Instrumentation:

Duration: ~15:00

Premiered: 08.07.2023

Orchestra: Philharmonie Baden-Baden

Conductor: Heiko-Mathias Förster

Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont(FR)

Musée de Débarquement

This piece was commissioned by Baden-Baden Philharmonics and will be premiered in Sainte-Mari-Du-Mont(at Utah Beach to be precise) in a concert that honors 60 years of Elysee-Treaty and the ever-evolving German-French relationship.

There are many unbelievable stories that came to light after World War II ended. This piece was inspired by one specific story, the story of John Steele, a paratrooper of the Allied forces. Steele was part of the landing operation to capture Utah Beach during D-Day.  His story is so unique, that to this day he is remembered in the form of a memorial hanging at the church of Sainte-Mère-Église.

With the piece I wanted to both reflect on the emotions Steele could have felt right before and during his jump off the plane, reflect on the horrors of war but also, and more prominently, shine a light on what happened after the war ended. The sadness, the grief, the pain but also the slowly emerging optimism and ultimate revival of humanity that, even in these difficult times, prevailed.

Blogpost(GER)