A Tribute to Choral Music

In 2013, Vic Nees passed away, but he continues to live on through his music. With the concert In Memoriam, the Vlaams Radiokoor honors the musical genius in all his facets; with a tribute to his music, a shared stage with amateur choirs, and new work by young composers.

join the choir for IN MEMORIAM starting from October 22

The first part of the concert puts a series of pioneers of European vocal music in the spotlight. Works by composers who had a major contribution to the rich history of choral music, and a central guest: Vic Nees, the 'godfather' of Flemish choral music. The program mirrors the structure of a mass, with Nees' impressive Requiem as a common thread. He described the piece as "a Requiem for the dead, but also a Requiem of Resurrection and Light." His words are given careful thought: we begin with the captivating Oremus by Urmas Sisask, return to contemplation with Frédéric Devreese's piano work, and journey together to Vic's In Paradisum.

“When I sent the final part to Carlos [Bourgeois], I added a note to it. I pointed out to him the risk of composing a requiem. Mozart had experienced it. Not even two months later, I was urgently taken to the emergency room with a pulmonary embolism. The whole year 2008 was a medical disaster. It became, willingly or not, the sabbatical year I had so looked forward to.”

- vic nees

Vic was an incredibly innovative composer, and a generous advocate of Flemish contemporary choral music. His contribution is immense, also in an pedagogical sense. The latter is highlighted in the second part of the concert with works by the winners of the composition competition Vic Nees and the European Music Festival for Youth and ComAV (Composers Archipel Flanders).

Also the connection with amateur choirs was of high significance for Vic - and still is for the Vlaams Radiokoor. For each concert, the choir will be reinforced by local amateur choirs. We honor and commemorate Vic with a packed stage!