An immersive and meditative symphony about loss, maternal love, and hope. Music you do not merely follow, but surrender to.
In honor of World Peace Day, the Pieterskerk Leiden and Residentie Orkest The Hague are organizing a performance of Symphony No. 3 by Henryk Górecki.
Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 is one of the most serene and deeply moving works of the twentieth century. In the intimate acoustics of the Pieterskerk, this music truly comes into its own.
The symphony consists of three slow movements for orchestra and soprano, setting centuries-old Polish texts to music. They tell of a mother mourning the loss of her child, a child separated from its mother, and a universal longing for comfort, protection and belonging. Górecki translates these themes into a musical language of simplicity and repetition, in which every note carries meaning.
With its slow tempo and lucid structure, the music creates an almost timeless space. Sounds gradually emerge and dissolve again, giving rise to a profound sense of stillness that resonates immediately. There is nothing you need to understand – only to listen and allow yourself to be carried along. A concert that quietens, deepens, and continues to echo long afterwards.
Performers
Residentie Orkest Den Haag
Chloe Rooke, conductor
Soloist
Elisabeth Hetherington, soprano
Sunday 20 September 2026
Start of concert: 19.00
Ticket prices
1st tier+: € 86.00
1st tier: € 78.00
2nd tier: € 63.00
3rd tier: € 54.00