Peace fair in Rostock: 500 voices against the war on July 6th!

Peace fair in Rostock: 500 voices against the war on July 6th!

In a few days the time has come: On July 6th at 7:30 p.m. an impressive concert will take place in the St. Mary's Church in Rostock, at which the peace mass "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace" by Karl Jenkins will be performed. This musical mega-project brings together around 500 participants, including all of Rostock's choirs, the Singing Academy and the Volkstheater opera choir. The whole thing is accompanied by the North German Philharmonic Rostock under the direction of Markus Johannes Langer, who is also celebrating his 25th anniversary as church music director at the St. Johannis Kantorei on this day.

The concert is held to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war and focuses on current global political issues. The performance could not have been chosen more appropriately, as it takes place in one of Rostock's most symbolic churches, which was saved during the Second World War and has served as a place for interreligious prayers for years. Northern Courier reports that the work was composed in 1999/2000 as a commission for the victims of the Kosovo War.

A work full of diversity

“The Armed Man” combines different musical styles. It combines Gregorian chant with elements from film music and contains an interfaith approach that includes Jewish, Christian and Islamic elements. The work includes, among other things, a muezzin and texts from the Koran. The mass is also rich in textual terms: it draws on a French soldier's song from the 15th century, contains texts by Rudyard Kipling, psalms, sequences from the Mahabharata and fragments of poems by Hiroshima survivor Tōge Sankichi.

A predominant dramaturgy shows the war in the middle of the work, accompanied by haunting video projections of battles and bombing raids. The piece ends hopefully with the message: “Better is peace than always war”. This mix makes the Peace Mass a unique experience that touches you on an emotional level and makes you think. Volksbühne Rostock describes it as a musical journey that will leave a lasting impression.

A competitive place

Tickets for the performance are already sold out, but lucky people can look forward to a public dress rehearsal on July 5th at 7 p.m. Bishop Tilman Jeremias and Rostock's mayor Eva-Maria Kröger will be present at the greetings on July 6th. This ambitious project is financed by sponsors, the Hanseatic City of Rostock and entrance fees.

A look at the list of participants shows the large number of choirs and soloists, including Tischler and members of the Volkstheater:

• Sopran: Julia Ebert
• Mezzosopran: Ekaterina Aleksandrova
• Tenor: Hee-Wook Kim
• Bariton: Jaehwan Shim

The following choirs will also be taking part:

• Kantorei Rostock
• Kantorei Warnemünde
• Kantorei Bad Doberan
• Kantorei Lichtenhagen Dorf
• Jacobichor
• Figuralchor und Choralchor der St.-Johannis-Kirche
• Rostocker Motettenchor
• Opernchor des Volkstheaters
• Singakademie Rostock

The concert on July 6th is not only a musical event, but also a strong sign of peace and solidarity in an uncertain world. An example of the power of music that can build bridges and invites conciliatory reflection on the past. Family trees that have grown over generations are viewed in a new light and may even awaken memories and emotions for some of the listeners.

World Choir for Peace, who are committed to such projects, shows that music has the potential to bring humanity together and provide light in dark times.