80 years after the bombing: Heinsberger Requiem touches heart

80 years after the bombing: Heinsberger Requiem touches heart

In Heinsberg, a moving concert was organized to commemorate the devastating bombing of the city 80 years ago. The Heinsberger Requiem, a masterful compilation of moving music for choir, singing soloists and organ, captivated the audience in the St. Gangolf Church. Under the direction of the committed cantor Volker Mertens, who also appeared as a soloist, the present experienced a 90-minute performance, which touched both musically and emotionally.

The Wilhelm-Willms-Chor opened the concert with the first set from Karl Jenkins' Requiem, which combines traditional and modern elements. The soprano Sylvia Bodamer enchanted the audience with her vocal expression in the vocalis of Wojciech Kilar, while Mertens impressively interpreted the 23rd Psalm with his bass voice. The highlights were also Gustav Mahler's "at midnight" and a piece by Maurice Ravel, which is based on the Jewish prayer Kaddisch. The combination of choir and soloist in the lacrimosa from the film "The Tree of Life" ensured an urgent sound atmosphere that impressively represented grief and loss.

emotional prayers and urgent music

The audience was enthusiastic about the diversity of the performances, which were rounded off with other choral pieces such as the Kyrie by Alwin Schronens and Mendelssohn's "Giving us peace". Regional cantor Alexander Müller enriched the concert with three impressive organ meditations, while pianist Julia Vaisberg accompanied the vocals. The prayers of the pastors, including the peace prayer of Coventry and quotes from Pope Francis, fitted seamlessly into the context of the request and reinforced the message of peace and reconciliation.

At the end of the concert, Propst Markus Bruns spoke and connected the moving sounds of the lacrimosa with the memory of the bombing. His urgent appeal to the audience to preserve the spirit of the rebellion for democracy and freedom re -enacted in the church and left a lasting impression. The commemoration was not only a tribute to the past, but also a powerful call for hope and action in the present.