To mark our 80th anniversary, the Nederlandse Händelvereniging presents a special anniversary concert in which gratitude, passion, and a love of music take centre stage. For eight decades, our choir has brought together generations of singers — united by friendship and the power of choral singing. Such a milestone deserves a festive musical tribute.
At the heart of this concert is the magnificent Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms. For our choir, this monumental work is more than a masterpiece of the repertoire: it is a gift to ourselves. Many of us cherish this composition for its warm richness of sound, comforting texts, and profound musical expression. It is music that connects, moves, and creates space for both strength and reflection. At the same time, we also offer this beautiful work to our audience as a token of gratitude for many years of support and involvement.
Our anniversary celebration is also dedicated to an ode to music itself. For this reason, we will perform selections from Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day by George Frideric Handel. In this festive composition, music is celebrated as an uplifting and unifying force — precisely what has inspired our choir for the past 80 years. With these sparkling and jubilant sounds, we celebrate not only our past, but also the future: music as a source of inspiration, comfort, and joy.
This anniversary concert therefore becomes a celebration in two senses: a tribute to 80 years of choral history and a hymn to music itself. A celebration to experience together — singing, listening, and enjoying.
