COR
Operas
Content warning: illness, death, HIV/AIDS
Dark Star Requiem is a poetic chronicle of the 25 years (as of 2010) of HIV-AIDS, reflecting the many faces of the disease and those affected by the pandemic.
Dark Star Requiem is a poetic chronicle of the 25 years (as of 2010) of HIV-AIDS, reflecting the many faces of the disease and those affected by the pandemic.
Composer: Andrew Staniland
Librettist: Jill Battson
COR
Excerpts
Soloists and chorus sing the numbers attributed to HIV-1 and HIV-2 by the International Comitte of Taxonomy of Viruses.
Recounts the presumed origin of the HIV virus, initially as SIV non-human primates in Central Africa.
As the Democratic Republic of Congo fights for its independence, patients are being hospitalized and dying from AIDS-related illness.
A group of people discuss the dynamics of Polygyny before the arrival of colonizers and missionaries.
An intimate description of sex.
From the perspective of a beauty mark that progresses into a serious medical complication.
A spoken monologue about the arrival of HIV to North America and Gaetan Dugas, the presumed patient-0.
Soloists list conspiracy theories about the origin and spread of HIV, while the chorus laughs in the background.
A spoken duet about initial moments of attraction.
A solo by the mezzo-soprano about nuns sex-shaming in hospitals, while the chorus repeatedly sings "sanctus".
An ode to alcohol and cocktails that devolves into a listing of medications.
The soloists describe AIDS as a black lion and a pack of hyenas, while the chorus continues listing medications.
A funereal narration accompanied by a choral requiem.
English 
French