BRISBANE — In a landmark cultural event for the state, Queensland Ballet will officially open the new Glasshouse Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) tonight with the Australian premiere of Christian Spuck’s Messa da Requiem.
This monumental production, running from 27 March to 4 April 2026, represents a significant collaboration between Queensland’s premier arts companies and local vocal powerhouses. We’ll be heading into the Glasshouse Theatre later this week to bring you a first-hand look at how this monumental production makes use of Brisbane’s newest stage.
A Creative Powerhouse Collaboration
Under the direction of Artistic Director Ivan Gil-Ortega, the 2026 season opener features a massive cast of over 200 performers:
- 35 Dancers from Queensland Ballet.
- 67 Musicians from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Simon Hewett.
- 110 Choristers from the Brisbane Chorale and Canticum Chamber Choir.
- 8 Principal Soloists, including sopranos Eva Kong and Naomi Johns, and mezzo-sopranos Milijana Nikolic and Cassandra Seidemann.
Redefining Ballet
Choreographed by the acclaimed Christian Spuck, winner of the 2019 Prix Benois de la Danse, the production transforms Giuseppe Verdi’s iconic 1874 score into a “mass of human expression”. Spuck’s vision moves beyond traditional religious interpretations to explore universal themes of mortality, the need for consolation, and the eternal hope for redemption.
Minister for the Arts, the Hon John Paul Langbroek, described the state-of-the-art Glasshouse Theatre as a “fitting housewarming” for Queensland’s creative talent, cementing the state’s reputation as a creative powerhouse.
Event Details
- What: Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem.
- Where: Glasshouse Theatre, QPAC.
- When: 27 March – 4 April 2026.
- Tickets: Available through the QPAC website.
Photo Credit: Staatsoper Berlin + Staatsballett Berlin in Messa da Requiem. Photo by Serghei Gherciu
