David Önaç: Atlantic Requiem
LSO St Luke's
- Great for groups
- Under 90 mins
- First-timer friendly
- Early finish
- Date
- Sun, 11 Oct 2026
- Time
- 16:00 · 1h 0m
- Venue
- LSO St Luke's
- City
- London
- Conductor
- Anthony Parnther
- Tickets
- See booking site
You'll be taken to the ensemble's official site.
Summary
Anthony Parnther conducts David Önaç’s Atlantic Requiem, a new work fusing gospel, jazz and classical styles to memorialise victims of the transatlantic slave trade at LSO St Luke’s.
Why it's fantastic
Conductor Anthony Parnther leads a powerful new work dedicated to those lost during the transatlantic slave trade. This hour-long piece weaves liturgical ritual with the rich textures of gospel, jazz, and spirituals to create a deeply moving tribute that bridges the gap between European classical traditions and African American heritage.
Our guide to this performance
What you'll hear
The focal point of this evening is a newly composed Requiem Mass by David Önaç, a piece that functions as a profound memorial for Africans trafficked into slavery. You will hear a sound world that deliberately bridges two distinct musical lineages, merging the structural depth of European contemporary classical music with the expressive weight of African American spirituals, jazz, and gospel. The work is built upon a foundation of academic research and archival documents, which are woven together with biblical texts and the formal rituals of the liturgy. As you listen, we suggest paying attention to how these diverse styles interact. The score does not merely alternate between genres but seeks a unified language to express both sorrow and resilience. The inclusion of jazz and gospel elements provides a rhythmic and harmonic warmth that contrasts with the traditional solemnity of the Requiem form, creating a commemorative experience that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply rooted in historical reflection.
Who's performing
Anthony Parnther conducts this performance at LSO St Luke’s. Parnther is recognised for his versatility and his commitment to bringing complex, multi-genre scores to life with precision. The ensemble, LSO St Luke’s, serves as the home for the London Symphony Orchestra’s community and chamber projects, located in a restored eighteenth-century church in Old Street. The space is known for its intimate acoustic and its dedication to adventurous programming that often expands the boundaries of the traditional orchestral repertoire. Here, the musicians provide a flexible canvas for Önaç’s fusion of classical and vernacular traditions.
Planning your evening
This performance takes place at LSO St Luke’s in London and lasts approximately sixty minutes without an interval. Given the concise duration and the contemporary, accessible nature of the jazz and gospel influences, it is an excellent choice if you are seeking a shorter evening of music or if this is your first time attending an orchestral event. The venue offers a relaxed yet focused atmosphere. There is no formal dress code required for this event. As the programme consists of a single new work, we recommend arriving on time to settle into the venue's unique architectural setting.
Written by the Bravura editorial team from the ensemble's published programme and venue information. We don't reproduce copy from box-office sites. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Programme
- 01A new Requiem Mass by David Önaç commemorating the lives of Africans trafficked into slavery. The work draws on research, liturgical ritual, biblical texts and archive documents, with a sound world that brings together European contemporary classical music and the African American traditions of spirituals, jazz and gospel.
