When does the concert take place?

The concert takes place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The venue is the Herkulessaal der Residenz, Residenzstraße 1, 80333 Munich.

What works will be performed?

The program features Gaetano Donizetti's Messa di Requiem, excerpts from Johann Simon Mayr's Atalia, and Lucio Mosè Benaglia's Symphonic Postcards.

Who will participate in the concert?

Participants include MaxChor München, Coro Città di Piazzola sul Brenta, the Kammerphilharmonie Ingolstadt, as well as the soloists Evgeniya Sotnikova, Ruth Volpert, Andrés Agudelo, Petro Morozov, and Martin Snell.

Who is responsible for the musical direction?

The overall musical direction is under Gerald Häußler.

Where can tickets be purchased?

Tickets are available through München Ticket. Information on current ticket prices will follow.

Donizetti's Requiem transforms Munich's Herkulessaal into an evening full of emotion

Name: Donizetti: Requiem Mass – Mayr: Atalia (Excerpts)
Start: 2026-10-31T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-31T21:30:00+01:00
Location: Herkulessaal der Residenz

Donizetti's Requiem meets the rare sound worlds of Johann Simon Mayr

An extraordinary concert program awaits the Munich audience on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in the Herkulessaal of the Residenz. Gaetano Donizetti's emotionally charged Messa di Requiem combines with concert excerpts from Johann Simon Mayr’s sacred drama Atalia – a musical encounter between sorrow, comfort, dramatic power, and quiet intimacy.

Between sorrow, comfort, and hope

Donizetti composed his Requiem in 1835 in memory of the death of his colleague Vincenzo Bellini. The score unfolds an intense sonic language, where the choir and orchestra alternate between powerful outbursts and contemplative moments. In the historic atmosphere of the Herkulessaal, a focused live environment emerges, making the sacred character of the work immediately tangible.

Johann Simon Mayr and the musical connection to Donizetti

The excerpts from Atalia provide insight into the dramatic works of Johann Simon Mayr. Mayr, one of Donizetti's most important teachers, significantly influenced the young composer. His work, premiered in Naples in 1822, combines sacred drama, theatrical tension, and colorful orchestration.

Deutsch-Italian sound friendship on stage

The MaxChor München performs together with the Coro Città di Piazzola sul Brenta and the Kammerphilharmonie Ingolstadt. Additionally, international soloists will take part: Evgeniya Sotnikova, Ruth Volpert, Andrés Agudelo, Petro Morozov, and Martin Snell. The overall direction is under the responsibility of Gerald Häußler.

The concert also marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Italy. Shared singing and making music connect two cities, two musical traditions, and a long European cultural history.

An evening concert with historical depth

The combination of Donizetti's Requiem, Mayr’s Atalia, and Lucio Mosè Benaglia’s Symphonic Postcards creates a varied program blending sacred music, operatic drama, and contemporary sound language. Precise conducting, multi-voiced choral arrangements, and the characteristic acoustics of the Herkulessaal promise an impressive concert experience.

Conclusion: Music as a bridge between times and countries

Visitors will experience a special concert evening with a large choir, an international ensemble of soloists, and a rarely performed work by Mayr. Those who wish to experience the connection of Italian opera tradition, sacred music, and European cultural history live will find an extraordinary musical meeting point in the Herkulessaal.