‘Vlaams Radio Koor’

The Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun is certainly one of the most inspiring composers of our day. Eastern mysticism and western avant-gardism, centuries old and sparkling new are blended together seamlessly in his work. Like his Water Passion. Tan Dun composed the work to commemorate the death of his great example J.S. Bach 250 years ago. This substantial work for choir, orchestra and soloists reserves a special role for the sound of water – a cross-cultural symbol of hope and rebirth that flows through the composition as a recurring theme. Tan Dun does not draw a straight line between birth, life and death in his Passion story but rather tells a cyclic story about the ever rejuvenating power of life. Classical song alongside Mongolian throat singing, Chinese folk instruments alongside classical string instruments, electronics alongside the sound of splashing water.