Ohad Ben-Ari is an Israeli-born, Berlin-based conductor, pianist and composer. His works have been performed by renowned ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra and others. One of the composer’s latest works, Requiem, commissioned by the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, was premiered in 2018. “As an Israeli-born non-religious composer of Jewish descent, it was not easy for me to write a work according to Christian canons. While working on it, I enjoyed not only composing, but also suffering – it is an integral part of this work. I felt a connection with the Latin text, the rhythm and musicality of which fascinated me greatly. And not just because of the musicality, but because of the message that everything is one, a love that ultimately becomes the goal of all the spiritual practices and teachings that unite different cultures and continents. Requiem consists of two acts, in total – ten movements. A large organ solo is inserted between two movements. I followed the style of the genre and employed modern techniques; my Requiem is comparatively tonal and easy to understand. It is the journey of the soul to eternity, where one can find eternal rest and peace”, said Ben Ari.

Performers of the Lithuanian premiere: the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Brevis Choir, organist Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur, conductor Juozas Mantas Jauniškis.