What is 1000 Voices for Peace?
In 2014, it will have been exactly 100 years ago that Europe
and the larger part of the world plunged into a war that would
have far-reaching and irreversible consequences for the
entire planet. Old structures and power blocks were
destroyed, new states rose, the old world from before 1914
had permanently come to an end.
Thirty-nine national and international choirs have accepted the invitation sent out by Flanders
Festival Brussels to participate in a homage to peace. More than 1000 professional and nonprofessional singers from countries that were involved in the First World War a hundred
years ago are now standing side by side. In doing so, Flanders Festival Brussels affirms the
role of art in general and singing together in particular as the universal glue that keeps us
together.
17 foreign and 22 Belgian choirs will meet between 3 and 9 November 2014. They will forge
friendships, discover our country and explore each other’s singing traditions during 17 joint
concerts in 17 Flemish municipalities. A week of meeting and singing together will be
awarded with an unforgettable final concert on 9 November during which all 1300 singers
together with the Brussels Philharmonic will present new work from Krzysztof Penderecki: a
inspired plea for peace in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Koekelberg Basilica).
In brief
5, 6, 7 November 2014: 17 Joint concerts in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels
pp.3-4
9 November 2014: Final concert in the Koekelberg Basilica
pp.5-6
39 choirs & the Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Andres Mustonen with music by
Tan Dun, Ola Gjeilo, Sofia Gubaidulina, André Devaere and the world première of
Krzysztof Penderecki's Dies Illa, a grand symphony for mass choir, orchestra and
soloists. Koekelberg Basilica / Koekelberg / 17:00.
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39 choirs from 18 countries gather to give a monumental
statement about peace
1. Canada
La Villanelle
10. Estonia
Hart House Chorus
Leuvens Universitair Koor
Voces Musicales
2. Germany
Junges Vokalensemble
Hannover
Manteliusensemble
Octopus Kamerkoor
Chorale du Lycée Aline
Mayrisch
4. Belgium
Amabile
Café Latte
Cantores
Vlaams Radio Koor
Don Boscokoor Hoboken
Ensemble vocal du
Arabesk
Lautitia Youth Choir
Vrouwenkoor Makeblijde
5. Ireland
Irish World Academy of
Music and Dance Choir
6. United Kingdom
Senior Chamber Choir of
Hereford Cathedral School
Gents Universitair Koor
Studentenkoor Amsterdam
Kamerkoor Furiant
8. Denmark
Jubilo
15. Malta
Amadeus Chamber Choir
16. India
Nagaland Singing
Ambassadors
17. Thailand
Suanplu Chorus
18. Australia
Treenighedskirkens
Drengekor
Brighton Secondary School
Vocal Ensemble South
Kathedraalkoor
HasseltKnapenkoor In Dulci
14. Croatia
Girls Choir Zvjezdice
7. The Netherlands
Iepers Kamerkoor
Canzona Neosolium
13. Hungary
Conservatoire de Tournai
Helicon
12. Slovakia
Vocaal Damesensemble
Colom
Con Cuore
Female Choir BALTA
Sing-in BOZAR
Villanella Jeugdkoor
3. Luxemburg
11. Letvia
9. Poland
Australia
Medici Cantantes
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5, 6, 7 November 2014: 17 Joint concerts in Flanders,
Wallonia and Brussels
The pick of the Belgian amateur choir crop plays host to foreign choirs at its home base
where the choir members will work on a concert together. New friendships will be made,
country and language borders will fade. The power of the human voice affects, brings peace
to and leaves an indelible impression with those who allow themselves to be carried away
with this universal story.
