We the People - 250 years USA in choral music

The 250th anniversary of the US is being commemorated on a grand scale this year. Do the political and social developments in the US make this a moment of celebration or of resistance?

In the concert “We the People,” Audite Nova does both: it pays tribute to 250 years of American choral music with spirituals and works by well-known (Barber, Ives) and new composers.

In 18 powerful personal stories—which we connect to the 16 choral pieces—we depict the resistance. With a contemporary version of “We the People,” we show who shapes the US today: those in power and their voters & challengers, majorities and minorities, people from all walks of life.

These 18 individuals are depicted in a painting measuring 5.5 x 3.7 meters, created by painting group Lokaal9. Former conductor Hebe de Champeaux (mezzo-soprano) presents the world premiere of a composition connected to the story of Renée Good, who was murdered by ICE agents on January 7 while standing up for the rights of the oppressed.

A must-see concert for anyone who loves beautiful choral music and certainly for anyone interested in the US – that country we often have mixed feelings about: We love it and we hate it!

The concert is part of Woodstock aan de Waal – 250 years of art in resistance: a theme week by cultural organizations in collaboration with Radboud University.