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Requiem van Theresienstadt

12 dec • 13 decBuy tickets

Update based on the press conference of November 26th, 2021:

We are very sorry to announce that the Dutch premiere of Defiant Requiem (‘Requiem van Theresienstadt’) will not take place on Sunday 12 December 2021. Given the current COVID-19 situation and within the measures in force, it is not possible to perform the concert drama. It is the second time that the project has been postponed: the original performance was scheduled for 3 May 2020, as part of the celebration of 75 years of freedom. With this, the broadcast by Dutch broadcast foundation NOS on NPO 2 and the screening of the film Defiant Requiem in Theater Tuschinski will also be cancelled. We are currently looking for suitable new dates in 2022 with all partners and will communicate these as soon as possible via our website. If you already have a ticket, you will receive a message via the organizing foundation Requiem van Theresienstadt: Stemmen van Verzet.

In 2021 we will finally play this special concert, which was originally to be performed on 3 May 2020 as part of the national celebration of 75 years of freedom, but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 measures. The performance is now set for 12 December, and NOS (Dutch Broadcast Foundation) will broadcast it semi-live on NPO2 that evening from 22.05. Performers are the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands in collaboration with the Nederlands Concertkoor (Netherlands Concert Choir), conducted by Murry Sidlin and with several soloists.

Concert and dress rehearsal

The concert was sold out for a long time, but tickets have become available again because many visitors from abroad unfortunately will not be able to attend. You can buy tickets for the concert in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam (start 20.15 hours) and if desired for the supporting programme. This programme starts at 18.00 and consists of the premiere of a film portrait of Theresienstadt survivor Ronald Waterman, a lecture by composer and musicologist Leo Samama about Verdi's Requiem in Theresienstadt and an open buffet. Tickets are also on sale for the dress rehearsal on Sunday afternoon 12 December from 14.00 to 17.00 in the Beurs van Berlage.

Film Defiant Requiem

On Monday evening, 13 December, Defiant Requiem (2012) will be shown in the main hall of the Royal Theater Tuschinski in Amsterdam. This film is about the creation of the concert-drama Defiant Requiem and provides a penetrating picture of the events surrounding the performance in June 1944, based on historical film footage and memories of survivors. In 2012, Defiant Requiem won first prize at the Big Apple Film Festival in New York City.

After the film, there will be a Q&A conducted by Andrea van Pol with Murry Sidlin, conductor and creator of the Defiant Requiem.

More information

Read more about this performance on Defiant Requiem. Here you will also find the video that was recorded in the Beurs van Berlage to commemorate conductor Rafael Schächter and his choir members on 3 May 2020.