5 November 2014
Bruges meets Australia
Cantores & Brighton Secondary School Vocal Ensemble South Australia
CC Brugge, Magdalenazaal / Bruges / 20:00
Supported by: the Embassy of Australia and the Honorary Consul of Belgium in Adelaide
Ghent meets Thailand
Kamerkoor Furiant & Suanplu Chorus
Sint-Niklaaskerk / Ghent / 20:00
Supported by: the province of Oost-Vlaanderen and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand
Laakdal meets Hungary
Villanella Jeugdkoor & Lautitia Youth Choir
Sint-Niklaaskerk / Vorst-Laakdal / 20:00
Supported by: the city of Laakdal and the Balassi Institute
Zele meets the United Kingdom
Makeblijde & Senior Chamber Choir of Hereford Cathedral School
Sint-Ludgeruskerk / Zele / 20:00
Supported by: the province of Oost-Vlaanderen, the city of Zele, the Embassy of the United Kingdom and
Northern-Ireland and Eurostar
Leuven meets the Netherlands
Leuvens Universitair Koor & Studentenkoor Amsterdam
Maria Theresiacollege / Leuven / 20:30
Supported by: KU Leuven and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Waterloo & Tournai meet Luxemburg
La Villanelle + Ensemble vocal du Conservatoire de Tournai & Chorale du Lycée Aline
Mayrisch
Town Hall, Salle de la Reine / Tournai / 20:00
Supported by: the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, INECC Luxembourg and the Benelux Union
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6 November 2014
Waregem meets Slovakia
Con Cuore & Canzona Neosolium
Sint-Amanduskerk / Waregem / 20:00
Supported by: the city of Waregem and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic
Ypres meets Poland
Het Iepers Kamerkoor & Medici Cantantes /
20:00 – Part I: both choirs participate at the Last Post ceremony / Menenpoort / Ypres
21:00 – Part II: Sint-Jacobskerk / Ypres
Supported by: the city of Ypres, the Polish Institute - Cultural Service of the Embassy of Poland and the Last
Post Association
Geraardsbergen meets Germany
Vocaal damesensemble Arabesk & Junges Vokalensemble Hannover
Sint-Bartholomeuskerk / Geraardsbergen / 20:00
Supported by: the province of Oost-Vlaanderen, the city of Geraardsbergen, CC de Abdij, de Kunstacademie
Geraardsbergen, Jeugd & Muziek and the Goethe-Institut Brüssel
Ghent meets Ireland
Gents Universitair Koor & Irish World Academy of Music and Dance choir
Aula UGent / Ghent / 20:00
Supported by: the province of Oost-Vlaanderen, the University of Ghent and the Embassy of Ireland
Lier meets Croatia
Helicon & Girls Choir Zvjezdice
Jezuïetenkerk / Lier / 20:00
Supported by: UiT in Lier, de Stedelijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten Lier, de Stedelijke Academie voor
Muziek, Woord en Dans Lier and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
Antwerp meets Canada
Don Boscokoor Hoboken & Hart House Chorus
Heilige Familiekerk / Hoboken / 19:30
Supported by: the Embassy of Canada and the Honorary Consul of Canada for Flanders
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Neerpelt meets Malta
Amabile & Amadeus Chamber Choir
Hubertustheater / Neerpelt / 20:00
Supported by: the city of Neerpelt, WICO Campus Sint-Hubertus Neerpelt and the Embassy of the Republic of
Malta
7 November 2014
Sint-Niklaas meets Denmark
Knapenkoor In Dulci Jubilo & Treenighedskirkens Drengekor
Sint-Nicolaaskerk / Sint-Niklaas / 20:00
Supported by: the province of Oost-Vlaanderen, the city of Sint-Niklaas, CC Stadsschouwburg Sint-Niklaas and
the Danish Cultural Institute in Brussels
Hasselt meets Letvia
Kathedraalkoor Hasselt + Manteliusensemble & BALTA
Sint-Quintinuskathedraal / Hasselt / 20:30
Supported by: the province of Limburg, Kathedraal Hasselt, the city of Hasselt and the Embassy of the Republic
of Latvia
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9 November 2014: Final concert in the Koekelberg Basilica
39 choirs become one
1300 singers and Brussels Philharmonic
More than a 1000 singers, professional and non-professional, unite with the Brussels
Philharmonic in their commitment to art and music. The 9th of November 2014 will mark the
climax of an intense week of meetings and singing together. Under the direction of Estonian
conductor Andres Mustonen, we will hear music by the Chinese top composer Tan Dun, the
young and promising Norwegian Ola Gjeilo, the Russian grand dame Sofia Gubaidulina and
the Belgian André Devaere. The latter was a musician and composer who fell in battle in
1914 at a very young age. Furthermore, this music will be alternated with universal poems
and diary excerpts from the First World War.
