Music as a more powerful weapon than hate - eighty years after liberation
As part of eighty years of liberation, Ars Musica presents a special concert on the theme of Entartete Musik, music banned by the Nazi regime because of its "degenerate" nature. Under this heading, Jewish composers and modernist styles were persecuted and banned purely because of origin or belief.
Central to the program is the impressive setting of Psalm 2 "Warum toben die Heiden" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, whose work was labeled undesirable by the Nazis. This powerful composition for double choir resonates with today's turbulent world, recalling the dangers of cultural oppression.
Many composers excluded by the regime fled to the United States. Ars Musica pays tribute to two of them: Jewish composer Hanns Eisler and modernist Igor Stravinsky. Their music still sounds urgent and visionary.
The concert closes with the subdued "Dona nobis pacem" by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, a universal prayer for peace that has touched hearts around the world since 2005.
After this evening, you will never listen the same, because music is stronger than weapons.
The concert will be performed by the Ars Musica Concert Choir, the Ars Musica Orchestra, Johan Olof (violin) and will be conducted by Patrick van der Linden.
For ticket sales & info: https://arsmusica.nl/
