At the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, there has been a musical tribute every year since 2006; a classical concert that befits the unique location. This in commemoration of the fallen soldiers who gave their lives in the Second World War for the liberation of the Netherlands, and to celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands in September 1944, which started in the south of Limburg.

The Liberation Concert, which took place Sunday, 15 September 2019, marked the final piece of a fantastic opening weekend celebrating 75 years of Liberation. With no fewer than 6,400 visitors, it was the highest-attended Liberation Concert ever. On this special anniversary philharmonie zuidnederland performed Mahler’s Second Symphony, together with Brabant Choir and Studium Chorale.

20 SEPTEMBER 2020
Free entrance

From 9:00         Opportunity to visit the cemetery
12:00 & 15:00          Liberation Concert 2020 (no interval)

Struggle

With profound, heroic, still and stirring music, the 15th Liberation Concert highlights all aspects of the struggle for life and death. “Why we fight” is the title of the penultimate episode of the TV series Band of Brothers. When the exhausted allied soldiers hear the enemy has been defeated, in the background the Adagio from Beethoven’s finest string quartet can be heard from the ruins of a bombed out German city. Human compassion masterfully converted into intimate music by Beethoven.

A similar search for meaning and interpretation is construed entirely differently by the American Charles Ives in The Unanswered Question. Hear how, from afar, the trumpet poses the eternal question about the meaning of human existence and how the woodwinds try to answer it.

The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams is considered the symbol of grief and loss after the battles in World War I. Vaughan Williams began composing in 1914 but was interrupted by the outbreak of war. In this meditative work, the solo violin portrays the taking flight and ascent of a skylark.

Finally, Joseph Haydn. In the rational world of the late eighteenth century, regular changes thoroughly stirred the artworld. This was also known as Sturm und Drang, in which Haydn participated with his Trauer Symphony. Haydn’s final wish was for his Trauer Symphony to be performed at his own funeral. He died in 1809 while Napoleon’s armies invaded Vienna.

South Netherlands Philharmonic
Conductor Arjan Tien Violin Lei Wang

Beethoven (arr. Davis) Adagio ma non Troppo from String Quartet no. 14
Ives The Unanswered Question
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending, for violin and orchestra
Haydn Symphony No. 44 ‘Trauer’

ADDRESS Amerikaanse Begraafplaats 1 6269 NA Margraten

BY CAR Coming from the A79 or Maastricht. A79 take exit Cadier and Keer / Vaals. Follow N278 through Cadier and Keer towards Margraten / Vaals. Continue to follow N278 until you reach the American Cemetery. There is ample parking space at the cemetery.

Coming from the A76 or Parkstad. A76 take exit 7 (Vaals / Simpelveld). Follow the N281 in the direction of Vaals until the N278. N278 direction Maastricht through Nijswiller and Gulpen to Margraten. Follow Rijksweg direction Cadier and Keer / Maastricht until you reach the American Cemetery.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT Line 350 direction Aachen Hauptbahnhof or Maastricht, get off at the stop ‘Amerikaanse Begraafplaats’. www.92920v.nl

BY BICYCLE The American Cemetery is easily accessible by bicycle. You can take the bike path along the N278 Maastricht-Vaals. Bike stands are available at the cemetery.