Pärt & Tavener 

Cellist and conductor Matthew Barley takes you on a spiritual journey through sound. We begin with Arvo Pärt’s *Fratres*, a meditative work that unfolds slowly, like a musical breath—each note emerging carefully from the silence. Following Astor Piazzolla’s tango Milonga del Ángel , Pärt’s Festina lente is performed , an enchantingly simple piece that deeply moves with its serene sounds and spiritual power. Pärt’s music invites you to pause and listen to the space between the notes. 

The evening culminates in John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil, inspired by the mantle of the Virgin Mary, as a symbol of protection, warmth, and love. In the same way, the sounds envelop us. The cello takes on the voice of Mary and engages in a moving dialogue with the orchestra—with Matthew Barley serving as both conductor and storyteller. The atmosphere of the Nieuwe Kerk the mystique of this evening, in which every note feels like a touch of the soul. A concert you won’t soon forget.