David Önaç on using classical music to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade

In this episode, David talks with award-winning contemporary composer, pianist, musical director and educator David Önaç.

This conversation is ahead of the world premier of his Atlantic Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers, and Hollywood conductor Anthony Parnther, which memoralizes the lost lives of the transatlantic slave trade.

David both composed the music and wrote the libretto for the piece, which is based on the archive of Lloyd’s of London Insurance company who supported the work, bringing to life human stories from the 18th century.

In this conversation, we dive into the creation of Atlantic Requiem and how music can memorialize the human toll of the transatlantic slave trade. We look at how historical archive documents and court testimonies were transformed into a dramatic libretto, as well as the unique 10-note pitch system used to mirror cultural conflict and resolution. We also explore the rich intersection of contemporary classical music, jazz, and Caribbean heritage, and why artistic expression is essential for fostering empathy, hope, and social reconciliation.

Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com

The Classical:NEXT Podcast:

Hosted by David Taylor

Produced by Aliena Haig

Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast

www.classicalnext.com

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Avsnitt(24)

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