Is there really any finer work than Mozart's final masterpiece, the 'Requiem', in which to hear Philippe Herreweghe, with the Orchestre des Champs-Elysées together with Collegium Vocale Gent perform? This vocal and orchestral highlight of musical history, a meditation on life and death, can leave no-one unmoved; especially when Herreweghe conducts. He always manages to unearth a profound spirituality when he, along with one of his ensembles, puts one of these religious pieces under the microscope. Each and every time, he inspires his orchestra and chorus to produce crystalline clarity that captivates every listener. But it is mainly the commitment and humility that he puts into the music in his performances that evokes a profound, even religious experience. The Collegium Vocale Gent have become widely praised for the intelligibility of their sung text. The Orchestre des Champs-Elysées again succeeds in unveiling the most stunning musical textures and orchestral colours. Such a programme could not be more beautiful to kick off the opening weekend of our new arts campus.