A Rare Chance To Hear The Requiem That Shaped Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Kāpiti Chorale opens its 2026 concert season with a programme built around a lesser-known work that helped shape one of the most recognised pieces in the choral repertoire, performed with chamber orchestra under the direction of Eric Sidoti.

On Sunday 24 May, the choir will present Michael Haydn’s Requiem in C minor, a work widely considered to have influenced Mozart’s later Requiem. While Mozart’s setting is far better known, Michael Haydn’s earlier work offers insight into the musical world Mozart was part of and the ideas he later developed.

The concert also features Bach’s Magnificat, alongside movements from Haydn’s Nelson Mass and an excerpt from Bach’s St John Passion.

The first half centres on Bach’s Magnificat, known for its clarity, energy, and contrast between chorus and soloists. The second half moves into more reflective ground, beginning with “Rest Well” from the St John Passion and leading into the Michael Haydn Requiem.

Kāpiti Chorale will perform Mozart’s Requiem later in the 2026 season with Capital Choir Wellington, making this concert a natural starting point for audiences interested in how that later work connects to earlier traditions.

The performance features soloists Barbara Paterson (soprano), Charlotte Secker (soprano), Ruth Armishaw (alto), Elias Nguyen (tenor), and Joshua Jamieson (bass/baritone), with chamber orchestra.

Event Details
Sunday 24 May 2026, 3:00pm
St Paul’s Church, 1 Langdale Avenue, Paraparaumu

Tickets are available via Eventfinda.
General Admission: $35 (+ booking fee)
Student: $15 (+ booking fee)

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