CANCELLED: Thomas Hengelbrock / Balthasar-Neumann-Chor und -Ensemble

When Johannes Brahms composed his »German Requiem«, he was not thinking of a gloomy mass for the dead, but rather a work full of solace and hope for the living. The gigantic choral work is not only one of the best-known in its genre, it has also remained unique in many respects to this day. Instead of the traditional text of the Mass in Latin, Brahms put together his own selection of texts from the Lutheran Bible – hence the word »German« in the title. Thomas Hengelbrock and his Balthasar Neumann Ensembles present this profound work in the Laeiszhalle.

For the demanding solo parts, they can rely completely on baritone Michael Nagy and the soprano Katharina Konradi, who lives in Hamburg. Hengelbrock has already realised many projects together with Ms Konradi. As a good thematic match, the »German Requiem« is preceded by Franz Schreker’s gripping setting of Psalm 116 for three-part female choir and orchestra, in which a man thanks God in prayer for saving him from death. An evening full of confidence, in other words, which focuses on the here and now.