Close Up: Messiaens meesterwerk – Residentie Orkest
Classical music with Residentie Orkest at the New Church in The Hague: an intimate concert centred on Messiaen's masterpiece, written and performed in 1941 under extraordinary circumstances.
Olivier Messiaen composed this work as a prisoner of war, in the winter of 1941. The conditions were sparse and the cold brutal, yet the result was one of the most striking pieces of chamber music of the twentieth century. Five thousand fellow prisoners attended the premiere – some on stretchers, all defying the freezing temperatures. Messiaen later recalled that he had never been listened to with such attention and understanding.
Haunting beauty at the New Church
The music combines extended tempos with irregular rhythms and sounds partly drawn from birdsong. The result is a striking palette: fragile and full of contrast, yet deeply compassionate. In the intimate setting of the New Church in The Hague, that character comes across with particular force. The acoustics and atmosphere of the venue give the piece an added resonance.
Residentie Orkest in Close Up
This concert is part of Residentie Orkest's Close Up series, where music is experienced up close. Wardrobe and an interval drink are included with admission. Holders of an Ooievaarspas are eligible for a 50% discount; bookings go through the Amare box office.
