Panache Culture speelt Mozart

They've been working on this project for nearly two years, the musicians of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège (four strings, three horns and piano) and of Panache Culture (complemented by four horns), the animated dancers of Prizon Break Rockerz, the girls – with and without headscarf – of a local percussion workshop, and a few disabled people who each in their own way make a valuable contribution. On the programme there are 12 pieces of Mozart from 9 different works, ranging from the Requiem to the Turkish March, from symphonies and concertos to the Agnus Dei. They are in part played like Mozart intended them to, but the adapted scores also lead in each case to unexpected and innovative interplay with Panache Culture. Just when  you're spellbound by the chamber orchestra, all of a sudden the reggae band comes in.

It's mainly Mohammed Hamra, co-initiator and Panache bassist, who takes over Mozart's themes and thus lays the foundation for the reggae and hiphop renditions. In this manner Mozart's variation on the melody of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' seamlessly blends into the 80s smash 'Pass The Couchie', the only recognisable scrap of reggae in the entire show. A couple of rappers fly by, as does a well-known flamenco guitarist. We see jugglers file past, as well as a magician on stilts. A girl in a wheelchair joins the breakdancers. You can hardly take it all in.

The input of disabled artists never once detracts from the musical quality. Seeing that this was the first time they performed it,  not everything went hunky-dory, because too many people and things had to be tuned into each other. Fortunately they had Godwin Logie behind the mixing table, the British engineer who worked with Bob Marley and Burning Spear. He managed to iron out any rough edges and brusque transitions, in as far as anybody would mind while watching this colourful and in all respects multicultural dance and music extravaganza.

A CD and a documentary of 'Mozart N'Est Pas Mort' will shortly be released. Let's hope they will not stop at this one live performance.