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Big Peace Mass in Rostock: 500 singers for a message of hope!
On July 6, 2025, Karl Jenkins' peace mass "The Armed Man" will be performed in St. Mary's Church in Rostock on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. 500 participants organize the interreligious concert under the direction of Markus Johannes Langer.
Big Peace Mass in Rostock: 500 singers for a message of hope!
The anticipation is rising: on July 6th at 7:30 p.m., St. Mary's Church in Rostock will be the venue for a very special musical event. The performance of Karl Jenkins’ “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace” promises to be more than just a concert – it brings back memories and gets to the heart of current conflicts. Around 500 participants, including all of Rostock's choirs, the singing academy and the opera choir of the Volkstheater, will work together with the North German Philharmonic to bring to life the haunting sounds of a work that was composed in 1999/2000 and is dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo war. This reports Northern Courier.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, an occasion that draws critical attention to the current global political situation. “The Armed Man” combines various musical styles, from Gregorian chant to elements from film music, combining Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions. A muezzin will sensitively present Koran texts and thus effectively underline the interreligious approach.
A work full of emotions
The dramaturgy of this impressive piece illuminates the horrors of war. Video projections of battles and bombings underline the messages contained in the texts. Despite all odds, the work ends with the hopeful statement: “Better is peace than always war”. This powerful message is reinforced this evening by the voices of talented soloists. Under the musical direction of Markus Johannes Langer, the soprano Julia Ebert, mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Aleksandrova, tenor Hee-Wook Kim and baritone Jaehwan Shim accompany the event,” adds the Website of the Rostock Volkstheater.
In the St. Mary's Church, which was saved during the Second World War, the various choirs come into action: the St. Mary's choir, the Warnemünde choir, the Bad Doberan choir, the Lichtenhagen village choir, the Jacobichor and the Rostock Motet Choir. This impressive experience is accompanied by the North German Philharmonic Rostock. The intensive rehearsal work has already begun, and discussions about the integration of the muezzin and the meaning of the work are at the forefront of the preparations.
Sold out tickets and dress rehearsal
Tickets for the concert are already sold out, which underlines the high demand. However, there is a chance for all those who cannot make it to July 6th: a public dress rehearsal will take place on July 5th at 7 p.m. and offers the opportunity to experience the impressive work in advance. Greetings this evening will be delivered by Bishop Tilman Jeremias and Rostock's mayor Eva-Maria Kröger. This concert is not only a musical performance, but also a symbol of peace in today's world World Choir for Peace is affirmed. The diverse cultural and historical elements incorporated into “The Armed Man” make it a model of intercultural dialogue and understanding.
This performance keeps an important chapter in Rostock's cultural history alive. The commitment of everyone involved, from the musicians to the audience, shows how important dialogue about peace and humanity is in our world today.