walls of the universe

 

Music and the cosmos are inextricably linked. The idea of sounds from the heavens and harmonies based on the circulations of the heavenly bodies, dates back to ancient times and has inspired many scientists and composers until today. This concert bridges the gap between the oldest surviving Western music and fresh notes that have never sounded before. Transcendence and immeasurability are recurring themes in this programme about the mysteries of the universe's infinity. 

 

‘With music, God has left people with the memory of paradise lost’ 

– Hildegard von Bingen 

 

This programme shows how atmospheric and emotional contemporary music can be and how close it sometimes is to music composed 700 years earlier. The universe can be mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time, and that’s exactly what will be heard in this all-encompassing concert experience. 

 

 
Sebastiaan Kemner, trombone 
Rinnat Moriah, soprano 
Jennifer van der Hart, soprano 

Elisabeth Hetherington, soprano 

Fanny Alofs, alto 

Elsbeth Gerritsen, alto 
Coraline Groen, violin 

Floor Le Coultre, violin 

Emlyn Stom, viola 

Ketevan Roinishvili, cello  

Astrid Haring, harp 

Residentie Orchestra 
Ed Spanjaard, conductor 

 

Music by Hildegard von Bingen, Beat Furrer, Nicholas Moroz and Giacinto Scelsi. 

 

This programme was first performed in 2021 De Doelen in Rotterdam during the Covid pandemic. 

 

Later, in 2022, the programme was reimagined for a different setup, with pieces by James MacMillan, John Tavener, Seung-Won Oh and Bent Sørensen. It was performed during a Radio 4 ‘Covid booster concert’.