Brahms: A German Requiem

"Reconciliation" determines the concert program of the sister choirs Zürcher Kantorei an der Predigerkirche and the Kantorei am Berner Münster, which are teaming up with the New Zurich Orchestra (NZO) and the Alumni & Symphony Orchestra University of Bern (ALSO) for the first time: Johannes Brahms wrote what is probably his most famous work, the "German Requiem", not a Catholic mass for the dead, but an oratorio to comfort the bereaved. Max Bruch named his rhapsodic work for solo cello and orchestra "Kol Nidrei", thus adopting the title of the prayer that introduces the highest Jewish holiday, the Day of Atonement "Yom Kippur". Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's "Hebrides Overture" creates an atmospheric portrait of water, sea and wind, thus drawing a thematic arc to the transience of mankind, which Brahms also addresses in his "German Requiem". The Bern and Zurich ensembles were able to secure three young, highly qualified musicians as soloists for their concerts: Maria Zaitseva (violoncello) and Mira Alkhovik (soprano) are prizewinners of the famous German ARD competition in Munich. Zurich-born, Berlin-based bass-baritone Äneas Humm was awarded the OPUS KLASSIK and the Deutschlandfunk sponsorship prize in 2022.

Date and time
November 23, 2025, 18:00

Address
Bern Minster

Organizer
Protestant singing community

Works
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Concert Overture "The Hebrides", op. 26; Max Bruch: "Kol Nidrei", op. 47; Johannes Brahms: "Ein deutsches Requiem", op. 45

Management
Johannes Günther and Martin Studer

Soloists
Mira Alkhovik - soprano, Äneas Humm - bass, Maria Zaitseva - violoncello

Admission price
from 40 CHF, reduced from 20 CHF, children up to 11 years free of charge

Website
www.kantorei.ch