Choir of the Dutch National Opera performs Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem
On April 22, Ching-Lien Wu, artistic director of the Choir of the Dutch National Opera (DNO), will say goodbye with a live stream from the Main Hall of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, for which DNO and The Concertgebouw are joining forces for the first time. "An opera choir, and certainly an opera choir that has such a rich color as ours, can give Ein deutsches Requiem a beautiful, individual interpretation." Wu says.
Songs of Hope
Happy are the afflicted, for they will be comforted. These are the opening words of Johannes Brahms' monumental choral work Ein deutsches Requiem. A religious work for the concert hall, in which hope and consolation predominate. Brahms wrote an extremely idiosyncratic Requiem with Ein deutsches Requiem. The text is not sung in Latin, but in German, and deviates from the usual liturgy. Brahms saw the work as a humanist meditation on life and suffering, based on his own selection of texts from the Bible. He therefore gave his composition the subtitle “Ein menschliches Requiem”.
Farewell Ching-Lien Wu
This concert marks the farewell to Ching-Lien Wu, who, as artistic director, has turned the Choir of Dutch National Opera into a world-class opera choir. Ching-Lien Wu leaves Amsterdam to become "chef des choeurs" at the Opéra National de Paris. Wu was associated with Dutch National Opera for seven years and brought the choir to great heights, crowned by Opernwelt's election as Opera Chorus of the Year.
An intimate and understated version
Wu conducts the Choir in an intimate version of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem for two pianos and timpani. With the Romanian soprano Adela Zaharia and the British baritone Huw Montague Rendall, who are both making their debut with Dutch National Opera, this concert has a top line-up not only in the choir, but also in the soloists.
Unique collaboration with The Concertgebouw
In a unique collaboration, the Dutch National Opera and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam are joining forces for the first time for a live stream from the prestigious Main Hall of the Concertgebouw.