Holland Festival: Requiem for Nature - Tan Dun, Pierre Audi, Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest

Large-scale Passion in the Western Tradition

At Tan Dun, virtuosity goes hand in hand with spirituality and contemplation, innovation with age-old traditions. In the impressive Gashouder he conducts his new work Requiem for Nature , derived from his Buddha Passion from 2018. In doing so, Tan Dun created a large-scale Passion in the Western tradition, inspired by Buddhist rather than Christian texts. Tan Dun has incorporated the parts devoted to nature into a new composition: Requiem for Nature . This hymn to the earth, which at the same time mourns the loss of nature through human actions, has its world premiere.

In addition to the Rotterdam symphonic choir of Laurens Symfonisch, three vocal soloists from various regions in East Asia can be heard. Zeren Yanjing, Lei Xu and Hasibagen bring completely different singing styles, in which ancient traditions mix with new techniques.

Pierre Audi is responsible for the mise-en-espace and is inspired by the music, the theme and the theatrical space of the Gashouder. Tan Dun has worked with him on several occasions, including his English-language opera Tea (2005), directed by Audi.