07.06.2025

IDA ALDRIAN | Ukrainian premiere of Widmanns's "Cantata in tempore belli“

Following a deeply moving world premiere of Jörg Widmann's “Cantata in tempore belli” in Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie last February, the choir of the Kiev Liatoshynskyi Chapel involved in the work is now inviting all participants to the centre of Kiev to give the piece its Ukrainian premiere in the city's National Opera. Ida Aldrian will once again take on the alto part under the direction of Kent Nagano. Even in the midst of the ongoing Russian air raids, it was a great personal wish for her to be an active part of this musical appeal for peace.

The piece, set for alto, speaker, choir, organ and orchestra, uses texts by Friedrich Hölderlin, Friedrich von Logau, Matthias Claudius, Wolfgang Borchert and from the Bible.

"In view of the global political situation, it is impossible for me to write a purely representative, ’beautiful" piece. The terrible wars of our time and the immeasurable suffering of so many people leave me no choice but to thematise the war itself and give the piece the title “Cantata in tempore belli”. At a time when there are calls in our country to become “warlike” again, it is all the more important for me to compose a fiery appeal for peace. Alongside biblical texts and fragments of poetry by Hölderlin, Logau and Matthias Claudius, the pacifist appeal “Say No!” by the Hamburg composer Wolfgang Borchert, who died far too young, takes centre stage. May this cantata give comfort and urge peace."

Jörg Widmann
 

Cast

Ida Aldrian, alto
Oleksandra Matviichuk, narrator
Kent Nagano, conductor
Orchestra of the Ukrainian National Opera
Choir of the Liatoshynskyi Chapel