Grande Messe des morts

2007.11.13

The Cathedral is the most impressive example of Late Gothic architecture of Bern and it is Switzerland's largest ecclesiastical building. Construction started in 1421 and for generations thereafter work on this masterpiece continued under a series of different builders. It took until 1893 for the spire to be completed.

My father-in-law is a passionate singer, he will be 70 in a couple of weeks!

The star and his groupie after the concert

I travelled to Bern (capital of Switzerland) last sunday to see my father-in-law singing with the Männerchor Thun in the Bern Cathedral.
The Grande Messe des morts, Op. 5 (or Requiem) by Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869) was composed in 1837 remembering soldiers who died in the Revolution of July 1830.
Berlioz's Requiem is perhaps one of the least religious mass for the dead ever written. Berlioz himself was not a deeply religious man, though his mother was an orthodox Roman Catholic. The Requiem is a sacred work, but it does not express any deep personal faith from Berlioz himself.
The work was written for a massive orchestra and chorus. In its original performance, there were 400 singers and players total assembled, including 20 woodwinds, 12 horns, more than 100 strings, and 4 brass emsembles positioned at four corners of the concert stage.

Fantastic photos of what was certainly an emotional moment! :)

Cabecilha · 2007-11-13: 09:10

AMAZING church - it always boggles my mind how long it takes them to be built. i'm always facisnated by gothic architecture (specifically cathedrals). the last pic is beautiful. and your father-in-law looks so much younger than his age!!!

lexlevans · 2007-11-13: 10:32

What a special day! Beautiful place and great photo of the two of you!

DancingDolphin · 2007-11-13: 11:25

Monika.. this set is so good. I really love the first and the third pic. :)

garysktam · 2007-11-13: 11:26

Wow great shots ... and wonderful text to go with it! Being a trumpet player myself, I can just imagine the accoustics of this great hall!III Awesome!

MHJphotos · 2007-11-13: 13:28

wow, must have been a great sound indeed. Nice pics aswell
Pics like this are great to play with hdr..(9)

eljapa · 2007-11-13: 14:04

Great set.

peregol · 2007-11-13: 14:10

nagyon jo lehetett! nem is mondtad hogy aposod enekel?? mennyi mindent nem tudok(( nagyon elegans vagy a kepen!!!

natasa7 · 2007-11-13: 15:34

these are awesome.. I love the compostion of 6 and I like 9 very very much.. the whole set is fab.. and touching too :)

????? · 2007-11-13: 16:32

Impresive cathedral! Congratulations to your father-in-law!!!

miclaud · 2007-11-13: 16:56

beautiful!! thanks for sharing

Karibbean · 2007-11-13: 17:24

It must have been fabulous !
Great serie, beautifully presented. Our Protestant cathedrals are
all the same, very sobre, no decorations, all the saints have
been "destroyed" during the Reformation.

carmitage · 2007-11-13: 18:00