On Sunday, 4 May, three hundred singers and musicians will come together at Amare concert hall in The Hague to deliver a poignant musical tribute to peace and reconciliation. In commemoration of Remembrance Day, the Residentie Bachkoor, in collaboration with Toonkunstkoor Utrecht, will perform Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, an iconic and deeply moving choral masterpiece that underscores the senselessness of war.
This large-scale performance coincides with the lead-up to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, making the message more relevant than ever.
A Special Collaboration
The performance marks a unique collaboration between the Residentie Bachkoor, Toonkunstkoor Utrecht, the youth choir of Zangschool Utrecht, and the Promenade Orchestra, including both symphonic and chamber ensembles. Under the direction of conductor Jos Vermunt, these 300 performers will offer a powerful musical reflection on the tragedies of war.
Prior to the concert, Retired Lieutenant General Ben Droste, former Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, will deliver a brief address. This will be followed by the traditional two minutes of silence to honour those who have fallen.
The War Requiem – A Universal Call for Peace
Composed in 1962 for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral, which was destroyed during the Second World War, Britten’s War Requiem remains one of the most emotionally compelling works of the 20th century. A committed pacifist, Britten wove together the solemn Latin Mass for the Dead with the harrowing war poetry of Wilfred Owen, a British soldier and poet killed in the First World War. The result is a work that denounces the glorification of conflict and elevates a plea for peace and reconciliation.
Unlike traditional requiems, War Requiem offers no triumph or glorification. Instead, it mourns the fallen and reminds us that, in war, every soldier is a victim. Britten dedicated the work to four friends who perished in the war, making it both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Concert Details:
- May 4, 2025
7:45 PM - Amare, Spuiplein 150, The Hague
Performers:
- Residentie Bachkoor
- Toonkunstkoor Utrecht
- Youth Choir of Zangschool Utrecht
- Symphonic and Chamber Orchestra of the Promenade Orkest
Soloists:
- Jeannette van Schaik – soprano
- Bernard Loonen – tenor
- Frans Fiselier – bass
Conductor: Jos Vermunt
🎟️ Tickets:
€45 (Rank 1) / €38 (Rank 2) / €34 (Rank 3) / €29 (Rank 4)
Youth up to 29 years: €11
Ooievaarspas holders: 50% discount
🎫 Order online:
www.amare.nl/nl/agenda/3203/herdenking-80-jaar-bevrijding-residentie-bachkoor/war-requiem
This concert is part of the Hague Freedom Weeks 2025 and will also be performed on 3 May at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht.