The world première of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Dies Illa symbolises the urgency of the
message of 1000 Voices for Peace: HOPE! The hope that we must always keep alive to
strive for a peaceful global community. Penderecki dedicates his work to all victims of the
First World War.
With a live connection to the International Space Station (ISS), Flanders Festival Brussels
looks to the future. Literally beyond all borders people have been working together peacefully
while their home countries have been in conflict with each other time and again over the last
100 years. We will receive a message of peace from the German astronaut Alexander Gerst.
A strong message!
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Patronised by Herman Van Rompuy
With his unrelenting commitment for sustainable peace, Herman Van Rompuy put an
indelible stamp on the new European presidency he held for five years. With the concert on 9
November 2014, Flanders Festival Brussels also turns the spotlight to his inspiring and
driving spirit as a bridge builder between countries and cultures.
Peace and world citizenship are key!
Credits
Music: Krzysztof Penderecki – world première
commissioned by Flanders Festival Brussels with support from the Polish Institute in
Brussels
Music director: Andres Mustonen
Stage director & artistic coordination: Anthony Heidweiller
Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic
Compositions:
Tan Dun / Hero Concerto, VIII “Sorrow in the Desert”
Ola Gjeilo / Sunrise Mass III “The City”
Catalan Folk Song / El cant dels ocells
Sofia Gubaidulina / The Rider on the White Horse
Andre Devaere / Preludium en Fugue, Prelude
Krzysztof Penderecki / Dies Illa, symphonic work for orchestra, mass choir and 3
soloists
Choirs:
Café Latte, Hart House Chorus, Iepers Kamerkoor, Irish World Academy of Music and
Dance choir, Vlaams Radio Koor, Amabile, Amadeus Chamber Choir, BALTA,
Brighton Secondary School Vocal Ensemble South Australia, Cantores, Canzona
Neosolium, Colom, Con Cuore, Don Boscokoor Hoboken, Doornik, Ensemble vocal
du Conservatoire de Tournai, Girls Choir Zvjezdice, GUK, Helicon, In Dulci Jubilo,
Junges Vokalensemble Hannover, Kamerkoor Furiant, Kathedraalkoor Hasselt, La
Villanelle, Lautitia Youth Choir, LUK, Lycée Aline Mayrisch Choir, Makeblijde,
Manteliusensemble, Medici Cantantes, Octopus Kamerkoor, Senior Chamber Choir of
Hereford Cathedral School, Singin BOZAR, Studentenkoor Amsterdam, Suanplu
Chorus,Treenighedskirkens Drengekor, Villanella Jeugdkoor, Vocaal damesensemble
Arabesk, Voces Musicales
Production: Flanders Festival Brussels
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Biographies
Flanders Festival Brussels
Flanders Festival Brussels – Europe (°1969), with a history of more than 40 years, is
rightfully considered a unique and important player for classical music festivals in Brussels
and Belgium. In addition to periodic events like the KlaraFestival or the European Galas,
Flanders Festival Brussels has always taken on large, diverse and challenging projects. For
the monumental a Thousand Voices for Peace, the whole team is joining forces and it will be
supported by hundreds of volunteers.
Krzysztof Penderecki (1933)
Penderecki is a reputable Polish composer, conductor
and music educator who enjoys a wide reputation. He is
known as one of the most leading Polish avant-garde
composers, but he also has composed in different styles
during the years. Penderecki puts it this way:”My current
work is mainly a synthesis from the past, present and is
future-oriented.”
