Romeo Castellucci Returns to Festival d'Aix with Iconic 'Requiem'

Seven years after its premiere at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Romeo Castellucci revives his iconic staging of Mozart's 'Requiem' at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché on July 4, 6, 8, and 12, 2026. The production, originally commissioned by former director Pierre Audi, features a renewed cast but retains musical director Raphaël Pichon and his ensemble Pygmalion. Castellucci's staging transforms the unfinished Requiem into a visual meditation on extinction and regeneration, with a backdrop listing extinct species, artworks, languages, and civilizations. The performance includes a car accident sequence, a boy playing football with a skull, and a final collapse of the stage set, symbolizing destruction followed by rebirth. Pichon's version incorporates Gregorian chants and lesser-known Mozart works. The production is a highlight of the 2026 festival, which continues its tradition of Mozart operas.