Death was omnipresent in the 17th and 18th centuries due to wars, plagues, and famines. The high child mortality rate and low life expectancy also constantly made the transience of life apparent. However, the Christian message of salvation promised eternal life after death. This hope was reflected, not least in art, in the expression of a pronounced longing for death. Many composers dedicated themselves to this theme in the tension between contemplative intimacy and overwhelming emotion. The ensemble Lantana Camara musically explores this theme, while forensic psychiatrist Dr. med. Nahlah Saimeh also introduces the topic philosophically and in terms of intellectual history as the moderator.

Cast:

Dr. med. Nahlah Saimeh Lantana Camara Lorena Padrón – Baroque violin Maria Portela Larisch – soprano

Program:

Aria and instrumental music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Tarquinio Merula, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and Georg Friedrich Handel