Suche
Mein Konto
Emotional finale: Verdi's Requiem inspires at the SHMF closing in Lübeck
Lübeck hosted the SHMF final concert with Verdi's Requiem, conducted by Stanislav Kochanovsky - an emotional experience.
Emotional finale: Verdi's Requiem inspires at the SHMF closing in Lübeck
Last Saturday the final concert of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) took place in Lübeck, an event that made the hearts of classical music lovers beat faster. Under the musical direction of Stanislav Kochanovsky, Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem was performed - a real masterpiece that cannot be surpassed in terms of emotional intensity and musical diversity, as [ndr.de](https://www.ndr.de/kultur/musik/klasseik/schleswig-holstein_musikfestival/beruehrend-und-kraftvoll-shmf-endet-mit-verdis-requiem, final concert-100.html) reports.
The concert was not only a tribute to the music, but also to the over 240 participants, including the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Choir and the Swiss Youth Choir. This concentrated musical power created an impressive sound that fascinated the listeners with its closed choir sound and dynamics. The performances of the pieces “Dies irae” and “Libera me” were particularly impressive, which, according to kultur-port.de, were performed powerfully and dynamically.
Emotional highlights
Selke Harten-Strehk, a member of the festival choir, described the work as touching and theatrical. The soulful passages of the choir and the powerful performances of the soloists, including soprano Elena Hischier and the vocal quartet with Dmitry Belosselskiy (bass), Davide Giusti (tenor), Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano) and Vittoria Yeo (soprano), added to the emotional depth. The audience was moved and rewarded the performance with sustained applause.
The technical requirements of the Requiem, which was played at the first SHMF 40 years ago, were mastered excellently by the participants. Intendant Christian Kuhnt not only praised the high capacity utilization of the festival's over 200 concerts, but also the passionate opening speech by Prime Minister Daniel Günther, who characterized the season as "very big" and noted that the festival will be secured until its 50th anniversary.
A review and an outlook
In total, the SHMF 2025 concerts were attended by 202,000 people, underlining the success of this cultural season. This year the focus was on the metropolis of Istanbul, and the well-known pianist Fazıl Say provided a well-rounded sound. A concert with ABBA has already been announced for the coming season, which increases the anticipation for the coming year.
With a program that offered a wide range of styles and formats, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival 2025 left a lasting impression. The emotional power of Verdi's Requiem as the final concert deeply touched everyone present and shows once again what power music can develop. The festival is looking forward to the next challenge next year!