Unfortunately, our chief conductor Anja Bihlmaier had to cancel this concert due to illness. We wish Anja a speedy recovery and hope to have her back with us for her next program. We are delighted that we have found an excellent replacement in top conductor Lawrence Renes.

Forgiveness, acceptance and peace – Johannes Brahms wrote Ein deutsches Requiem after the death of his mother. He abandoned the classical Latin prayer and wrote a new requiem based on Lutheran, German-language versions. One that does not accompany the dying to death, but offers support to those left behind to carry on. According to the composer, this was precisely where God’s unconditional love lay. 

The afternoon opens with another fascinating work – according to many the best that Finland has to offer: the Seventh Symphony by Jean Sibelius. This Finn also explored classical works, which he put to his own, nature-loving hand. The Seventh is his Last finished work. It is particularly atmospheric and can even be called epic. After this, Lawrence Renes leads the top choir Cappella Amsterdam and soloists Katrien Baerts and Raoul Steffani for the closing piece of the afternoon.