Dona nobis pacem

About

Dona Nobis Pacem is a choreographic work by John Neumeier for Hamburg Ballett, inspired by J. S. Bach’s Mass in B minor. Created in Neumeier’s 50th season as ballet director, the piece contrasts the sacred score with stark images of war, trauma, and human fragility. Spoken texts (including Jean Marc Bernard’s De Profundis, Günter Kunert’s Der Schatten, and Lennon/Ono’s Imagine) are interwoven. Neumeier also designed stage, lighting, and costumes, shaping an abstract space that sometimes recalls a war bunker or a 1970s church. The performance features live music by Vocalensemble Rastatt and Ensemble Resonanz, reinforcing the production’s urgent plea for peace.