Irrevocable Posts

At some point, everybody dreams of a better life. Whether it is to simply leave our daily worries behind, or escape serious oppression. These beautiful dreams are often different. What powered people – in the past as well as present – to dare  to cross deserts, sail across stormy oceans or overcome walls? Do you dare to leave everything behind to chase your dreams? What is the price to be paid to reach your ideal place, and…is it worth it?

Throughout the ages, artist and philosophers have tried to capture their ideal place. In images, words and sounds they touched upon places like: Paradise, Utopia, Nirvana, the  New World…
Some tried to improve their own lands with reforms and revolutions. Others decided to leave their homes behind, as the Irish who went to America. Sometimes it is an introspective journey, trying to find spiritual salvation.

The search for liberation is a universal one. To be free from war, free from hunger, free from suffering or obtain freedom of thought, still drives people onward.  The trip is not always successful, but there’s one thing a Promised Land always offers: Hope. Hope for a better world. Hope for a better life.

Vocal Ensemble Irrevocable and conductor Wouter Verhage will take you on a musical journey towards the Promised Land. Experience music on themes as oppression, liberation and dubiety, the journey and the arrival. The musical program features works from American, British, Latvian and Spanish composers from different eras, as Barber, Bernstein, Whitacre, Tippett, Ešenvalds, and Lobo.

When?
Saturday, 9th of June
Doors open at 7.30PM
Concert starts at 8PM

Where?
Herengrachtkerk, Leiden
Herengracht 68-70
2312 LE Leiden

Tickets: regular €12, students €8

Online tickets can be purchased here. The online ticket sale closes the 8th of June, at 8PM.
Tickets can also be bought at the door.

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For 364 days a year, the Netherlands is in movement, but óne day a year we come together for a moment of pause. Vocal Ensemble Irrevocable invites you to join us on the 4th of May for a moment of pause and to join us in remembrance: two minutes in silence, followed with music. With pieces on peace and loss we do not only remember the Dutch victims of violence, but all victims of violence, in war and peace.

The music will commence after the traditional two minutes of silence, and has been selected for their beauty and symbolic value in cooperation with Wouter Verhage. They include the Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina, the Da Pacem by Pärt, Sleep by Whitacre and the gripping Wie liegt die stadt so wüst by Mauersberger.

When?
Thursday the 4th of May
Doors open at 19:30.
Concert starts at 19:55.

Where?
Herengrachtkerk, Leiden
Herengracht 68

Tickets: regular €10, students €7

Tickets can be ordered online through Concert4you (€0.99 transactionfee per order) or are available for cash at the door.

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Date: Wednesday, 2nd of November
Start: 19.30h
Address: Lokhorstkerk, Pieterskerkstraat 1, Leiden

On All Souls’ Day, there will be time to commemorate the departed during a special musical evensong in the Lokhorstkerk in Leiden. Irrevocable will perform during this evensong as part of the vocal ensemble under the direction of conductor Rozemarijn Kalis.

For the evensong, a selection was made of English choirmusic which fits the theme of remembrance:

• From the “Funeral Sentences” – Henry Purcell:
  • Man that is born of a woman;
  • In the midst of life.
• Funeral Ikos – John Tavener.
• From the “Songs of Farewell” – Hubert Parry:
  • Never weather-beaten sail.
• Lux Aeterna – Edward Elgar.
• From the “Requiem” – Eleanor Daley:
  • In Remembrance.
• Rest – Ralph Vaughan Williams.
• The Turtle Dove – Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Admission is free.

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As our try-out concert in Geervliet on the 15th of May has passed, it is finally time to reveal the official program order of the Oegstgeest concert!

• Dream – Meredith Monk;
• Fögnuður – Haukur Tómasson;
• Húm I & II – Atli Heimir Sveinsson (in cooperation with Marloes van Stormbroek);
• Heyr himna smiður – Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson;
• Guest performances by barbershopquartet Stereo Evolution:
  • Teddy Bear – Kal Mann & Teddy Lowe, arr. Aaron Dale;
  • Bring Him Home (Les Miserables) – Claude Michel Schönberg, arr. Darin Brown;
  • Lullabye – Billy Joel, arr. Kirk Young.
• Five Flower Songs, Op. 47 – Benjamin Britten.

*Break*

• Sænk kun dit hoved, du blomst – Carl Nielsen, arr. John Høybye;
• Blackbird – John Lennon & Paul McCartney, arr. Daryl Runswick;
• Now is the Month of Maying – Thomas Morley, arr. Jem Lowther;
• Les fleurs et les arbres – Camille Saint-Saëns;
• Solo performance by Marloes van Stormbroek:
  • Luna y Sierra – Wil Offermans;
• As Kingfishers Catch Fire – John Duggan;
• The Blue Bird, Op. 119, No.3 – Charles Villiers Stanford;
• Swimming over London – Bob Chilcott;
• Butterfly – Mia Makaroff & Anna-Mari Kähärä.

The concert will take place on the 21st of May in Cultuurhuis de Paulus (Warmonderweg 2) in Oegstgeest, starting at 20.15u. Just like the previous concert, entrance will be free! There will be an opportunity to leave a donation afterwards. Any help is greatly appreciated.

As a teaser, we are proud to present the recording of ‘Heyr himna smiður’, captured during the try-out concert in Geervliet.

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Springtime will come in the first ever fully Irrevocable concerts: Springlevend! Be prepared to be swept off your feet with repertoire from French Romanticism till enlightingly light modern work. The concert will feature works of Chilcott, Britten, Debussy and Saint-Saëns amongst others.

The concerts will take place on the following dates:

• 15th of May – Onze Lieve Vrouwe-kerk, Kerkplein 7, Geervliet, 15.30 – 16.30h;
• 21st of May – Pauluskerk , Warmonderweg 2, Oegstgeest, 20.15 – 22.00h.

Both concerts will feature flutist Marloes van Stormbroek. The concert on the 21st of May will also include guest performances by the Barbershop quartet Stereo Evolution.

Curious about our sound? Listen to some recordings from our last rehearsal weekend!

Britten – Five Flower Songs: 1. To Daffodils

Stanford – The Blue Bird

Entrance to the concerts will be free, though we would appreciate a small donation afterwards. Feel free to give as much as you think it’s worth. Thank you!

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Irrevocable will perform the Via Crucis of Franz Liszt during the evening mass on Good Friday at the Lokhorstkerk in Leiden (Pieterskerkstraat 1). The project will be performed under the direction of conductor Rozemarijn Kalis. Marten Boonstra will provide accompaniment on the piano. The mass will start at 19.30h.

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