The most famous works that Penderecki composed are
Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, St. Luke Passion,
Polish Requiem, Anaklasis and further well known operas, symphonies, chamber and
instrumental works… The list is endless! But besides these works, Penderecki is also
recognized for his film music. At first his music was heard in Polish films like The Saragossa
Manuscript and Katyn, but soon Penderecki wrote music for international films like The
Shining, The Exorcist and Shutter Island.
During his career Penderecki received many national and international awards and honorary
titles for his wonderful work
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Andres Mustonen (1953)
The most famous Estonian conductor must be Andres
Mustonen. In 1972 he graduated as violinist from the
Tallinn Music High School and five years later he
graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory. After his
graduation he founded Hortus Musicus where he directs
and conducts the ensemble. Hortus Musicus performs on
many international festivals and stages concerning old
music. As the years past by Mustonens role as violinist
gained less importance because he is mainly active as
conductor which provided him
work
with famous
orchestras, theatres and operas. Improvisation and
spontaneity are features of his conducting style, like Mustonen quotes:”For me, an orchestra
is not something static, but a living organism where the different parts mutually influence and
elevate each other positively.” Mustonen conducts classic, romantic repertoires as well as
the more modern ones.
Anthony Heidweiller (1961)
Heidweiller is a Dutch-Surinamese music artist. He is a
respectable opera singer and a talented artistic director
and coordinator. Heidweiller started as a student at the
Conservatorium of Utrecht, Netherlands, where he
completed his vocal studies in 1991. Besides being a
famous baritone, Heidweiller is also known for his
musical community projects. In 1997 he founded Buffo
Operamakers which is a youth opera company. This
project is a collaboration between professional musicians
and amateur singers that results in a mixed ensemble of
different cultures and backgrounds.
In 2001 Heidweiller started the first youth opera festival ever: Yo! Opera Festival. With this
project he intends to make opera less elitist and to bring opera back to its roots, namely ‘the
street’. Yo! Opera Festival tends to make the young audience of children and youth sing,
write or even compose. In 2011 Heidweiller launched a new company of Operamakers in
order to develop and produce education and participation projects.
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Brussels Philharmonic
The Brussels Philharmonic was founded
in
1935
by
the
Belgian
public
broadcaster (NIR/INR). Over the years,
the orchestra has performed with many
great
conductors
premiered
new
and
soloists
works
by
and
world-
renowned composers such as Bartók,
Stravinsky, Messiaen and Francesconi.
The Brussels Philharmonic’s musical
director, Michel Tabachnik, has since
2008 been a key figure in the life of the orchestra. He combines in a creative and audiencefriendly manner the great orchestral repertoire with 20th-century music.
The Brussels Philharmonic has successfully achieved a distinctive place on the international
scene, with regular performances in the capitals of Europe. It is the orchestra in residence at
the Cité de la musique in Paris, and there are annual concerts at the Concertgebouw in
Amsterdam and at Cadogan Hall in London. It is a regular partner of the Festival Musica in
Strasbourg and the Festival de Besançon. The orchestra also tours more and more
frequently throughout Europe (Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Italy) and has played
on prestigious stages in Salzburg, Vienna and Berlin.
Another speciality for which the Brussels Philharmonic has gained an international reputation
is its performance of film music. It regularly partners with the Ghent Film Festival for
recordings and live concerts of film music by major composers of the genre such as Howard
Shore, John Williams and Alberto Iglesias. International recognition came with the Golden
Globe-winning soundtrack for ‘The Aviator’ by Martin Scorsese (2005), and more recently
thanks to the Oscar-winning music for ‘The Artist’ (music by Ludovic Bource). The orchestra
will continue to further develop its expertise in recording soundtracks. The Brussels
Philharmonic is an institution of the Flemish Community.
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The Brussels story
Top-rated professional and non-professional singers have committed to participate in 1000
Voices for Peace. In selecting a choir in its home base, Flanders Festival Brussels decided
on a whole new approach.
Sing-in Bozar and Café Latte VUB – a shared commitment
1000 Voices for Peace reminds us of the great diversity of peoples that were involved in the
Great War, a diversity that Brussels also carries in itself today. This is why Flanders Festival
Brussels is working alongside Café Latte (student choir VUB) and the choir project Sing-In
BOZAR. With these two choirs, Flanders Festival Brussels shares the same commitment: art
in general and singing together in particular as the universal glue that keeps us together.
