When most music lovers hear the name Andrew Lloyd Webber, they think of musicals like “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita,” or “The Phantom of the Opera.” And indeed, his stage works form the core of his creative output. But the celebrated English composer has also written a number of other remarkable works, including his “Requiem,” which he composed in 1984 in memory of his father. The poignant “Pie Jesu” is particularly well known. Webber explores the full range of orchestral possibilities, from thunderous orchestral passages to delicate a cappella sections, with the orchestra taking on a large scale. In addition to the organ, instruments more commonly associated with pop and rock are used, giving the work a particular sonic variety and modernity. After Franz Schubert’s “Song of the Spirits over the Waters,” D714, the “Requiem” is framed by two works by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. The first, “Erdbibdem,” is a commission from the Knabenkantorei Basel. It is a commemoration of the Basel earthquake of 1356. The text was composed by Tumasch Clalüna on the basis of old sources. The theme of the earthquake symbolizes the unpredictable force of nature that determines life and death and makes us aware of the fragility of our existence, a profound contrast to the subsequent “Requiem,” which deals with death and the transience of life. The concert ends with the hopeful “I Believe.” This positive message is intended to encourage people to find hope and confidence, even in the face of life's unpredictability.
Tickets are CHF 50-70 for adults and half price for students.

Website
sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch/en/concerts/jahreskonzert-knabenkantorei-basel-10-04-2025-19h30-stadtcasino-basel.html

Where
Stadtcasino Basel
Konzertgasse 1
4051 Basel

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