Royal Conservatoire to perform War Requiem in The Hague

The Royal Conservatoire (Koninklijk Conservatorium) will present Benjamin Britten’s ‘War Requiem’ at the Grote Kerk in The Hague on October 17 and 18. The performance is part of the institution’s 200th-anniversary celebrations and features more than 225 musicians and singers.

Composed in 1962, the work weaves traditional Latin Requiem texts with anti-war poems by British soldier Wilfred Owen. The production involves students from the Royal Conservatoire, international musicians, and local groups including the Residentie Bachkoor and the Haags Matrozenkoor, under the musical direction of alumni Sam Weller and César Ramos.

In conjunction with the concerts, the Conservatoire will host a ‘Music for Peace and Justice’ program from October 7 to 9. This initiative includes lectures, workshops, and performances exploring the role of art during times of conflict and polarization.