Colom – the creation of a new choir
Colom, the choir of the Koninklijk Atheneum of Koekelberg, was established through 1000
Voices for Peace. In the spring of 2014, project manager Anthony Heidweiller and Brussels
Philharmonic first cellist Luc Tooten led two intense days of workshops. As a result, 75
students chose to participate in 1000 Voices for Peace. A new choir was born.
They elaborated on the story that particularly touched them all during the workshops: in
1989, the Baltic States with their Singing Revolution proved that singing together can make
the difference. Through song, the inhabitants of these countries regained their independence
from the Soviet Union. In the week of 3 to 9 November 2014, the young singers of Colom will
meet the Estonian choir Voces Musicales. It will be quite a memorable workshop week
leading up to the grand final concert on 9 November 2014 in ‘their’ Basilica of Koekelberg.
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Follow us
facebook.com/1000voicesforpeace
#1000VoicesPeace
flickr.com/photos/1000voicesforpeace
youtube.com/user/1000VoicesforPeace
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We thank our partners
Public Funding
With the support of Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the Flemish Government
With thanks to
The local governments of Ganshoren, Geraardsbergen, Ypres, Koekelberg, Laakdal, Lier,
Neerpelt, Sint-Niklaas, Waregem en Zele.
The embassies and representatives of Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Estonia, Letvia,
Thailand, United Kingdom, Luxemburg, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Malta and India. Frédéric
Agneessens – Canadian Honorary Consul of Flanders, Internationaal Vlaanderen, Heidi Van
Gerwen – Belgian Consul of Australia, Polish Institute, the Danish Cultural Institute, GoetheInstitut Brüssel and Balassi Institute (Hungary).
Structural partner
Social Responsibility
Partner
Artistic Partner
Business Seats
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Concert Partner
Supporting Partners
Media Partners
Participative Partners
HOWEST Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen, PXL Hogeschool Hasselt, Erasmus Hogeschool
Brussel, COLOMAplus Mechelen, Willemsfonds, Femma, Vermeylenfonds, FED+, Klasse,
PlusPas, Dertien, Markant, Gezinsbond, Koor & Stem, GC Platoo, Cultuurcentrum Brugge,
KULeuven, Universiteit Gent, Last Post Association, CC de Abdij, Kunstacademie
Geraardsbergen, Jeugd & Muziek (Geeraardsbergen), UIT in Lier, Stedelijke Academie voor
Schone Kunsten Lier, Stedelijke Academie voor Muziek, Woord en Dans Lier, WICO
Campus Sint-Hubertus Neerpelt, CC Stadsschouwburg Sint-Niklaas, Kathedraal Hasselt,
Basiliek van Koekelberg, gemeente Ganshoren, VUB, Koninklijk Atheneum Koek, BOZAR,
gemeente Koekelberg, Festival de Wallonie, Fédération Chorale Wallonie-Bruxelles A Coeur
Joie, Brussels Booking Desk.
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Colophon
Contact
Sonja Peters
Communication
sonja@festival.be
+32 (0)486 07 94 94
Team
Bojan Bobic / Els Buffel / Lore Claes / Timothy Claeyé / Hanna Claeys / Ilse Cox / Famke
Crabbe / Rita De Brauwer / Ann-Katrien de Clippele / Sabrina De Croock / Michaela Defever
/ Frederica De Rop / Sophie Detremmerie / Charlotte Gyselinck / Roxanne Heemskerk /
Anthony Heidweiller / Stef Heremans / Brecht Hermans / Eliane Joos / Julie Jouret / Sonja
Peters / Hendrik Storme / Ruben Vandersteen / Kelly Van Dingenen / Eve Van Goey / Silke
Winters
Festival van Vlaanderen Brussel
Zinnerstraat 1
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
T +32 (0)2 548 95 95
M +32 (0)486 07 94 94
www.festivalbrxl.be
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