and revolution, Mozart composed his masterful Requiem in 1791 – as aspirations for democracy were unfolding in France, Haiti, and the American colonies. At the same time, economic forces were creating a personal crisis for Mozart – a situation that resonates for so many people today. Apollo’s Fire is thrilled to revisit Mozart’s Requiem alongside a world premiere by composer Eric Gould. 1791: Requiem for the Ancestors evokes the neglected voices of African, Caribbean, and Native American peoples from the time of Mozart’s Requiem. Jeannette Sorrell leads 70 of the nation’s finest period-instrument specialists and early music singers in these concerts.

The commission for Eric Gould’s 1791: Requiem for the Ancestors was generously underwritten by Sonjia Smith