Big thanks
Yesterday afternoon the last concert in the series of 'The Flood Requiem' took place. With intense gratitude I look back on a fantastic collaboration with the Zeeuws Concertkoor, Vocaal Ensemble Cantare, Chamber Orchestra TY, conductor Pim Overduin and soloist Helena van Heel.
A very big compliment to the two choirs who undoubtedly had to get used to this music at the beginning and who took the hurdles with 100% commitment. Tribute to the chamber orchestra that also fully committed to the best result. To mezzo-soprano Helena van Heel who so beautifully fulfilled my ideal of 'modest' singing.
And to Pim Overduin, who stood fearlessly in front of the troops and who brought it all together in a fantastic way.
Thanks also to Henk Tjoonk, Paco Maaskant, Walter Calbo, Stan Duvekot and the volunteers of the Nieuwe Kerk in Zierikzee for the sound technology and the light.
And finally. Big thanks to Lia Visser, Martin Ruppert, Sjef Bouwmeester and Ton Lamper who set up this production in a great way.
pictures
pictures by Hans Colijn
Public response
a small selection from the many comments and remarks from the audience:
It is a masterpiece in every way. Threatening, moving, comforting and hopeful.
Really fantastic. What an impression it made on me yesterday in the church of Zierikzee. Gripping and intense.
It was a wonderful concert, very special! What a beautiful composition, respect.
It was overwhelming: images, songs, lyrics, drums, cymbals, church bells in the presence of the generation that grew up with the consequences of De Disaster.
I enjoyed it yesterday in Vlissingen! Impressive to be able to compose this…. 🙏🏼
It was beautifully performed, chapeau for conductor, orchestra, choir and soloist.
Can not be missed! A beautiful new rendition of 'The Flood' that touches deeply in this time! The content of this Requiem is very impressive due to the strong images and the surtitles.
new album-release
First released in 2003 as Requiem 1953, remastered and released in 2019 as The Flood, Requiem on digital platforms. Now I am very happy with this third release on Butler Records / V2 Benelux.
The album - with the brilliant design of Snowball - will be released in digipack with a 32-page (!) booklet, including the complete lyrics and the diary that I kept twenty years ago while writing the Requiem.
The release accompanies the five performances of the requiem by the Zeeuws Concertkoor, Vocaal Ensemble Cantare and Kamerorkest TY on the 70th commemoration of the flood disaster that struck the Netherlands in 1953. These concerts took place at the end of January and the beginning of February 2023.
The album contains the remaster of the recording of the performance twenty years ago by the Zeeuws Orkest and the Zeeuws Philharmonisch Koor. The NRC wrote at the time: “In his immediately convincing The Flood, Requiem, the Dutch composer Douwe Eisenga combines the Latin tradition with modern texts and recognizable, sometimes medieval musical forms. The Flood is an enchanting requiem with energetic rhythmic choral parts, a wealth of effective contrasts and lyrical mystique”.